
From left, Law Dean Linda L. Ammons, students Cory S. Winter and Brianna Davidson and University President James T. Harris III at the student awards ceremony April 28 on the Harrisburg campus. Winter won the dean's award and Davidson won the president's award.
From left, Law Dean Linda L. Ammons, students Damien N. Tancredi and Christina M. Marinakis, and University Senior Vice President and Provost Jo Allen at the student awards ceremony April 21 on the Delaware campus. Tancredi won the dean's award and Marinakis won the president's award.
Widener Law is pleased to announce both of its law campuses will hear commencement addresses from alumnus U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy.Murphy, a 1999 graduate of the Harrisburg campus, will speak at the Delaware graduation on the campus lawn Saturday, May 16 and again Sunday, May 17 at the Harrisburg graduation in The Forum at the Capitol Complex. He will receive an honorary doctor of laws degree at the Harrisburg ceremony.Murphy is widely considered to be a rising star in national politics. He was the first Iraq War veteran elected to Congress and he served as a captain in the U.S. Army’s elite 82nd Airborne Division in Baghdad between 2003-2004. He was later awarded the bronze star for service. Murphy has also worked in private practice and early in his career was an associate professor of constitutional law at West Point. He was elected to Congress in 2006.In Harrisburg, the 112 graduates will also hear from class valedictorian Adam Santucci. Other ceremony highlights will include two graduates receiving their diplomas with a relative – who is a Widener Law alumni – congratulating them on stage.In Delaware, the 271 graduates hear from regular-division valedictorian Courtney Schultz and extended-division valedictorian Bonnie Copeland. Three graduates will be congratulated on stage by a relative who is a Widener Law alumni.Both campuses already honored student award winners at ceremonies held in late April. Two of the most prestigious honors were the dean’s award and the president’s award. The dean’s award is given annually to the graduating student who, in the dean’s opinion, has demonstrated outstanding legal aptitude, exemplary service, significant leadership skills and the potential to become an outstanding member of the legal community.In Harrisburg, Dean Linda L. Ammons presented the dean’s award April 28 to Cory S. Winter and in Delaware she gave it on April 21 to Damien N. Tancredi.The president’s award is given to the second-year student who has demonstrated scholastic achievement and possesses high potential for meaningful contribution to the law school, the community and the profession. In Harrisburg, Widener University President James T. Harris III presented the award to Brianna Davidson. University Senior Vice President and Provost Jo Allen stood in for Harris at the Delaware program and gave the honor to student Christina M. Marinakis.[Commencement 2009 Site]