College of Law Candidates for Graduation Participate in May 11 Hooding Ceremony
May 21, 2007
More than 180 law students participated in the College of Law's 2007 Hooding Ceremony held May 11 at the Georgia State University Sports Arena. And even an unexpected downpour did not dampen the spirits of the Juris Doctor candidates in their academic regalia as they awaited the donning of purple-trimmed hoods.
The Hooding Ceremony was opened by Dean Steven Kaminshine, with Provost Ron Henry providing a welcome from the University. Graduation candidate LeeAnne Anthony, also the outgoing president of the COL Student Bar Association, added greetings to graduates' families and friends in attendance.
The keynote speaker for the Hooding Ceremony was Georgia Attorney General Thurbert E. Baker, whose message was upbeat and motivating.
One of the Hooding Ceremony's most poignant moments came with the memorial recognition of four College of Law graduates who were lost during the past academic year. They included Karen Couch Cross (Class of 2002), Danny Page (Class of 2004), Naiyareh Karimimanesh (Class of 2005) and James Malcolm Blake III (Class of 2006), who would have received a doctoral hood during the evening. In honor of the late Jim Blake, a hood was presented to his wife Carol during the ceremony.
All law students graduating Summer 2006, Fall 2006 and Spring 2007 were eligible to participate in the Hooding Ceremony. Members of the College of Law hooding team for 2007 were Professors Basil Mattingly, Paul Milich and Corneill Stephens, and Associate Deans Roy Sobelson and Kelly Timmons.
The hooding of law candidates preceded the formal conferral of degrees, which took place May 12 during Georgia State University's commencement ceremonies.