The Class of 2024 celebrated their journeys as Moritz College of Law students at their Hooding Ceremony on Monday, May 6.  

Throughout their time at Ohio State Law, the Class of 2024 made substantial contributions to the community. Collectively, the class performed 4,031 pro bono hours, and 72% completed at least one externship. Many also participated in clinics and provided service to asylum seekers, children, nonprofits, and other individuals and organizations.  

During the ceremony, three student speakers offered heartfelt reflections about their time at Moritz. To start, Cameron Justice shared some of the most impactful lessons he learned throughout his time as a law student.  

“Our success in law school is because of our differences, not in spite of them,” he said. “Among all the lessons I have learned here, three ring true today: empathy need not yield to reason, personality need not interfere with professionalism, and diversity and inclusion need not be pitted against excellence.”  

Tinu Okotore then spoke about her experience in the LLM cohort. She praised her fellow classmates who went through the program, learning the law in a new language.  

“Learning a new legal system felt really daunting, like standing at the foot of a legal Everest,” she shared. “But here at Moritz, the climb was a shared one. Each step of the way, we had a professor, a JD fellow, or an LLM colleague offer a hand or a word of encouragement.”  

Lexi Moore concluded the student remarks by sharing her gratitude for all the people who helped her and her fellow graduates in their journeys.  

“This achievement belongs as much to our support networks as it belongs to us,” she said. “May we always remember the roads that brought us here and the shoulders that lifted us to new heights.”  

Hooding speaker and Moritz alumna Kara Trott shared insights and wisdom with the graduating class. Trott, founder and board chair of Quantum Health, discussed how her legal training helped her discover her true calling. 

“Discover what feeds your energy,” she said. “Strive to find an environment that enables you to share your gifts with the world in a powerful way and realize it may take several iterations – you may not know your path sitting here today.”  

Several graduates were recognized for their outstanding contributions to the Moritz community.  

• The Moritz Leadership Award recognizes one student each year in each graduating class for demonstrating leadership outside of the classroom by involvement in university and college activities, student programs, and events. This year’s recipients were Allyson Croxton (awarded for 1L year), Emma Dennis (awarded for 2L year), and Jordan Griffith (awarded for 3L year).  

• The Dean’s Leadership Award was given to Faith Edwards for her leadership and commitment to creating a kinder, more just world.  

• The Outstanding LLM Student Award was presented to Mauricia Dinopol and Mubarak Nurudeen. 

• The inaugural MSL Outstanding Academic Achievement Award was presented to Elizabeth Kooi.  

• The John J. Adams Memorial Award is awarded to a student for leadership and significant contributions through law-related activities within the College. Aditya Medicherla was this year’s recipient.  

• The Harry S. and Georgina Lett Memorial Award is given to a student who has demonstrated excellence in service to the College. This year’s winner was Eleanor Werner.  

• The Robert M. Duncan Service Scholarship goes to one student for outstanding service contributions to the college community. The award is named in honor of the late Robert M. Duncan, whose long career was marked by courage and excellence - also hallmarks of the recipients of the award. This year’s recipient was Cameron Justice.  

• The Christopher Fairman Award is chosen by vote of the graduating class. It honors the student who best exemplifies the late Christopher Fairman’s acceptance of individual difference and support of free expression as an essential part of a strong and inclusive community. Tra’Vaysha Green was this year’s recipient.  

The graduating class also recognized staff and faculty who had a profound impact on their legal education. Because of his unwavering support of students, the class selected Darren Nealy, assistant dean of students, as the Outstanding Staff Award recipient. This is the fourth consecutive year Nealy has received the award. Katrina Lee was selected as the recipient of the Morgan E. Shipman Outstanding Professor Award. Lee is the John C. Elam/Vorys Sater Professor in Law and Director of Program on Dispute Resolution. She has now been recognized with this award twice in the last three years for her dedication to her students.  

As they look to the future, graduates of the Class of 2024 are planning to work in 17 states, as well as in Washington D.C., the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Saudi Arabia. They are working in a variety of industries, including government, higher education, small and large firms, judicial chambers, and the military. No matter where their paths may lead, the Class of 2024 will always be part of the Buckeye community.