“We are extremely happy to recognize all of the alumni who have gone on to do great things with their FAMU College of Law education. They have touched the lives of many and have shared their talents with the communities they work and live in not only here in Florida, but across the nation,” said LeRoy Pernell, dean of the College of Law.
Among the honorees were:
- Adaryll Lee, a 2013 graduate and manager of The Law Office of Adaryll Lee, who was honored as a Rising Star in the field of law
- Bruce Mount, a 2012 graduate and a partner at Stuart, Mount, Bleakley & Boylston PA, who was honored as an Extraordinary Young Alumnus
- E. Juan Lynum, a 2005 graduate, from the first class to be hooded at the re-opened law school, was recognized for Professional Excellence for Solo Practice as manager of Lynum & Associates, PLLC
- Trizia Eavenson, a 2008 College of Law graduate and partner with Moore Eavenson Baughan, PLC, was recognized for Professional Excellence for Law Firm
- Lavon Williams, a 2009 graduate and manager at the Orange County Neighborhood Preservation and Revitalization Division, was honored for Professional Excellence for Government
- Margaret Douidy, a 2010 graduate and corporate counsel for Lockheed Martin was honored for Professional Excellence for Corporate/Private
- Antonya Johnson, assistant state attorney for Broward County and graduate of the class of 2006, was recognized for Extraordinary Public Service
- Christopher Monts, a 2006 graduate and founding attorney for Monts Law, P.L.,was applauded for Extraordinary Service to FAMU College of Law
- Shawn Robinson, a graduate of the class of 2005 and Ybor City campus president of Hillsborough Community College, was honored as Alumnus of the Year
A special tribute, the Legacy Award, was presented
posthumously to Gwendolyn Sawyer Cherry. Cherry was a pioneer in the state of
Florida's legal profession. Admitted to the Florida Bar in 1965, Cherry was a
woman of firsts; she was the first black women to practice law in Dade County,
one of the first nine attorneys to initially serve at Legal Services of Greater
Miami and she was the first black women to serve as a legislator from the state
of Florida after she was elected in 1970. Cherry served four terms as a
representative and during that time she introduced the equal rights amendment,
the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. state holiday and other legislation.
She was also an active member of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority,
Inc., serving as legal advisor. Cherry died in a car accident in 1979, but her
contributions to law and professional women will long be remembered.
All of the 2015 Distinguished Alumni Awards nominees and
2005 graduates in attendance received congressional recognition from Corrine
Brown, U.S. Representative for Florida's 5th congressional district.
In addition, Arthenia Joyner, State Senator for Florida’s
19th district, and member of the College of Law class of 1968 – the last
graduating class of the original school, was recognized for her contributions
to the College of Law.
The event was sponsored in part by Walmart; Lynum &
Associates; PLLC, Monts Law, P.L.; Nizam Razack, MD, JD; In Bloom Florist; and
the FAMU College of Agriculture and Food Sciences Center for Viticulture and
Small Fruit Research.