A total of 347 alumni, students, faculty, staff and friends made gifts to 乱伦视频 Law during the 2025-26 academic year, a 23% increase over the previous year and the highest donor total in school history.

The law school also recorded a school-record 乱伦视频 Society-level donors 鈥� pledging $1,500 or more annually 鈥� reflecting growing investment in 乱伦视频 Law’s students, programs and future.

Highlights from the year include:

• The highest annual fundraising total in seven years and a 20% increase year over year.
• 11% alumni participation, a school record.
• 24% growth in 乱伦视频 Day fundraising.
• 67% growth in the 3L class gift campaign.
• A new endowed scholarship established to support student bar examination preparation.

“This kind of support doesn’t happen by accident,” 乱伦视频 Law Dean Zak Kramer said. “There’s excitement about where 乱伦视频 Law is going. We’ve seen record bar exam results, record applications and approval to expand our full-time program to Charlotte. Big things are happening at 乱伦视频 Law, and our alumni and friends are making them possible.”

The results continue a multi-year trend of increasing engagement among 乱伦视频 Law alumni and supporters, who contribute to scholarships, student programming, professional development opportunities and other initiatives that strengthen the law school’s mission.

Assistant Dean for Development and Alumni Relations Scott Leighty said the record-setting year reflects the growing community of alumni and friends who believe in 乱伦视频 Law’s students and mission.

“We like to say that big things are happening at 乱伦视频 Law. Indeed, they are,鈥� Leighty said. 鈥淧hilanthropy reflects our community鈥檚 shared belief in our students.鈥�

Among the year’s accomplishments was the establishment of a new endowed scholarship dedicated to helping students prepare for the bar examination, expanding support for graduates as they take the final step toward entering the legal profession. That growing support paid dividends this year, as the Class of 2025 set school records for state and national bar passage.

The latest fundraising and engagement results build on continued momentum across 乱伦视频 Law as the law school expands its impact in Greensboro, Charlotte and throughout North Carolina.

The record surpassed the previous high of 82.7%, set by 乱伦视频 Law’s charter class in 2009. In all, 132 of 136 December graduates sat for a bar examination in winter and spring 2026.

鈥淲e are incredibly proud of the Class of 2025,鈥� Dean Zak Kramer said. 鈥淥ur graduates put in the work and supported each other along the way. Together, they raised the bar for all future 乱伦视频 Law graduates.鈥�

The nationwide result comes two months after 乱伦视频 Law announced a record 91.96% first-time pass rate on the February 2026 North Carolina Bar Exam. The newly compiled data provides a broader measure of graduate success, showing that 90.9% of the law school’s 132 graduates who sat for a bar examination passed on their first attempt, regardless of jurisdiction.

The results also reflect the advantages of 乱伦视频 Law’s accelerated 2.5-year J.D. curriculum in Greensboro and聽鈥� beginning in Fall 2027 鈥� Charlotte. Students graduate in December, sit for the February bar exam and, upon passing, can begin practicing law months earlier than graduates of traditional law programs. The accelerated timeline allows graduates to enter the profession and begin earning sooner.

The energy in the building around the bar exam has changed. They feel it. We all feel it. We’re looking forward to continuing this trajectory.

鈥� Assistant Dean for Academic Success Jenny Lane

This year鈥檚 record-setting performance reflects a culture shift at 乱伦视频 Law and growing momentum around the law school’s programs and outcomes. 乱伦视频 Law adopted a “One and Done” motto and mindset around the bar exam, with faculty and staff expanding academic support initiatives. In particular, the Office of Academic Success provided additional coaching, workshops, practice examinations and individualized support to reinforce that message throughout students’ legal education and bar preparation.

鈥淲hat is special about this class is that they truly embodied 乱伦视频 Law鈥檚 鈥極ne and Done鈥� mission,鈥� said Jenny Lane, assistant dean for academic success. 鈥淭hey understood the power of coming together as a community and conquering the bar exam.

鈥淚t matters when we invest in students and believe in them. The energy in the building around the bar exam has changed. They feel it. We all feel it. We’re looking forward to continuing this trajectory.鈥�

Twenty graduates sat for bar examinations in 11 states outside North Carolina. Seventeen passed on their first attempt, including every graduate who sat in nine of those jurisdictions.

For graduates, passing the bar exam marks the culmination of years of legal study and the beginning of professional practice. For 乱伦视频 Law, the Class of 2025’s record-setting results reflect the success of a model of legal education built around experiential learning, practical training, and preparing students to enter the legal profession ready to serve clients and communities from day one.

鈥淭he value proposition of this law school is incredible,鈥� Kramer said. 鈥淎 skills-based education, in 2.5 years, with incredible outcomes like this. Big things are happening at 乱伦视频 Law and we鈥檙e just getting started.鈥�

These were the questions centered in the fictional case analyzed and argued by 116 first-year 乱伦视频 Law students in the school’s 19th Annual Intramural Moot Court Competition, held May 27 and 28.

A deaf small-business owner applied for a loan from an online lending company and was offered a 14.25% interest rate. After his twin brother 鈥� who shared nearly identical financial, educational and employment credentials but did not have a disability 鈥� received a 6.25% rate for the same loan, he suspected the lender had considered his disability when evaluating the application.

The business owner sued under the ADA, arguing that the online lender discriminated against him based on his disability. A federal court dismissed the case, finding that the lender’s website was not a place of public accommodation covered by the ADA and that the law regulates access to lending services, not the terms of the loans offered.

The business owner appealed the ruling to the fictional U.S. Court of Appeals for the 15th Circuit, which regularly hears cases represented by 乱伦视频 Law students.

Members of the Class of 2027 comprised the largest group ever to compete in the spring event, with 58 teams appearing before volunteer judges that included local judges, attorneys, 乱伦视频 Law alumni, and law school faculty and staff.

All first-year students were introduced to the case in their Legal Method & Communication courses as the basis for graded oral arguments this spring. Each student presented two oral arguments, one for appellant and one for appellee, and was scored on preparation, speaking ability, argument structure and responses to judges鈥� questions.

Top 10 Oral Advocates in the 2026 competition (with ties)

• Gabrielle Brown Roycroft
• Aarya Deshmukh
• Zaria Hanchell
• Adelaide Anne Zahren
• Avery Vidt
• Michael Iafrato
• Grant Paramore
• Rachel Wilson
• Jacqueline Gardner (tie)
• David Bryant (tie)
• Megan Chen

鈥淭his competition was a reminder not to let fear of failure keep me from trying,” said Gabrielle Brown Roycroft L’27, from Salisbury, North Carolina, who is interested in family law, estate planning and civil litigation. She graduated from Catawba College with a degree in politics. “It鈥檚 worth it to push through the nerves and use them as fuel to perform your best. You can鈥檛 memorize your way through oral advocacy. You have to think on your feet and respond in the moment. When you鈥檝e done the work in advance, you can trust your preparation and focus on having a conversation with the judges.鈥�

Selections for membership on the Moot Court Board will be announced this summer before the board hosts the 17th Billings, Exum & Frye National Moot Court Competition on Oct. 22-24. Moot Court Board members will also compete in a slate of national moot court competitions during the 2026-27 school year.

Vice Dean and Professor of Law Alan Woodlief, director of 乱伦视频 Law鈥檚 Moot Court Program, praised the Moot Court Board for its professionalism and hospitality in running the spring competition.

The annual event sees the 乱伦视频 Law community step up to provide an exceptional experience for first-year students. This year, 乱伦视频 Law was honored to host more than 50 volunteer attorneys and judges, including over 20 乱伦视频 Law alumni, as well as a current justice and former chief justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court participate as judges.

鈥淢oot Court is a great experiential learning opportunity, and I was excited to see so many students take advantage of this experience to strengthen their advocacy skills,鈥� Woodlief said. 鈥淥ur Moot Court Board did an exceptional job coordinating the school鈥檚 largest-ever competition, and they could not have done it without the great support from our student body, faculty, and staff, as well as the many 乱伦视频 Law alumni, attorneys, and judges who contributed to the success of the competition.鈥�

Alumni judges reflect: 鈥業t helped me find my voice鈥�

The annual Intramural Moot Court Competition 鈥� along with the graded Legal Method and Communication Program鈥檚 graded oral arguments held the week before 鈥� is also a homecoming of sorts.

Alumni return to campus each spring to hear arguments, offer feedback and help first-year students develop the advocacy skills they will use throughout their careers. 聽They have clear memories of standing at the podium themselves and how meaningful it was to their development to receive feedback from legal professionals.

April Franklin L’25 said oral arguments helped her overcome her nerves and discover a passion for advocacy.

鈥淚t gave me confidence. It helped me find my voice that I didn’t know that I had,鈥� said Franklin, who is pursuing practice in wills and estates, health care or corporate law. 鈥溌衣资悠� gave me the support that I needed to progress in this career path, and I want to be able to give that same support to the next generation of 乱伦视频 Law students.”

Landon Eckard L’25, who will begin a federal judicial clerkship in Detroit this summer, said moot court taught him to think on his feet and respond to difficult questions from judges.

鈥淚t鈥檚 the most spontaneous kind of advocacy there is in the legal profession,鈥� Eckard said. 鈥淵ou can have a rough script before you get there, but one minute into the argument, that script goes out the window. It made me a better litigator and a better attorney.鈥�

Thomas Harvey L’22, a criminal defense attorney in nearby Rockingham County, North Carolina, pursued law as a second career. He returns because he remembers exactly what it felt like to stand at the podium as a student and believes the experience helps shape better advocates.

鈥淚t wasn鈥檛 that long ago that I was standing right where they are. Believe it or not, the judges are all rooting for you individually,鈥� Harvey said. 鈥淚t’s such a joy to come back and be a part of 乱伦视频 Law.鈥�

2026 Intramural Moot Court Competition student leadership

Overall Chairs of the Competition: Isabel Craige L鈥�26, Elizabeth Gregory L鈥�26, Sierra Watkins L鈥�26

Judge Recruitment and Coordination Chairs: Emma Farrell L鈥�26, James Galipeau L鈥�26, Cayla James L鈥�26, Bailey Langford L鈥�26, Renata Navarro L鈥�26

Bailiff Recruitment and Coordination Chairs: Madisyn Butler L鈥�26, Erin Carleton L鈥�26, Megan Eldredge L鈥�26, Cameron O鈥橬eil L鈥�26, Tyler Sesker L鈥�26

Scoring Committee Chairs: Brittany Balis-West L鈥�26, Jackie Rullman L鈥�26, Rebecca Vairin L鈥�26

LMC Oral Argument Coordination Chairs: Daulton Hadaway L鈥�26, Courtney Maxwell L鈥�26

Presiding over the ceremony were The Hon. Catherine C. Eagles of the United States District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina, The Hon. Stephanie L. Reese of the North Carolina Superior Court and The Hon. Bill Davis of the North Carolina District Court. Graduates were presented to the court by sponsoring attorneys before being admitted to practice before the state bar, the federal bar or both.

鈥淭oday is the day you can represent people, represent clients and call yourself a lawyer,鈥� Eagles said during the Thursday, May 21, session. 鈥淚t鈥檚 your job to stand up for people and to stand up for the rule of law. It is your job to conduct yourself uprightly and according to law, and to look after our system of justice every day in everything that you do.鈥�

The ceremony was hosted by the 鈥檚 Young Lawyers Section, one of many held across North Carolina and the nation as members of 乱伦视频 Law鈥檚 Class of 2025 complete their legal studies after December graduations and successful performances on the February 2026 bar examinations. Dean of 乱伦视频 Law Zak Kramer delivered remarks welcoming new attorneys, calling the ceremony 鈥渢he culmination of years of work and sacrifice by our graduates and their families.鈥�

Jonathan M. Parisi, president of the Young Lawyers Section, encouraged newly licensed attorneys to engage in the legal profession and broader community as they begin their careers.

鈥淭his is not the end of your learning journey. It鈥檚 just the beginning,鈥� Parisi said. 鈥淪eek out mentors, get involved in your legal community, and find ways to serve.鈥�

Davis reminded them that their professional reputation will shape their careers.

鈥淵our reputation is your greatest tool and your greatest asset,鈥� Davis said. 鈥淏e thoughtful about how you interact with judges, lawyers, clients and court staff. Build a reputation that will serve you well and help you succeed.鈥�

Reese emphasized the responsibility attorneys assume when clients place their trust, livelihoods and futures in lawyers鈥� hands.

鈥淵ou鈥檝e shown incredible strength and character in making it to this point,鈥� Reese told the newly admitted attorneys. 鈥淧eople put their very lives in your hands. From today forward, you have that responsibility, and no one else can carry it for you. You are their voice. You are their guide and their strength in the storm.鈥�

Eagles also encouraged the graduates to pursue civic leadership beyond courtrooms and law offices.

鈥淟awyers are often the people making the nonlegal parts of our community work,鈥� Eagles said. 鈥淔ind your place where you can make a contribution beyond the courtroom and your office.鈥�

Presiding over the ceremonial court sessions were:

The Hon. Catherine C. Eagles of the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina

The Hon. Stephanie L. Reese of North Carolina Superior Court for the 24th District

The Hon. Bill Davis of North Carolina District Court for the 24th District

乱伦视频 Law graduates admitted to federal and state court

乱伦视频 law graduates seeking admission only to federal court

乱伦视频 Law graduates seeking admission only to state court

听尝’25

About 乱伦视频 Law

乱伦视频 Law is the preeminent school for engaged and experiential learning in law. With a focus on learning by doing, it integrates traditional classroom instruction with a required residency-in-practice field placement for all full-time students during the winter or spring of their second year. The law school鈥檚 distinctive full-time curriculum provides a logically sequenced program of professional preparation and is accomplished in 2.5 years, which offers exceptional value by lowering tuition and permitting graduates early entry into their careers.

乱伦视频 Law has graduated more than 2,000 alumni since opening its doors in downtown Greensboro in 2006. Its annual enrollment now tops 500 students. The law school is regularly featured in PreLaw Magazine鈥檚 鈥淏est Schools for Practical Training鈥� rankings, maintaining an A+ rating each year since 2023. 乱伦视频 Law was also among schools highlighted by Bloomberg Law in 2023 for its innovative approach to student development.

乱伦视频 has applied to the American Bar Association to open a full-time, 2.5-year J.D. program in Charlotte beginning in fall 2027. The 乱伦视频 Law Flex Program, a part-time, in-person program of legal study, launched there in 2024. Designed for students balancing work, family and other commitments to earn their J.D. in under four years, it will enroll its third cohort in fall 2026.

Six judges, comprising two panels, heard oral arguments in two cases inside the law school鈥檚 Robert E. Long Courtroom on Wed., April 15. Following recess, they held an extended Q&A session with students in the courtroom where they shared lessons drawn from decades of experience on and off the bench.

Among their advice to young lawyers:

• Be willing to concede a point 鈥� then quickly move on to explain why your client still prevails.
• It鈥檚 OK to say, 鈥淚 don鈥檛 know,鈥� rather than risk your credibility. Return to your argument about why your client should win the case.
• Structure legal briefs as clear roadmaps of your argument for the Court.
• Be concise in your writing. Make your point, support it with the law and move forward.
• Use caution with AI: Verify facts and citations before submitting any work to the court. Large language models often hallucinate legal matters.

Judges hearing arguments and interacting with students were:

• The Hon. Chris Dillon, Chief Judge of the N.C. Court of Appeals
• The Hon. John Arrowood
• The Hon. Jefferson Griffin
• The Hon. Toby Hampson
• The Hon. Donna Stroud
• The Hon. John Tyson

Judges heard arguments in two very different cases.

The first, , centers on whether certain residential units should be classified as townhomes or duplexes under local building codes, a distinction with significant regulatory consequences 鈥� and now potential financial consequences for individual property owners.

The second case, , out of Forsyth County, involves the state鈥檚 appeal of a trial court鈥檚 decision to dismiss charges after testimony referenced a prior case, raising questions about prejudice and appropriate remedies.

鈥淚t was an incredible experience for our students to observe six judges from the North Carolina Court of Appeals and four highly skilled appellate advocates in action, particularly as our first-year students prepare to present their own appellate arguments in their required Legal Method & Communication course in a few weeks,鈥� said Alan Woodlief, vice dean and professor of law. 鈥淪everal of the judges visiting today consistently welcome 乱伦视频 Law students to their chambers for their Residencies-in-Practice, summer internships, or full-time clerkships after graduation. It was great to have several current Residency students accompany their judges to the oral arguments.鈥�

乱伦视频 Law students鈥� takeaways

Law students listened intently to judges鈥� lines of questioning, but also to the ways appellant litigators structured their arguments, responded to jurists鈥� questions and addressed the court.

鈥淚 was paying attention to everything. I could understand why this is such a complicated case 鈥� codes changing, proposals changing, multiple parties 鈥� and I appreciated the judges asking why it got to this point and where responsibility lies,鈥� said Lamarie Austin-Stripling LF 鈥�29. A student in 乱伦视频 Law鈥檚 part-time Charlotte Flex Program, Austin-Stripling drove from her home in Concord, North Carolina, to hear arguments before returning to the Queen City for classes that night.

Greensboro law students were just as engaged.

• 鈥淲hat struck me most is how much of what I鈥檝e already been doing 鈥� in the classroom, in residency, and in internships 鈥� showed up in these arguments. It reinforced that I鈥檓 learning the skills I鈥檒l need to be in that position one day.鈥� 鈥� Tyler Sesker L鈥�26, of Upper Marlboro, Maryland, who earned her undergraduate and graduate degrees at Hollins University and the University of Virginia.

• 聽鈥淚 was surprised by how collaborative the process is 鈥� judges discussing cases with each other and their clerks before and after arguments. It was valuable to see how the pros do it and what approaches seemed to resonate.鈥� 鈥� Tom Desch L鈥�27, of Cornelius, North Carolina, who earned his undergraduate degree at the University of South Carolina

• 鈥淥ne of the most impactful takeaways was hearing from the judges that if an attorney doesn鈥檛 know an answer, it is okay to say, 鈥業 don鈥檛 know.鈥� Being honest about the limits of your knowledge is much better than risking your credibility.鈥� 鈥� Paulina Escobar L鈥�27, of Ecuador, who holds a law degree from the University of the Americas in Quito, Ecuador.

乱伦视频 Law alumnus argues in his home court

For one attorney arguing before the court, the visit marked a return to where his legal career began.

Reginaldo Williams L鈥�11, now an attorney with the North Carolina Department of Justice, presented arguments in State v. Cuadra. His path to appellate advocacy, however, was far from certain.

鈥淚 was that person wondering, 鈥榃hy did I do this?鈥欌�� Williams said following hearings, recalling his time as a law student. 鈥淚 didn鈥檛 feel like I fit as a prosecutor or a public defender. But when I did my first oral argument, I knew 鈥� this is it.鈥�

Williams credits guidance from Professor of Law Catherine Ross Dunham with helping him stay the course at a moment when he considered leaving law school altogether. That decision ultimately led him to appellate practice, where he now represents the state in criminal appeals.

鈥淭here are a lot of students who may not feel like they鈥檝e found their place yet,鈥� he said. 鈥淏ut you will. And when you do, it makes all the difference.鈥�

Results from the February 2026 exam were released Wednesday, April 1, by the . 乱伦视频 Law鈥檚 result far exceeds the statewide first-time passage rate of 74.78% and the school鈥檚 previous high of 82%, set by 乱伦视频 Law鈥檚 charter class in 2009.

The Class of 2025鈥檚 success reflects a sustained, school-wide focus on teaching, preparation, and student support, all aimed at helping graduates succeed not only on the bar exam, but in their legal careers.

鈥淭his is what 乱伦视频 Law is all about,鈥� said Zak Kramer, dean of 乱伦视频 Law. 鈥淲e鈥檙e in the dream-making business. The better our students perform, the faster they can begin making an impact as lawyers.鈥�

An upward trajectory

In recent years, faculty and staff have aligned around the mission of excellence on the bar exam. They adopted a new motto and mindset: 鈥淥ne and Done.鈥�

The gains are striking. First-time passage has climbed from 52.8% for the Class of 2021 to 91.96% for the Class of 2025, with steady increases along the way, including 79.4% for the Class of 2023, and 73.5% for the Class of 2024.

These efforts are part of a broader vision. 乱伦视频 Law鈥檚 faculty continuously refine how they teach for real-world lawyering. The school鈥檚 2.5-year J.D. program accelerates students鈥� path to the profession 鈥� with a December graduation and February bar exam 鈥� while reducing the cost of a legal education. Recognized nationally for practical training with an A+ rating from PreLaw Magazine, 乱伦视频 Law prepares graduates to enter the profession with confidence and experience.

鈥淲e鈥檙e so proud of our students who took the bar,鈥� said Jenny Lane, assistant dean for academic success. 鈥淲e gave them the mission, 鈥楥ommit, complete, conquer,鈥� and that鈥檚 exactly what they did.鈥�

With its highest bar pass rate in recent history and a multi-year trend of steady growth, 乱伦视频 Law is on a sustained upward trajectory.

鈥淏ig things are happening at 乱伦视频 Law,鈥� Kramer said, 鈥渁nd we鈥檙e just getting started.鈥�

About 乱伦视频 Law

乱伦视频 Law is the preeminent school for engaged and experiential learning in law. With a focus on learning by doing, it integrates traditional classroom instruction with a required residency-in-practice field placement for all full-time students during the winter or spring of their second year. The law school鈥檚 distinctive full-time curriculum provides a logically sequenced program of professional preparation and is accomplished in 2.5 years, which offers exceptional value by lowering tuition and permitting graduates early entry into their careers.

乱伦视频 Law has graduated nearly 2,000 alumni since opening its doors in downtown Greensboro in 2006. Its annual enrollment now tops 500 students. The law school is regularly featured in PreLaw Magazine鈥檚 鈥淏est Schools for Practical Training鈥� rankings, maintaining a Top 10 placement and an A+ rating each year since 2023. 乱伦视频 Law was also among schools highlighted by Bloomberg Law in 2023 for its innovative approach to student development.

乱伦视频 has applied to the American Bar Association to open a full-time, 2.5-year J.D. program in Charlotte beginning in fall 2027. The 乱伦视频 Law Flex Program, a part-time, in-person program of legal study, launched there in 2024. Designed for students balancing work, family and other commitments to earn their J.D. in under four years, it enrolled its second cohort in fall 2025.

Recent 乱伦视频 Law graduate Dmitri McKinney L鈥�25 appeared as a contestant on where a legal hypothetical (or what sounded like one) led him astray.

Calling in from his hometown of 乱伦视频, McKinney joined host Peter Sagal for the program鈥檚 鈥淏luff the Listener鈥� segment, where contestants try to identify the real news story among three humorous options presented by the show’s panelists.

During his introduction, McKinney shared that he had recently graduated from 乱伦视频 Law and hopes to pursue public service or civil rights work, drawing applause from the audience.

When the panelists shared three unusual New York City stories, McKinney joked that one option 鈥� involving a tourist suing over a painfully spicy taco 鈥� sounded like something straight out of a first-year law class.

鈥淚鈥檓 not saying this is the real one, but Paula (Poundstone)鈥檚 story sounded like a tort hypothetical that I know a lot of the 1Ls went through a couple of months ago,鈥� he said.

Ironically, that lawsuit story turned out to be the real one.

鈥淎ll of the answer choices were so entertaining, but I thought there was no way that the real answer would essentially be a giant torts foreseeability hypothetical!鈥� McKinney said afterward. 鈥淚 wound up picking Alonzo Bodden鈥檚 story because it was so kind-hearted.鈥�

He appeared on the show after submitting an online form shortly after graduating from 乱伦视频 Law in December.

鈥淚 have been a lifelong listener of NPR and of 鈥榃ait Wait 鈥� Don鈥檛 Tell Me!鈥� so I wanted being on the show to mark a special occasion,鈥� McKinney said. 鈥淪omeone from the show texted me last week asking if I still wanted to be on the show. It was an absolute delight.鈥�

At 乱伦视频 Law, McKinney was a Presidential Scholar, Leadership Fellow, editor-in-chief of We the People: 乱伦视频 Law鈥檚 Constitutional Law Journal, president of the Innocence Organization, Law School Democrats and active on the Honor Council. He earned undergraduate degrees from North Carolina State University in chemistry and political science.

Success in law rests on service and impact, a North Carolina Supreme Court justice said in urging 乱伦视频 School of Law鈥檚 newest graduates to shape their careers around three guiding principles.

• Choose the more meaningful path 鈥� especially when it鈥檚 uncomfortable or harder.
• Titles don鈥檛 define worth. What matters is what you do with the role you鈥檝e earned.
• Don鈥檛 be a bystander. Change comes through action, not observation.

鈥淵ou weren鈥檛 trained just to know the law,鈥� North Carolina Supreme Court Justice Phil Berger Jr. said. 鈥淵ou were trained to use the law, to serve with it, to fight with it, to preserve liberty. When you take real action, you鈥檙e not just solving a temporary problem. You鈥檙e changing lives and building foundations.鈥�

Berger delivered that advice and more in a Commencement address on Dec. 12, 2025, to 136 graduates in 乱伦视频 Law鈥檚 Class of 2025. With family and friends gathering in Alumni Gym on the university鈥檚 main campus, the program marked the culmination of rigorous legal studies and experiential service over the past 2.5 years.

Berger has served as an associate justice on the state鈥檚 highest court since 2021 following years as a prosecutor, Superior Court judge and appellate judge. He reminded graduates that their work will take them into places where people are hurting, confused or alone. Berger likened these places to 鈥渢he well,鈥� telling a modern parable about passersby who leave a man stranded in a well before one who knows the way jumps in to rescue him. Lawyers must be willing to step into these fraught situations and guide others forward.

鈥淭he world will not change because you walked by the well. It will only change if you jump in,鈥� he said.

Commencement for the School of Law鈥檚 18th graduation class also featured a student address from William 鈥淎nderson鈥� Rowe L鈥�25 鈥� a U.S. Army veteran, former construction professional, and father of four 鈥� whom classmates elected to deliver remarks, and a welcome message from former Student Bar Asosciation president Rebecca 鈥淏ecca鈥� Bailey L鈥�25.

Rowe praised a class that supported one another through accelerated studies, career changes, professional growth and personal hardships, united by a shared drive to pursue justice and make a difference in the world. He urged graduates to carry their motivations 鈥� their 鈥渨hy鈥� 鈥� into their careers and to use their voices and new credentials with purpose.

鈥淲hatever your reason, that 鈥榳hy鈥� has carried each of us through challenges like learning how to handle imposter syndrome, our accelerated curriculum, financial pressures and even loss,鈥� he said. 鈥淲ith this Juris Doctor degree, we now can go into our communities, organizations, and workplaces and be the change that we want to see. The world we鈥檙e stepping into needs more than just good lawyers. It needs good people who practice law.鈥�

Bailey welcomed graduates and their supporters, encouraging the Class of 2025 to pause, recognize the weight of their achievement, and celebrate the community that helped make it possible.

鈥淲e are prepared, equipped, and well able to enter a truly noble profession,鈥� Bailey said. 鈥淲elcome to the culmination of all you have worked for and the beginning of your next great adventure.鈥�

The program included the presentation of the David Gergen Award for Leadership & Professionalism, the highest honor bestowed by 乱伦视频 Law each year on an individual from the graduating class whose activities represent the twin principles of leadership and professionalism. The award is named in honor of David Gergen, a former adviser to four American presidents whose professional life and contributions embodied the highest levels of selfless leadership and service. Gergen served as chair of the 乱伦视频 Law Advisory Board from its founding until fall 2024. He passed away July 11 at the age of 83.

Professor Enrique Armijo presented the 2025 award to Saniya Pangare L鈥�25, the former co-director of 乱伦视频 Law鈥檚 Pro Bono Board and Student Mentor Program, and a co-editor of the 乱伦视频 Law Review’s 2025 Symposium.

The ceremony also included a remembrance for Grayson Harris Rehm L鈥�25, who passed away in November 2024. Graduates wore gray and gold cords in his honor, and the class鈥檚 gift 鈥� thousands raised for the Student Emergency Fund 鈥� will support future students facing unexpected hardship. More than 60 percent of the class contributed, and two anonymous donors ensured every graduate could wear the commemorative cords.

In her charge to graduates, 乱伦视频 President Connie Ledoux Book celebrated the Class of 2025鈥檚 achievements and resilience, reminding them that their 乱伦视频 experience 鈥� grounded in learning by doing, real-world engagement, and a commitment to service 鈥� has prepared them to become stewards of justice in a rapidly changing world.

鈥淭oday, you are ready. You enter the profession at a moment when the practice of law is evolving rapidly 鈥� shaped by new technologies, shifting expectations and the pressing need for ethical judgment in a fast-moving world,鈥� Book said. 鈥淎t a time when discourse can be divided and disagreements feel sharp, the legal profession needs practitioners who model civility, clarity and respect.

“Your ability to listen deeply, advocate honorably and engage constructively will strengthen both the profession and the communities you serve.鈥�

“Your ability to listen deeply, advocate honorably and engage constructively will strengthen both the profession and the communities you serve.鈥�

鈥� 乱伦视频 President Connie Ledoux Book

乱伦视频 School of Law’s Class of 2025

Elizabeth Rose Allred
B.A., The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Chloe Bae Anderson
B.A., University of North Carolina at Greensboro

Christian Anderson
B.S., East Carolina University

Ericka Luana Arauco Anaya
B.A., University Gabriel Rene Moreno

Ethan Nicholas Badin
B.A., Hampden-Sydney College

John Denny Bailey, Jr.
B.S., Francis Marion University

Rebecca Susanne Bailey
B.A., Queens University of Charlotte

Ashley Cecilia Bell
B.S., East Carolina University

Bianca Nicole Blanks
B.A., Capital University

Elizabeth Simone Bradley
B.A., Gardner-Webb University

Karin McKenzie Brannon
B.S., Clemson University

Holden Sebastian Bryant
B.S., Lenoir-Rhyne University

Elizabeth Grace Bullins
B.S., Appalachian State University

Joshua Daniel Burgan
B.A., Appalachian State University

Jack Patrick Cahalane
B.A., Bucknell University

Julianna Ester Clark
B.A., University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Ashley Claire Clayton
B.A., Emory and Henry University
M.Ed., Emory and Henry University

Jackson Cluff
B.A., Utah Tech University

Jesse Alexander Collin
B.A., University of South Carolina

Matthew Harrison Cornell
B.S., University of Central Florida

Alexis Croce
B.S., The Pennsylvania State University

Whitney Malyn Cronin
B.S., University of North Carolina at Wilmington

Robert Lee Crowder III
B.S., The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina

David Cruz Reyes
B.A., Western Carolina University

Stephen Michael Cunnane
B.S., University of Tennessee at Chattanooga

Julia Nicole Cunningham
B.S., Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Chase Patrick Duran
B.B.A., Florida Atlantic University

Landon Kyle Eckard
B.S., Appalachian State University

Liam Christopher Edsall
B.S., Randolph-Macon College

Frank Garrett Edwards, Jr.
B.A., George Mason University

Anthony David Figueroa
B.B.A., American Military University

Shea Alexander Floyd
B.S., Western Carolina University

April Nicole Franklin
B.S., North Carolina State University
M.S., MBA, University of North Carolina at Greensboro

Michael Giannecchini
B.A., Florida Gulf Coast University

Madison Dayle Gilbert
B.A., University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Jackie S. Gill
B.A., University of Texas
M.A., University of Texas
Ph.D., University of Texas

Kelsey E. Greene
B.A., East Carolina University

Diana Lizeth Guevara Reyes
B.A., The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Quentin P. Haley
B.A., University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Carter William Hall
B.A., Auburn University

Alyson Michele Hanlon
B.S., Pfeiffer University

Madison Herald
B.A., North Carolina State University

Adriana Hernandez Ordonez
B.A., B.A., Eastern Connecticut State University

Reagan Andrew Hess
B.S., University of Florida

Lillie Snow Hester
B.A., Brigham Young University-Idaho

Jordan Channing Holloway
B.A., University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Kimberly Ann Huffman
B.S., Appalachian State University

Olivia Joandrea Hughes
B.A., University of North Carolina at Wilmington

Frederick Christian Hulse
B.A., Wake Forest University

Salvatore Internicola
B.S., Radford University

Molly O’Grady Irwin
B.A., College of Charleston

Brianna S. Izquierdo
B.B.A., Loyola University Maryland

William Zackary Jackson
B.A., North Carolina State University

Sierra Rose Jarrett
B.S., Western Carolina University

Celia Barclay Jones
B.A., North Carolina State University

Madeline Claire Kern
B.A., 乱伦视频

Lillie Claire Anna Kieken
B.A., Converse University

Thomas Krapp
B.A., University of Pittsburgh

Brian Alexander Kreimer
B.A., Rowan University

Justin Ryan Kremer
B.S., Florida State University

Sadie Elizabeth Lambert
B.S.W. Arizona State University
M.S.W., Arizona State University

Gianna Renee Landrum
B.S., St. Thomas Aquinas College

Nyla Olwen Lewis
B.A., Christopher Newport University

Caroline Moffett Lohn
B.A., Georgia College and State University

McKenna Paige Longo
B.A., University of Delaware

Sophia Maratellos
B.S., Old Dominion University

Daniel Frederick Marshall
B.A., University of Lynchburg

Alicia M. Mathewson
B.S., The University of Akron

Jacqueline Yates May
B.A., B.A., 乱伦视频

Michael James McClelland
B.A., Davidson College

Kaitlyn McConnell
B.A., East Carolina University

Margaret Mary McDonald
B.A., B.S., University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Hailey McGregor
B.A., University of South Carolina

Marcella R. McIntyre
B.A., Roanoke College

Dmitri Craig McKinney
B.A., B.S., North Carolina State University

Madelyn Hanna Mehr
B.A., B.S., North Carolina State University

Briana M. Miller
B.A., University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Summer Jane Miller
B.S., 乱伦视频

Kaytlyn M. Mullins
B.A., Western Governors University

Ashley Morgan Myers
B.S., Clemson University

Harrison Penn Nugent
B.S., Auburn University

Adnan R. Omer
B.S., University of South Carolina

Delaney Clare O’Neill
B.A., Western Kentucky University

Jace Alexander Ortman
B.S., University of North Georgia

Laura Elizabeth Overkamp
B.A., George Mason University

Callie Elizabeth Owens
B.A., University of North Carolina at Greensboro

Jayme Taylor Palmer
B.S., East Carolina University

Saniya Y. Pangare
B.S., North Carolina State University

Lindsey Ann Parsons
B.M., DePauw University
M.M., University of North Carolina at Greensboro

Reema Manish Patel
B.S., University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Caylin Lace Perdue
B.S., Western Carolina University

Ashton Perret-Gentil
B.A., B.S., East Carolina University

Lillie Belle Peterson
B.S., The University of Utah

Taylor Faye Rathbone
B.A., University of North Carolina at Greensboro

Samantha Marie Reid
B.A., Queens University of Charlotte

Gabriella Nicolle Reynolds
B.A., The University of Tennessee

Tristan Anthony Reynolds
B.S., Excelsior University

Hanna Duffy Riley
B.S.M., Tulane University

Cameron Rose Riordan
B.S., West Virginia University

James Tillman Rivenbark
B.S., Birmingham-Southern College

Zinyah Akinyele Robinson
B.A., North Carolina State University

Taylor Renee Rockwood
B.S., Appalachian State University

Jacy Romero
B.A., B.S., Western Carolina University

William Anderson Rowe
B.A., North Carolina State University

Reilly Ann Ruddiman
B.A., University of Washington

Sarah G. Ruffin
B.A., The University of Mississippi

Gavin Elliott Russell
B.A., University of North Carolina at Wilmington

Millenium Dilia Russell
B.S.L.S, Purdue University Global

McKinley Elizabeth Sanders
B.A., Clemson University

Ivey Elizabeth Schofield
B.A., Middlebury College

Jaden Marie Schutt
B.A., University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Emma Patricia Seegers
B.A., University of South Carolina

Darci B. Sharpe
B.S., Liberty University

Ann Estella Sheppard
B.A., B.A., University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Tyler Austin Sherrill
B.S., University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Julia Young Shumate
B.S., Liberty University
M.A., Liberty University

Christopher Galen Siefke, Jr.
B.A., B.S., Longwood University

Jennie Lee Slater
B.A., University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Catherine DeVeaux Snyder
B.S., Clemson University

Austin Charles South
B.S., James Madison University

Savannah Rebekah Stinson
B.A., Winthrop University

Micah Salome Stone
LLB, Independent Institute of Education Varsity College

Taylor Streuli
B.A., University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Kristin Nicole Swilley
B.A., University of North Carolina at Charlotte
M.A., University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Nathan Bryant Tessau
B.S., University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Anna E. Thomas
B.A., University of Georgia

Hannah Thompson
B.A., B.A., California State University, Chico

Brigid Kildare Tournoux
B.B.A., Southeastern Louisiana University

Karrington Nicole Wallace
B.A., Seton Hall University

Michael Spencer Watkins
B.A., 乱伦视频

Sophie Grace White
B.A., Colorado State University

Aliya Elaine Williams
B.S., Towson University

Trevor Chase Williams
B.A., Radford University

Brendan Matthew Wood
B.A., Florida Atlantic University

Gavin J. Woolard
B.A., University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Adam Jozef Zebzda
B.S., Appalachian State University

Moments before, their fighter plane had taken direct hit from German fire.

He aimed their perilous landing on a farm just outside Brussels. McClenny鈥檚 feet hit the ground so hard, his boots left an impression in the earth. Upon landing, the lone survivors of a 10-man crew were immediately captured by German soldiers. From a distance, a Belgian farmer watched their descent and hurried to assist. He found only McClenny鈥檚 footprints and made a plaster cast to preserve the moment.

Fifty years later, that same patch of ground would become a monument to American servicemembers who helped free Belgium and Europe from Nazi rule.

After the war, McClenny returned to continue studies at 乱伦视频 as a star football player and later become a highly respected educator in his hometown of Pikeville, near Goldsboro, North Carolina.

When his grandson, Trey McClenny L鈥�26, decided to study law at 乱伦视频, he carried that legacy with him.

鈥淚t was always my grandfather鈥檚 dream to pursue a law degree,鈥� McClenny said. 鈥淏y the time he had a chance, my mom and her sisters were grown, and they would have had to move from Pikeville, so it never happened. But when I decided to go to law school, that put 乱伦视频 at the top of my list. My grandparents aren鈥檛 here, but studying here feels like they鈥檙e with me for the journey.鈥�

Leading with purpose

Recently elected president of the Student Bar Association at 乱伦视频 Law in Greensboro, Trey McClenny leads with values of service-leadership that are family traits. As a first-year student, McClenny represented his class in the SBA and helped the organization adopt a new set of bylaws 鈥� the first major update since the law school opened in 2006. He also joined the Education Law Society and serves on a faculty-led subcommittee focused on academic climate and student success.

鈥淢y grandparents were both deeply invested in people,鈥� Trey McClenny said. 鈥淚 learned from them that the best kind of success is shared success.鈥�

His passion for advocacy began long before law school. Trey McClenny studied elementary education at UNC Wilmington and spent five years teaching second, third and fourth grade in Brunswick County Schools. He thrived in Title I classrooms that served low-income families, finding purpose in helping students discover their strengths.

鈥淚 wanted my students to reach their full potential,鈥� he said. 鈥淭heir wins were my wins.鈥�

But teaching also revealed how much policy shapes education.

鈥淚 wanted to do more for our schools than I could do from inside the classroom,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 believe in public schools. They teach more than academics 鈥� they teach community and understanding. I want to protect that. Being a lawyer will help me advocate for education in a way that combines both what I know from teaching and what I鈥檒l learn from the law.鈥�

A legacy that endures

Trey McClenny grew up in Pikeville just a few miles from where his grandparents built their life together. His grandfather became a beloved teacher and coach and was elected to the Wayne County Board of Education, where he served eight years as its chair. Though he has only faint memories of his grandfather, Trey McClenny often heard stories from former students and athletes remarking how much his teaching or coaching influenced their lives. His grandmother balanced a banking career with civic leadership, serving on the town board, leading the Lions Club, and volunteering in projects that strengthened their small community. The two shared a deep bond, and Trey McClenny was influenced by her gregarious altruism.

He was later surprised to find that his grandfather hadn鈥檛 shared much about his wartime experiences until later in life. About 10 years after the war, Dave McClenny received a letter from the farmer who preserved his footprints and recovered the flight helmet he lost during his descent. From across the Atlantic, he鈥檇 tracked him down to let him know about the preservation of the site and small shrine erected there. Statewide news articles at the time described Dave McClenny鈥檚 wonder at the discovery.

In 1995, Dave McClenny returned to Belgium with U.S. dignitaries to dedicate a six-foot tall stone stele as a permanent monument to U.S. forces who liberated the country.

As he looks toward his future in law, advocating for North Carolina鈥檚 public schools and the students and teachers he once served from the front of the classroom, Trey McClenny sees 乱伦视频 Law as a place where service and purpose converge 鈥� a community that reflects the same values his grandparents lived by. He often thinks of his grandfather鈥檚 footprints preserved in Belgian soil, a reminder that courage and compassion leave a lasting mark.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a privilege to represent my classmates. I want everyone to feel supported; to know they have someone in their corner,鈥� McClenny said. 鈥淭hat sense of belonging matters to me.鈥�

As an 乱伦视频 undergrad and football player, now a member of TikTok鈥檚 North American legal team, Thompson printed r茅sum茅s, stuffed envelopes and mailed every NFL franchise to get his foot in the door of professional sports. One team called back: the Detroit Lions. That single response opened his first NFL opportunity in player personnel, setting a tone of persistence and relationship-building that has defined his career ever since.

鈥淵ou only need one 鈥榶es鈥�,鈥� Thompson told 乱伦视频 Law students during a career-building session Wednesday, Sept. 10. 鈥淵ou all should use LinkedIn. Reach out to professionals you admire, people whose career you鈥檇 like to emulate. Just reach out. Send a message and ask for a short call to learn about them and their path. Shift your goal from, 鈥業 need an internship,鈥� to 鈥業 want to meet people who know me and like me.鈥� If that conversation goes well, mention opportunities like 乱伦视频 Law鈥檚 residency program or internships, but more importantly you鈥檝e made a connection and started a relationship you can return to years later.鈥�

From 乱伦视频 football to 乱伦视频 Law, Thompson鈥檚 path moved through a 1L summer with a sports agency, a residency with the Washington Commanders, his 2L at Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft, one of Wall Street’s oldest, and most prestigious law firms. That led to his first job, as an associate attorney in Cadwalader’s global litigation and sports law group. He went on to a role as assistant general counsel and a certified NFL agent at Priority Sports & Entertainment, where he negotiated millions of dollars in NFL contracts and advised elite athletes on legal and business matters.

Since 2023, he鈥檚 served as legal counsel on TikTok鈥檚 North American Legal team, negotiating major sponsorships, closing deals with top creators and celebrities, and supporting TikTok’s high-profile events.

An engaged alumnus, he regularly takes calls and messages from students to connect them with opportunities in his network and mentor them. Thompson is also a member of 乱伦视频 Law鈥檚 advisory board, helping guide the school toward its mission to be the premier law school for practical skills training and experiential learning.

During an hour-long discussion with students, he outlined some key tips for success.

Building a network and nurturing relationships

鈥淪ome of your most important professional relationships start here with your classmates,鈥� Thompson said. 鈥淓veryone in this room brings their own network and experiences, so take the time to build relationships with your future colleagues.鈥�

Thompson emphasized that relationships grow through shared experiences, collaboration and intentional connection.

Standing out in a competitive job market

Thompson pointed to 乱伦视频 Law鈥檚 hands-on learning model as a powerful way for students to differentiate themselves. With built-in support for securing meaningful 1L and 2L summer positions, alongside a full-time legal residency, students graduate with practical experience that sets them apart.

鈥淚f you can walk into interviews with three strong experiences from your summers and residency, you鈥檒l rise to the top of the applicant pool,鈥� he said.

Growing in your career

鈥淭he key is learning to adapt to changes 鈥� in the market and in your own life,鈥� Thompson said. 鈥淚 work closely with my clients and make it a point to really immerse myself in their world. The more you understand your clients, the trends shaping their industries, and where the world is headed, the better positioned you are to adapt and stay ahead.鈥�

As his roles have evolved, so has his home life. Now married with a young child, he can鈥檛 be accessible at all hours as he once was. He鈥檚 set boundaries and redesigned how he mentors and networks, for example consolidating individual calls into bi-monthly group Zoom sessions to protect time for family.

乱伦视频 Law Dean Zak Kramer closed with a call-to-action for students.

鈥淎 huge part of our job at 乱伦视频 Law is to allow you to imagine what your life can be, so this is an opportunity to think about what your career and your life could look like,鈥� Kramer said. 鈥淭he lesson I take from Jordan’s life and career is he chased what he wanted, and he didn’t shy away from talking to each and every person.

鈥淛ordan’s is a story about reaching out, and one about receiving calls as much as making calls. If you take anything from this conversation, it鈥檚 that your career is in your control and you have to grab it.鈥�