Commencement 2021

Congratulations, Class of 2021!

On May 14-16, 2021 the Boston University School of Law community held its In-Person Commencement, Virtual Convocation and Virtual Celebrations to commemorate the Class of 2021. Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey delivered the Commencement speech at the Virtual Convocation. She was joined by graduates Sara Alrehaili (LLM’21) and Temiloluwa Omilabu (JD’21) as they delivered the student address for their respective programs. Degree candidates were invited to participate in the In-Person Advanced Degree Commencement Ceremony at Nickerson Field on May 16, 2021.

Attorney General Maura Healey’s Remarks

About Attorney General Maura Healey

Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey is serving currently in her second term, continuing a career spent fighting for justice and equal rights by serving as the “People’s Lawyer.”

Since taking office in January 2015, Healey has tackled issues that touch the lives of residents across Massachusetts, like confronting the devastating opioid epidemic, reducing gun violence, enforcing civil rights, protecting consumers, and addressing climate change. She has also made combatting the crime of human trafficking a high priority, and students and faculty from BU Law’s Immigrants’ Rights & Human Trafficking Program have been fortunate to partner with her office on these efforts.

Healey is an advocate for a more equal and inclusive workplace. In May 2015, she announced that her office would provide six weeks of paid family leave for all employees, making it the first state agency to offer paid parental leave. The office has also helped shape state legislation that would expand opportunities for women in the workplace, including bills to protect pregnant workers and ensure pay equity.

As a civil rights attorney, Healey is committed to ensuring that all residents are treated fairly. As former head of the Civil Rights Division, Healey was the architect of the state’s successful challenge to the federal Defense of Marriage Act and argued the case in federal court. As attorney general, she has advocated for marriage equality and helped pass a law to protect transgender individuals from discrimination. She has also championed access to healthcare and reproductive freedom.

Healey grew up the oldest of five brothers and sisters in Hampton Falls, New Hampshire. Her mother worked as a school nurse, her father was a captain in the military and a civil engineer, and her stepfather taught history and coached high school sports. Her family roots are in Newburyport and along the North Shore, where her grandfathers worked at the post office and in the general store. From her family, she learned the values of hard work, discipline, and the importance of taking care of others.

Healey graduated from Harvard College in 1992 and was captain of the women’s basketball team. She played professional basketball in Europe before returning to Massachusetts to attend Northeastern University School of Law. She was inducted into the New England Basketball Hall of Fame in 2006.

Early in her career, Healey clerked for Judge David Mazzone in the United States District Court of Massachusetts. Prior to joining the Attorney General’s Office, Healey was a junior partner at the international law firm WilmerHale, where she represented clients in the financial services, pharmaceutical, medical device, software, energy, biotechnology, and professional sports sectors. She is a former special assistant district attorney in Middlesex County, where she tried drug, assault, domestic violence, and motor vehicle cases.

 

Boston University School of Law Convocation – Full Program

 

Awards & Prizes

Sebastian Horsten Prize for Academic Achievement, to the LLM in American Law student who has achieved the highest cumulative average in the Class of 2021: Zhao Wang

American Law Outstanding Achievement Award, for excellence in academic achievement, honorable conduct, and contributions to the class: Anmol Sheth

Graduate Tax Program Academic Achievement Award, for the highest cumulative average in the Class of 2021: Jacob David Nielsen

Ernest M. Haddad Award, to the graduating Graduate Tax Program student who best exhibits overall ability, taking into consideration academic achievement, character, and potential to serve the public interest: Jonathan A. Monk

A. John Serino Outstanding Graduate Banking & Financial Law Student Prize, for overall performance, in terms of academic achievement and dedication to the highest standards of scholarship and service: David Lamorte

Dennis S. Aronowitz Award for Academic Excellence in Banking & Financial Law, for the highest cumulative average in the Class of 2021: Gino Ibanez

Faculty Award for Academic Accomplishment, for the most scholarly progress in the third year: Kennedy Paige Williams

William L. and Lillian Berger Achievement Prizes, for exemplary scholastic achievement: Theresa Madonna and Chase J. Shelton

Faculty Awards for Community Service, for exceptional dedication to the ideals of community service: Shirley Judith Duquene and Daisy Alejandra Figueroa

Peter Bennett Prize, to the graduating third-year JD law student(s) receiving the highest–grade point average for that year: Jacob David Nielsen

Spencer R. Koch Memorial Awards, for outstanding contributions to achieving the goals of the Esdaile Alumni Center through alumni outreach: Amanda Joy Febles  and Melissa Nicole Morel

Honorable Albert P. Pettoruto Memorial Award, for excellence in the field of probate or family law: Dana Jian Rodriguez and Dorothy V. Wilkinson

Melville M. Bigelow Scholarship Awards, to members of the graduating class who show the greatest promise as scholars and teachers in law: McKenzi Brenaye Baker, Kaela R. Dunn, Muhammad Zayd Mustafa

Warren S. Gilford Humanity and Law Prizes, to students who shows humanitarian interest in law, primarily by taking jobs in the public sector after graduation: Isabel Burlingame and Olivia A. Strange

Alumni Academic Achievement Award, for the highest cumulative average in the three-year program of law study: Jacob David Nielsen

Sylvia Beinecke Robinson Awards, for significant contributions to the life of the School of Law: Temiloluwa Ayooluwa Omilabu and Jaclyn Sehra Tayabji 

Dr. John Ordronaux Prize, awarded to members of the graduating class for exemplary academic performance and leadership: Kimberley A. Bishop and Chase J. Shelton

Jeffrey R. Lowe Memorial Award, awarded to a student from New Jersey with a grade point average of 3.0 or above who has shown excellence in his or her chosen field: Marissa Buccafusco and Anyela Perez

CLEA Outstanding Externship Student Award: Christina Paek

CLEA Outstanding Clinic Student Team Award: Olivia A. Strange

Michael Melton Award for Excellence in Teaching is named for a longtime faculty member, who taught in the tax area and was director of the Graduate Tax Program, who died in 1999 at 53: Katharine Silbaugh

Deans’ Teaching Awards: Connie Browne and Jasmine Gonzales Rose

Dean’s Scholarship Awards: Stacey Dogan and David Webber

Part-Time Faculty Teaching Award, in recognition of the outstanding teaching of BU Law’s part-time faculty: Brian Flaherty

Michaels Faculty Research Scholars: Daniela Caruso, Karen Pita Loor, Rory Van Loo, Jay Wexler

Law Alumni Scholars: Anna di Robilant and Robert Tsai

Paul Siskind Scholars: Maria O’Brien and David Webber

Class of 1960 Scholars: Stephen Marks and Jasmine Gonzales Rose

Yanakakis Faculty Research Scholar: Jessica Silbey

 

Commencement 2020

Boston University is planning to hold a dedicated Commencement ceremony during Alumni Weekend (September 29 through October 3, 2021) for all those who completed degrees from September 2019 through January 2021. Please see the message from President Brown for the full announcement.

We encourage you to monitor BU Law’s Commencement page for more information about the law school’s celebration for 2020 graduates as well as the main BU commencement website for updates.

This website will be updated as more information becomes available. Please refer to the links to left for information about all aspects of Commencement 2020 and 2021. If you have any questions regarding commencement that are not answered after reviewing those links, please email Elizabeth Clancey at lawevent@bu.edu.