SCU Black Law Student Association’s Graduation Ceremony is a pre-commencement celebration to honor SCU BLSA graduates who through unyielding determination have successfully completed their Juris Doctor degree from Santa Clara Law School. The Ceremony is representative of African and African American culture and heritage, embraces the value of community and scholarship, and culminates with a Kente Stole presentation. This presentation is a celebration for graduates to be recognized for their accomplishments and to honor significant people who have helped them achieve their goal. Students are honored together in one setting and their families also get the opportunity to celebrate their hard work and dedication.
The Keynote speaker for the 2019 celebration was the Honorable Judge Rise Pichon BS ’73, JD ’76. Judge Pichon is an SCU Law Alumna and became Santa Clara County’s first African American presiding Superior Court Judge.
2019 Sponsorships allowed this year’s event to be exceptional, including a hosted bar and Photo Booth. Cooley Law Firm hosted the celebration in their Palo Alto Office. Additional sponsors included Themis Bar Review, Monique Brewster and Hopkins Carley, Santa Clara University Committee of Diversity and Inclusion and OneHope Wine.
2019 BLSA Graduates
Grad Alexis Glasgow and family
Keynote Speaker Judge Rise Pichon BS ’73 JD ’76
Graduate Simone Chambliss has the Kente Stole presented to her by her grandmother. Graduates pick who they want to place their stoles on them as part of the ceremony. The placing of the stoles on the graduates is called the Kente presentation.
