MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — A $9,000 gift from the West Virginia Bar Foundation is benefiting the Black Law Students Association and the Meredith Career Services Center at the West Virginia University College of Law.
The Bar Foundation recently raised the funds at its annual Lunch and Laughs with Legal Legends. The virtual event honored Edwin (J.D. ’54) and Ellie Flowers (’54).
Ed is a former WVU vice president, federal bankruptcy judge and justice on the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia. Ellie is a former journalist and higher education administrator who led the career services office at WVU Law for 20 years.
The Flowers selected the gift recipients, who will share the funds equally.
BLSA will establish an annual writing competition that examines the legal opinions of the late Frank Cleckley, a WVU Law professor and the first African American justice on the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia. BLSA will use information gathered in the competition to honor Cleckley’s legacy.
The Career Services Center will use its portion of the gift to help students in all phases of their job search, including additional educational and networking opportunities.
From left to right: Isaiah Robinson, president of the Black Law Students Association, Professor Jena Martin, BLSA advisor, Ellie Flowers, Ed Flowers, John Taylor, interim dean, and Rosalind Lister, interim assistant dean for career services. (Photo courtesy of Tom Tinder.)
The West Virginia Bar Foundation is the philanthropic organization for the legal profession and justice system in the state. The current president is Harry G. Shaffer, III (J.D. ’81) and the Foundation’s executive director is Thomas R. Tinder (J.D. ’72).
The gift was made through the WVU Foundation, the nonprofit organization that receives and administers private donations on behalf of West Virginia University.
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