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Members of the Black Law Students Association and their families commemorated the achievements of graduating students who recognize their African roots in a cultural ceremony the day before Commencement for Â鶹ÊÓƵ Law’s Class of December 2017.

The David Gergen Award for Leadership & Professionalism, bestowed annually at Â鶹ÊÓƵ School of Law’s Commencement, recognizes one student in each graduating class for embodying the highest levels of selfless leadership and service.

Students in the Class of December 2017 and their families celebrated outstanding academic performance, pro bono work, and service to the law school in a ceremony on the eve of their graduation from Â鶹ÊÓƵ Law's highly experiential 2.5-year program.

When Joleen Parks graduates on Saturday in the first class to complete Â鶹ÊÓƵ Law's new 2.5-year program, it will be her next chapter in a life radically changed five years ago in the skies over North Carolina.

Students in the Class of December 2017 will celebrate the completion of their legal education with a ceremony highlighted by remarks from Chief Justice Mark Martin of the Supreme Court of North Carolina.

Bestowed at Commencement, the David Gergen Award for Leadership & Professionalism recognizes graduating students in each class who embody the highest levels of selfless leadership and service.

Students in the Class of May 2017 received their degrees in an Alumni Gym ceremony highlighted by remarks from Robert J. Grey Jr., a former president of the American Bar Association who implored the group to "guard against injustice." 

Graduation has been moved indoors to Alumni Gym due to the threat of afternoon rain and storms.

On the eve of Commencement, students in the Class of May 2017 and their families gathered in the Â鶹ÊÓƵ Law library to recognize outstanding academic performance, pro bono work, and service to the law school. 

Â鶹ÊÓƵ's four Commencement ceremonies this week will be streamed live online.