Posted by Mary Wimberley on 2007-01-25

The Black Law Students Association (BLSA) at Samford University's Cumberland School of Law bested 42 chapters from law schools in 9 states and Puerto Rico to take top honors in regional award competition.

The 39-member Cumberland chapter was named 2006-07 Chapter of the Year by the Southern Region of the Black Law Students Association (SRBLSA) at the convention in Miami, Fla., last weekend (Jan. 20).

The chapter was cited for its community service, academic and social awareness involvement in a variety of local and international initiatives.

Projects have included an Eat Well! Test Well! nutrition program at a Birmingham school, and involvements in a national death penalty moratorium initiative, World Aids Day awareness events and Save Darfur international emphasis. The Cumberland chapter impressed judges with more than 30 other projects, ranging from mentoring programs to food drives, undertaken during the year.

Jennifer Reid, a third-year law student from Greensboro, N.C., is president of the Cumberland chapter.

In March, the Cumberland chapter will represent the region in national competition sponsored by the National Black Law Students Association.

In other regional convention activity, Cumberland BLSA members Josie Harris-Walton and Tondra Moore were elected to the 2007-08 southern region board. Harris-Walton will serve as a director responsible for all BLSA chapters in Alabama and Georgia. Moore will be regional director of next year's regional Thurgood Marshall Mock Trial competition.

Also during the regional meeting, two Cumberland teams fared well in moot court and mock trial competitions. Moore, LaMonica Orr, Robyn Owens and Randall Woodfin advanced to the quarterfinal round of the Thurgood Marshall Mock Trial competition.

Michelle Butler and LaTara Johnson advanced to the quarter final round of the Frederick Douglass Moot Court competition.

 
Samford is a leading Christian university offering undergraduate programs grounded in the liberal arts with an array of nationally recognized graduate and professional schools. Founded in 1841, Samford is the 87th-oldest institution of higher learning in the United States. Samford enrolls 5,791 students from 49 states, Puerto Rico and 16 countries in its 10 academic schools: arts, arts and sciences, business, divinity, education, health professions, law, nursing, pharmacy and public health. Samford fields 17 athletic teams that compete in the tradition-rich Southern Conference and ranks 6th nationally for its Graduation Success Rate among all NCAA Division I schools.