Bowen Alumni Scholarship Luncheon set for October
August 25-31, 2014
By Becca Bona
For William H. Bowen School of Law, this year’s Alumni Scholarship Luncheon will be held on Wednesday, Oct. 29. At the Doubletree Hotel Grand Ballroom from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. two award recipients will be celebrated.
This year’s public service honorees include alumna Danyelle Walker, ’95, of the Law Office of Danyelle Walker, PLLC and Professor Lynn Foster. Walker will receive the Outstanding Alumni Public Service Award, and Foster will receive the Faculty Excellence Award for Service.
The Faculty Excellence Award recognizes and rewards individuals who have brought credit to the University of Arkansas at Little Rock through efforts in applying their service to the community, state or nation in the area of public interest.
The Outstanding Alumni Public Service Award recognizes an individual based on service to the legal field, law school and service to the community at large.
Walker was humbled after Assistant Dean of External Relations Wanda Hoover gave her the news. Thinking back to her years at Bowen, Walker remembers a true community feel in which she formed relationships with professors and students that are still fresh today. “It’s more of a community that I don’t think I would have gotten if I went to another law school,” she explained.
Service is very near and dear to Walker’s heart, who said that she has experienced going without. “There were plenty of times growing up that we had to do without and so I feel blessed to be placed in a position to help others. … We are put in this position in the legal field, hopefully one of our desires is to help others, and I’m just pleased that I’ve been placed in that position where I can do that.”
Professor Foster also echoes those sentiments. “Many law schools only pay lip service to the “service” part of faculty obligations. Not so at the UALR Bowen Law School. Our faculty members are active on every level ... . Our extremely strong clinic program serves those who otherwise would not receive legal assistance,” she said, highlighting a few of the efforts Bowen makes toward service.
Foster is humbled to receive the honor, as she believes, “We all have an obligation to make our community stronger.”
Hoover is excited for the upcoming luncheon, saying, “This is our sixth year of hosting this event; the event was created in 2009. Dean Emeritus John DiPippa and I wanted to create an event that would endow student scholarships while providing opportunities for students to network with Bowen alumni and the law community.”
Each year the proceeds from the luncheon go towards endowing new student scholarships; and this year will be no different. Individual tickets are $100, a table is $1,000 and sponsorships are available starting at $1,500. A portion of the ticket cost is tax deductible. By purchasing a ticket not only will you be contributing to the new scholarship, you will also be guaranteed that your name will appear on the Annual Giving Donor Wall located outside the Friday Courtroom.
If you cannot attend the scholarship luncheon, however would like to support student scholarships, consider purchasing a fully tax deductible ticket for a current law student.
As one of the many alumni events of the year, Hoover believes that this event is a perfect opportunity to forge new connections. “Our goal is to engage our graduates. Our alums benefit because these events allow them to network with others and learn what’s happening at Bowen,” she said.
To purchase a ticket or for more information, please contact Amy Jackson, aejackson1@ualr.edu.
