Clyburn addresses 136 graduates during commencement ceremony

CHARLESTON, S.C., May 16, 2008 - Some 136 members of the third class of students at the Charleston School of Law graduated today in a ceremony at McAlister Field House on the campus of The Citadel.

"We are incredibly proud of and excited about our graduating Class of 2009," said Dean Andy Abrams. "They are an exceptional group of men and women who are passionate about using their legal education to improve significantly their communities and this nation."

The school, which now is comprised of about 600 students in downtown Charleston, opened in August 2004. It received provisional accreditation from the American Bar Association in December 2006.

"These graduates will be immediately asked to use their legal training to address some of the most complex challenges in our nation's history," Abrams added. "Knowing the quality of these graduates and their depth of commitment to serve the public good, we are absolutely confident, however, that they will answer the call and meet the challenge."

Members of the Class of 2009 distinguished themselves while students by giving 11,553 hours of pro bono, or free, public service to local and state organizations. Since the school was started in 2004, students have contributed more than 46,000 hours of pro bono service to the community and state. The Charleston School of Law is one of the few in the country that requires students to donate at least 30 hours to public service projects as a requirement of graduation.

Also today, the school awarded honorary doctorate degrees to three legal leaders:

• Senior U.S. District Judge G. Ross Anderson Jr. of Anderson, S.C.
• Senior U.S. District Judge Sol Blatt Jr. of Charleston.
• U.S. Rep. James E. Clyburn (D-S.C.), the third-ranking member of the U.S. House of Representatives.
• Clyburn served as commencement speaker.

Clyburn's remarks inspire

In his remarks, Clyburn reminded members of the graduating class that he lost three bids for elected office before first winning his congressional seat in 1992.

"No matter how many times you fail, no how many times you start something and you don't get it done, never give up," Clyburn said. "There's no guarantee as to when success will come because just as you live by your school's motto, I would love for each and every one of you to live by South Carolina's motto, 'While I breathe, I hope.' You should always remember, where there's life, there's hope."

Clyburn encouraged graduates to be more than winners throughout their lives.

"There's a big difference in being victorious and winning," he said. "You are victorious only when you overcome the unexpected, only when you succeed against the odds. Don't just be winners. Be victorious."

Clyburn also congratulated graduates for all of the community service they had done while in law school.

"It is very important to volunteer," he said. "Most people are recognized and rewarded for the things they do that they are not paid to do."

Class of 2009 profile

Some statistics for the graduating class:

• Number: 136 students graduate with the Class of 2009.  (An additional 23 students received degrees in December 2008 and may participate in the May 2009 ceremony.)
• Residency: 74 percent are S.C. residents; 26 percent are non-residents.
• Gender: 55 percent are male; 45 percent are female.
• Age: The median age is 26. The oldest graduate is 60.
• Education: The Class of 2009 includes graduates from 50 colleges and universities. One student is a former Peace Corps volunteer to Tanzania. One is a founder of the Have-Nots, a local improve group.
• Service: The Class of 2009 has donated 11,553 recorded hours of pro
  bono service to the community over the past three years.

• Motto: Pro bono populi ("For the benefit of the people")

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