Students at award reception.
 

AUWCL BLSA Receives Chapter of the Year Award

 

March 24, 2020

American University Washington College of Law’s Black Law Students Association (BLSA) was awarded 2020 Chapter of the Year by the Mid-Atlantic Black Law Student Association (“MABLSA”).

For the second consecutive year, AUWCL’s BLSA Chapter received the accolade at the Annual MABLSA Regional Convention, this year held in Philadelphia Feb. 5-9. The distinguished award compares local BLSA chapters of law schools in the region and, as based on membership size, recognizes local chapters who have demonstrated a commitment to community outreach/pro bono, advocacy, pre-law student relations, regional programming, international relations, alumni relations, and collaborations with local student organizations/chapters.

"Winning Chapter of the Year serves as a testament to our chapter’s efforts to connect, collaborate, and strengthen our community. This year, our chapter not only increased our presence at WCL, but in the DMV area as well,” BLSA’s executive board said in a joint statement. “We gained chapter-wide membership into the Washington Bar Association and strengthened ties with other school organizations and programs such as the Jewish Law Students Association, Lambda Law Society and Program on Law and Government, and If/When/How. Not only did we become highly recognized in the DMV area, but across the country.”

4L Meagan Allen, national treasurer for the NBLSA, was also awarded National Board Member of the Year. 2Ls Veronica Faison and Rachel Mina, members of the Alternative Dispute Resolutions Honor Society, competed as an independent team and won first-place at the Nelson Mandela International Negotiations Competition held at the National BLSA Convention in Cincinnati, Ohio. Additionally, Faison won Best Negotiator. The team was coached by AUWCL alum Jacqueline Youm '16.

“Our Chapter’s competition team’s first place win in the Nelson Mandela International Negotiations Competition at the 52nd National Black Law Students Convention in Cincinnati, Ohio further emphasizes the quality and skill of our members as well as the law school's advocacy program,” the Chapter said. “Winning chapter of the year for the second year in a row reaffirms our success in ensuring that our members thrive and are prepared to be community engaged attorneys no matter where they go." 

2019-2020 WCL BLSA EXECUTIVE BOARD

PRESIDENT
Joy Applewhite

VICE PRESIDENT
Autumn Clarke

TREASURER
Ebonee Johnson

HISTORIAN
Aneka Billings (Fall); Ayana Anderson (Spring)

CHIEF OF STAFF
Daraja Carroll

SECRETARY
Charles Fraser

DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY SERVICE INITIATIVES
Cassandre Gaspard

DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC RELATIONS
Veronica Faison

DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL AND REGIONAL OUTREACH
Daraja Carroll

DIRECTOR OF EVENTS AND PROGRAMMING
Idrienne Walker

DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL ACTIVITIES
Cameron Ruffin

DIRECTOR OF FACULTY RELATIONS AND ALUMNI AFFAIRS
Kyle Ehlers

DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL ADVOCACY
Yara Calcano

DIRECTORS OF MENTORSHIP PROGRAM
Nneka Azikiwe & Raina Barbee

CORPORATE RELATIONS CHAIR
DeVaughn Jones