Category: Law School News

Bryan Glinton, GR'93, LW'93, says this without a hint of irony: "The Bahamas is a hot jurisdiction right now." Glinton is talking about the business climate rather than the temperatures in his native Nassau. When it comes to business in the Bahamas, he's always got an eye on the thermometer.

The Law School faculty selected two students in late spring to receive awards. Brooke Timmer, 2005-06 Student Bar Association president, received the Iowa State Bar Association Award. The award is given to the graduating senior who by service, attitude and ability is expected to be the most successful member of the class in leadership and service to the Iowa State Bar.

Dwight Opperman, a 1951 Drake Law alumnus, has donated $3 million to further endow the Opperman Scholar program. The fund awards five or more merit-based, full-tuition scholarships for outstanding first-year students, and the scholarships are renewable.

A $750,000 leadership gift from Pioneer Hi-Bred International Inc. is earmarked for a dynamic, new program in intellectual property law, Walker said. "We want the Drake Law School to be a national and international leader in intellectual property law," Drake Law School Dean David Walker said.

Through the generosity of Wane and Donna Kern, Drake Law School received a gift of $1.5 million to endow the Kern Family Chair. The focus of the chair is pursuant to the new strategic plan and on-going efforts to enhance Drake Law School.

The Drake Law School faculty members' expertise, research and activity within their fields continue to advance the profile and reputation of the school. Here's a look at what some faculty members have been up to this year:

Rose Vasquez, LW'85, the executive director of the Polk County (Iowa) Human Services Alliance, was honored as the Drake Law School's Alumna of the Year at the recent Supreme Court Banquet.

The Drake Black Law Student Association chapter was named Chapter of the Year at the Midwest Regional Convention in Madison, Wis., in February. The chapter competed against 45 chapters among 12 states for the award, including heavyweight schools such as Notre Dame University

The Drake Law School team of Kim Bartosh and Karin Derry recently won the regional American Bar Association Client Counseling Competition at William Mitchell Law School in St. Paul, Minn.

The Drake Law School and the American Judicature Society partnered for a series of successful and enlightening talks about the United States justice system this fall and spring.