The Law School is incredibly proud of its 2024 graduates. Your perseverance and resilience beginning law during a pandemic, and continuing semester to semester with such uncertainty in the world, is truly admirable. It is a testament to your professionalism and work ethic and we look forward to following your careers and championing all your future successes.
Valedictorians
This award is given to the valedictorian from each of the school’s divisions (full-time and part-time).
Taylor Blumenthal, part-time program
Undergraduate Institution: Georgia State University
Favorite AJMLS memory: Spring ’24 Mock Trial competition at Stetson University College of Law in Gulfport, Florida.
Plans/dreams after the bar exam: No set plans. I want to be a litigator but I’m open to other opportunities as well.
Derek Nunes Dias Fernandes, full-time program
Undergraduate Institution: Escola Naval (Brazilian Naval School)
Favorite AJMLS memory: The many times when a professor complemented the class material with a story about their own personal experiences.
Plans/dreams after the bar exam: Starting a career in immigration law.
Commencement Marshals
This inaugural recognition was peer chosen. Members of the graduating class voted to select two students (one part-time and one full-time student) to lead the processional, announce the members on the dais, and guide the recessional.
Leah Young, full-time program
Undergraduate Institution: Howard University
Favorite AJMLS memory: Meeting my peers for the first time at 1L orientation. Some of the people at the table I sat at have been with me my entire matriculation at John Marshall and I am so happy we were able to cross the finish line together.
Plans/dreams after the bar exam: I am currently looking for post-graduation employment. Nevertheless, whatever field of law I decide to pursue I know that AJMLS has equipped me to be the best attorney I can be!
Marquez Jones, part-time program
Undergraduate Institution: Clayton State University
Favorite AJMLS memory: Barrister’s Ball 2024, when I was crowned Mr. Atlanta John Marshall Law School.
Plans/dreams after the bar exam: I plan to work in public interest.
Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School Outstanding Graduate Awards
This award is given annually to one graduate in each of the school’s divisions (part-time and full-time) who best demonstrates standards of competence and professionalism, a strong social conscience, high ethical standards, and a commitment to the improvement of the legal system and society, as determined by the Faculty on recommendation of the Honors and Awards Committee.
Derek Nunes Dias Fernandes, full-time program
Undergraduate Institution: Escola Naval (Brazilian Naval School)
Favorite AJMLS memory: The many times when a professor complemented the class material with a story about their own personal experiences.
Plans/dreams after the bar exam: Starting a career in immigration law.
Grace C. Rispoli-Gomez, part-time program
Undergraduate Institution: Stony Brook University (SUNY)
Favorite AJMLS memory: The memories I made with my friends, from studying days on end, to celebrating the end of each semester.
Plans/dreams after the bar exam: My dream is to argue a constitutional issue before the appellate court.
Pro Bono Distinction Award
This distinction is given to students who have completed 75 hours or more of pro bono work during their law school career.
Lucilla Harrell
Graduate institutions: South Dakota State University, SUNY Empire State University
Favorite AJMLS memory: The moment in our first semester when my cohort peers realized I was Zooming in from a prison facility stands out. And nothing beats the overwhelmingly loving applause they gave me at graduation. This is such a supportive, brilliant group of people, and I’ve been fortunate to get to know them better. That first memory is laughable now, but the truth is that they helped make some of my hardest days bearable.
Plans/dreams after the bar exam: To create alternatives to the bar exam. In the South, we need to start having the kinds of conversations they’ve been having in Washington and a handful of other states. The bar exam is a gatekeeping guidepost that puts poor people at risk by limiting legal resources (and being discriminatory). It’s no coincidence that those who oppose revamping legal licensing procedures are usually profiting from their existence. My plan is to keep advocating for my People full force until and after I’m given the green light to take the test.
Excellence In Pro Bono
This award is given to those students whose pro bono hours are among the top 10% earned in the graduating class. This award is not merit-based.
Carolina Melguizo
Undergraduate institution: Georgia State University
Favorite AJMLS memory: Although I have many favorite memories from law school, one that stands out is forming lasting friendships and traveling to Florida with two mock trial teams. The experience of competing together and supporting each other during the trip created bonds that will last a lifetime.
Plans/dreams after the bar exam: After the Bar Exam, I will travel to Colombia to visit family and friends that I have not seen in over four years. I am also in the process of securing a job practicing criminal and immigration law. My dream is to make positive change to ensure that everyone receives equal access to justice.
The Chief Justice Leah Ward Sears Pro Bono Award
The Chief Justice Leah Ward Sears Pro Bono Award is given to the graduate whose pro bono work has demonstrated outstanding commitment to legal services for underserved communities and their work was impactful.
Tekari J. Matthews
Undergraduate institution: Spelman College
Favorite AJMLS memory: I have many invaluable memories from AJMLS that it is so difficult to choose; however, my most favorite memory is being a member of the Landlord Tenant Hybrid Clinic, and getting a chance to assist my Professor in helping at risk tenants in Fulton County with with their landlord/tenant legal issues. It was an indescribable feeling to not only give back to a community where I grew up in, but also to be able to fully analyze the tenant’s real world legal problems.
Plans/dreams after the bar exam: After the bar exam, I will be pursuing my dreams of joining my family’s law firm as a personal injury attorney.
Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School Award for Excellence in Appellate Advocacy
This award is given to the outstanding student participant on a John Marshall Law School moot court competition team.
Noelia C. Rivera
Undergraduate institution: Georgia Gwinnett College
Favorite AJMLS memory: My favorite AJMLS memories include anytime I was tasked with advocating for a client. Whether that was winning my 1L oral argument, participating in the Thurgood Marshall Moot Court competition, or getting an A in my Criminal Trial Advocacy mock trial final exam. I love being an advocate and using everything I have learned in order to win for my clients.
Plans/dreams after the bar exam: I am currently looking for positions in litigation, specifically business litigation firms. My dream is to work as an intellectual property litigator.
Jude Harold R. Banke Advocacy Award
This award is given to the outstanding student participant on a mock trial competition team.
Taylor Blumenthal
Undergraduate Institution: Georgia State University
Favorite AJMLS memory: Spring ’24 Mock Trial competition at Stetson University College of Law in Gulfport, Florida.
Plans/dreams after the bar exam: No set plans. I want to be a litigator but I’m open to other opportunities as well.
Henning Award for The Atlanta Bar Association Dispute Resolution Section
This award is given to an outstanding ADR student at each of the state’s five ABA-accredited law schools. These awards are given in memory of Ed Henning, one of the “founding fathers” of mediation in Georgia.
Devin S. McCoy
Undergraduate Institution: Kennesaw State University, B.S. Biology
Graduate Institution: Georgia State University, M.S. Biomedical Enterprise
Favorite AJMLS memory: As unique of a response as this may sound, I enjoyed my 1L year on Zoom. We were able to persevere through an unconventional way of learning and still worked hard to produce organic, genuine connections – ones that remained true when we were able to gather together in-person.
Plans/dreams after the bar exam: Having passed the February 2024 bar exam, I am already working to help my organization remain compliant with legal standards from a global standpoint, while protecting our people.
Georgia Association For Women Lawyers Outstanding Graduate Award
This award is given to a woman from each Georgia law school based on academic accomplishments and contributions to women’s issues.
Tylore Bell
Undergraduate Institution: Cal State Dominguez Hills
Favorite AJMLS memory: My welcome speech as BLSA president during ATJ Day.
Plans/dreams after the bar exam: Relaxing, getting into the thick of wedding planning, and moving to DC with my fiance.
National Association of Women Lawyers Outstanding Law Student Award
This award is given to a third-year law student who who best exemplifies the following characteristics:
- Contributes to the advancement of women in society
- Promotes issues and concerns of women in the legal profession
- Exhibits motivation, tenacity, and enthusiasm
- Demonstrates high academic achievement
- Earns the respect of the faculty and administration
Katie C. Jett
Undergraduate Institution: Georgia Southern University, Armstrong Campus
Favorite AJMLS memory: My favorite memory from AJMLS was receiving the Outstanding Peer Mentor Award. It meant so much to me because I had such an amazing peer mentor. The positive experience I shared with my mentees felt like I was passing my mentor’s impact to the next generation of law students at AJMLS.
Plans/dreams after the bar exam: My plans upon successful completion of the Georgia bar exam is to become a real estate attorney. My personal goal after the bar is to buy more land and start a farm with my loving family and all our animals.
Order of Quill
The Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School (AJMLS) Order of the Quill (“Order”) is an honor society that recognizes significant academic achievement in designated required doctrinal courses (“Quill” courses). Students who achieve the required cumulative grade point average in the Quill courses will be eligible for admission into the Order. Members of the Order shall receive certificates of membership and be recognized at graduation.
Taylor Blumenthal, Scholar of the Order
Undergraduate Institution: Georgia State University
Favorite AJMLS memory: Spring ’24 Mock Trial competition at Stetson University College of Law in Gulfport, Florida.
Plans/dreams after the bar exam: No set plans. I want to be a litigator but I’m open to other opportunities as well.
Grace C. Rispoli-Gomez, Scholar of the Order
Undergraduate Institution: Stony Brook University (SUNY)
Favorite AJMLS memory: The memories I made with my friends, from studying days on end, to celebrating the end of each semester.
Plans/dreams after the bar exam: My dream is to argue a constitutional issue before the appellate court.
Derek Nunes Dias Fernandes, Exemplar Scholar and Marshall of the Order
Undergraduate Institution: Escola Naval (Brazilian Naval School)
Favorite AJMLS memory: The many times when a professor complemented the class material with a story about their own personal experiences.
Plans/dreams after the bar exam: Starting a career in immigration law.
December 2023 Graduates
Tiffany D. Barragan
Darryl H. Ford
Oluwatoyin Leke-Alli
Devin S. McCoy
May 2024 Graduates
Alysa S. Adamson
Nikou Ahmad-Khosravi, cum laude
Bernell J. Alexander, III
Nathan C. Azarowicz
Nicholas S. Barker
Robert O. Baumbach
Andrea D. Beard
Candice L. Belafi
Jacob R. Belcastro
Tylore Bell
Taylor Blumenthal, magna cum laude
Alexis J. Burnett
Wendy D. Carlyle, cum laude
Skyelar G. Caudle
Joseph M. Chappelle
Tiara L.Clemmons, cum laude
Michael T. Craven
James Dahlquist
Gabrielle E. Dean
Shinnay Richards Dodson
Savannah L. Drexler
Robert S. Ferguson
Derek Nunes Dias Fernandes, summa cum laude
Chandler M. Garrison
Jewell M. Gentry-Mickelson
Skylar M. Gibson
Shanae Hall
Lucilla Harrell
Lauren T. Henderson
Michael A. Hosea
Eryn A. Jenkins*
Katie C. Jett
Marquez A. Jones
Kyle L. Kerns
Ashley L. Kreider
Reddlene Lamour, cum laude
Nefertiri J. Lashley*
Kimberly H. Latimore
Michelle S. Lee
Trina M. Mampuya
Tekari J. Matthews-Reid
Taylor Mcclure
Brandi A. McNeal*
Carolina Melguizo
Meagan C. Millsaps
Adrian J. Paredes-Novella*
Shaan Rajiv Parikh
Michael A. Parra
Khushboo V. Patel
Daniel E. Pozo
Cary B. Racioppi
Joshua Redmond
Grace C. Rispoli-Gomez
Noelia C. Rivera
Jordan M. Robinson
Austin K. Russell
Joshua D. Sachs*
Blakely S. Sawyer
Tahirah I. Scott
William B. Slaten Jr.*
Savannah L. Smarch
Joy C. Smith
Rebecca L. Smith
Jacob L. Sperber, cum laude
Regina S. Stokes
Matthew B. Tans, cum laude
Darrell L. Thirkield, Jr.
Wide M. Thomas
Daniel E. Thompson, Jr.
Jakob R. Touchstone
Maria P. Velasco
Blake A. Whitsell
Chloe M. Williams
Alexia Woodley
Leah L. Young
Maxwell R. Zettler
Kendrick F. Zuluaga
July 2024
Heather A. Jenkins*
Chinyere Marshall
December 2024
Tamaara Dunlap
*Criminal Justice Certificate Program