Christopher Antonino '15, Dean Cieply, Margaret Hilton Antonino '15, Shea Hasenauer '16

Dear Friends,
 
I want to congratulate all of our students who have made it to their finals this semester. We're proud of you and your hard work.
 
Last month I shared the exciting news about our law library being renamed the "Veterans Memorial Law Library." We are very grateful to a group of founders who have pledged their support to make this dream come true.
 
I sincerely hope you will join me for the official dedication of the law library on December 7, Pearl Harbor Day. We are planning a very special celebration for the Ave Law community to honor our nation's heroes. 
 
I also invite you to consider participating in our Veterans Memorial Wall of Honor that will be prominently placed on the entry hall of the library. On this wall the names of our nation's fallen heroes, veterans, and those currently serving in the armed forces will be distinctly displayed as a lasting legacy. By pledging your support, you can be a part of this lasting tribute to honor a loved one. More information can be found in this month's newsletter. 

My thanks to the entire Ave Law Community, and to you, for making each day at Ave Law a blessing.





Kevin Cieply
President and Dean
For more information on Ave Maria School of Law news and events, visit our website . 
Making Ave Law the BEST CHOICE FOR VETERANS
Victory Media has announced their 2017 Military Friendly Schools and Ave Maria School of Law has made the list. The ratings recognize companies and schools with leading programs for veterans, members of the Armed Forces leaving military service and military spouses. This comes at such an important time as our goal is to make Ave Maria School of Law the best choice for veterans. Ave Maria School of Law honors those who have served our country and provides financial assistance to help pay for the cost of attendance at the Law School. To learn more about Ave Law's veterans programs and scholarships, please visit our website.

Dedicating  Our Law Library
On December 7, we will hold a dedication ceremony on campus honoring our veterans by renaming our law library the Ave Maria School of Law Veterans Memorial Law Library on our library grounds at the front entrance. A dinner reception will follow in St. Thomas More Commons. To attend, please RSVP to Chris Newman at cnewman@avemarialaw.edu. 
 
I would like to take this time to thank each and every one of our Founding Members who have donated to our library, and to those who have donated to the Veterans Wall of Honor. We are most grateful and blessed to have you as a part of our community.

"Can You Honor
A Veteran?"
Please consider making a donation to the Founding Members Naming Program and Veterans Wall of Honor Initiative for the Veterans Memorial Law Library. 

For more information, please contact
Donna C. Heiser, Chief Advancement & Communications Officer, (239) 687-5405 or dheiser@avemarialaw.edu.

Please SAVE-THE-DATE and JOIN US for a Special Event 
on December 7, Pearl Harbor Day .
We will dedicate the new Veterans Memorial Law Library at 4:00 pm at the library.
 A reception on campus follow the dedication in St. Thomas More Commons.
Ave Law  Visits New York City
Dean Cieply, Monsignor McGrath, Tom Monaghan and hosts Robert and Jan Dilenschneider

On November 3, Ave Law held a special regional school awareness event in New York City hosted by Robert and Jan Dilenschneider. Jan Dilenschneider is an accomplished artist and Bob Dilenscheider is the founder of The Dilenscheider Group, a corporate strategic counseling and public relations firm. We first celebrated with a Mass at St. Patrick's Cathedral by His Excellency, The Most Reverend Bernardito C. Auza, Titular Archbishop of Suacia, Apostolic Nuncio, Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations, Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the Organization of America States, with a reception following immediately.
 
We would like to thank all of our friends and supporters in New York who were able to join us for such a successful evening.

SPOTLIGHT ON: PROFESSOR ERIC FLEETHAM

Professor Eric Fleetham joined Ave Maria School of Law in August of 2009. Prior to joining the Ave faculty, he practiced law for twelve years as a litigator with Varnum, Riddering, Schmidt & Howlett LLP in Grand Rapids, Michigan, handling trial and appellate cases involving wide ranging legal issues, such as contracts, asbestos, insurance coverage, and environmental matters.This should come as no surprise to his students: he served on the firm's library committee for several years and taught research skills to the firm's summer clerks. He also taught courses in legal research and writing and litigation as an adjunct professor at Davenport University.    
 
Outside of Ave, Eric serves in his church as a leader in the high school and middle school ministry. He is also very active with various activities with his family. With his eleven-year old son, Mathew, he has been a Cub Scout leader and flag football coach. With his thirteen-year old daughter, Elizabeth, he has proudly worn the label "Drama Dad," working on sets for plays that his daughter has acted in, such as Tom Sawyer, Charlotte's Web, and Mulan. 
 
What Eric enjoys about teaching at Ave:
"I enjoy the small, family-oriented atmosphere, which permits me to get to know the students on a personal level. I also like the fact that faith is a central focus of the school. I believe this is a place where students can discover that their true identity is in Christ, as opposed to letting their career or other interests define them. Finally, I get the opportunity to work every day with truly wonderful people."

Eric's recent presentation: 
Teaching Legal Research: So Much to Cover, So Little Time , 2016 Southeastern Regional Legal Writing Conference, University of Miami School of Law (January 23, 2016)


4th Annual Robert H. Bork Moot Court Competition Results Are In


Nicole Staller '17, Megan Strayhorn '17, Dean Cieply, The Honorable Judge Steele, The Honorable Judge Casanueva, Brandy Shafer '17, Brittney Davis '17

The 4th Annual Robert H. Bork Moot Court Competition held its Championship Round on November 1 in the moot courtroom on Ave Maria School of Law's campus, following preliminary rounds on October 22 and semifinal rounds on October 25. 

Judging the final round were The Honorable John E. Steele, United States District Court, The Honorable Darryl C. Casanueva, Florida Second District Court of Appeal, and Kevin Cieply, President and Dean, Ave Maria School of Law.  Please join me in congratulating the winners:
 
Champions: Megan Strayhorn '17 & Nicole Staller '17
Finalists: Brandy Shafer '17 & Brittney Davis '17
Best Brief: Kelsey Blikstad '17 & Brett Gold '18
Best Oralist: Brittney Davis '17
 
The Bork Competition was produced by the Ave Maria School of Law Moot Court Board under the skillful and adept management of Moot Court Board Vice President for Internal Competitions, Aimee Schnecker '17 and her committee, with the assistance of Moot Court Board Vice President for Events, Alexander Scarselli '17. 
 
Our thanks and recognition for this outstanding and enjoyable competition go out to all the judges, faculty members, staff, and students who contributed to making this competition a continuing success.
 
A special thanks to Professor Bonner for his work with the Moot Court Board.
 
The Alumni Association is pleased to announce the new members of the Board of Directors, effective December 1, 2016.  
Your new representatives are:

President:
Jaime Hewitt
Naples, FL
Class of 2014
 
Vice President:
Kevin G. Normile
Fort Walton Beach, FL
Class of 2008

Secretary:
Nicholas Cravotta
Naples, FL
Class of 2014

Treasurer:
Roseann E. Simko Wall
Anchorage, AK
Class of 2011

Chairs:
Lisa A. Difilippo
Naples, FL
Class of 2014

Kevin Wichman
Kansas City, MO
Class of 2008

Deanna Vella
Naples, FL
Class of 2015
Register Now!

The second installment of the Ave Maria School of Law Breakfast CLE series is open for registration.
Monday, December 5, 2016
Presentation begins at 8 a.m.; Doors open at 7:30 a.m. 
  
Presented by
Mark H. Bonner, Professor of Law, Ave Maria School of Law and
Jose Nunez, Attorney & AMSL Class of 2014

Trial attorney and Ave Maria School of Law alumnus, Jose Nunez, and Ave Maria School of Law Professor Mark Bonner will be presenting on exhibits in criminal trials, demonstrative evidence use and its importance in trial preparation. There will also be a discussion of the use of physical evidence vs. electronic evidence.

AMSL Alumni Registration     $25
Non-AMSL Alumni Registration     $35

Click here to register.

Florida Bar credit for 2.0 general credits pending.

For questions or more information, 



SAVE-THE-DATES  
We have very exciting events happening in 2017. We hope you will be able to join us.

On January 20, DR. ALVEDA KING will come to campus to speak to our students and community,
to kick off the March for Life Walk in Naples. More to come! 


DR. CHARLES KRAUTHAMMER
will be our Faith & Reason Signature Event Speaker on February 4. 
On March 25,
we will celebrate our founder
TOM MONAGHAN's birthday.

Please visit our website to find more details on our February 4 and March 25 events and purchase tickets.
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STAY CONNECTED!
Ave Maria School of Law was founded in Ann Arbor, Michigan, in 1999, and in 2009 relocated to Naples, Florida. It is licensed by the Florida Commission for Independent Education, License Number 4007, and is fully accredited by the American Bar Association. A copy of the official registration and financial information may be obtained from the division of consumer services by calling toll-free within the state. Registration does not imply endorsement, approval, or recommendation by the state. http://www.freshfromflorida.com/divisions-offices/consumer-services 1-800-435-7352.

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