Ave Law students pitching in after Hurricane Irma.

Hello Friends. 

Hurricane Irma has now come and gone. Here on campus, it certainly consumed our lives for the past couple of weeks. The most significant damage is to our landscaping: we have a lot of trees down. We also lost many of our light-posts and signs. But our buildings remain relatively undamaged. It will take us a while to fully recover, and we will continue to keep those who were less fortunate in our prayers. 
 
One thing we experienced during and after the hurricane was the strength of our community.  I want to personally thank our students, alumni, faculty, staff, families and friends, who helped with our campus clean-up day. I was also deeply touched by the selfless act of another group: Mormon Helping Hands. They came to our campus with about 50 volunteers, who willingly gave their time and energy to help our school.   
 
It was nice to witness our community working together, to better our school. It gives all of us hope and belief in the future. 
 
God Bless you and your families.  Stay safe and strong.  



 
Kevin Cieply
President and Dean
For more information on Ave Maria School of Law news and events, visit our website . 
Let's Come Together

Thank you to everyone who came out to assist with our campus clean-up day shortly after the hurricane left its aftermath. We had a group of local students, alumni, faculty, staff and community members join us. We have an incredible community of support.

Alla Sullivant, Cathy Jaen, Agapija Kostovski, Antonio Mendoza, Professor Ulysses Jaen, Professor Kirk Miller, Professor Maureen Milliron, Professor Chris Buscaglia, Dean Kaye Castro, Joe Pelletier, Jacqueline Coronel, Monsignor McGrath, Professor Mark Bonner, Professor Kevin Govern, Pam Kramer, Ed Neebling, Chris Stipek, Cameron Colledge, Thomas Demaio, Kaitlin Coyle, Jeremy Shelton, Kaitlynn Diaz, Massiel Mendoza, Leo Martinez, Juan Arias, Pete Fernandes, Mohad Abbass, Juan Delgado, Daniel Hanco, Anita Abraham, Miriam Weismann, Jacob Spilman, John Tetterton, Michael Healey, Dean Cieply, Monica Rengifo, Michelle Daily Peters, Mary Ruggeri, Brandon Cooper, Britney Cooper, Donna Heiser. Children of parents: Alli Coronel, Madison Coronel, Thomas Kostovski, Gabriella Mendoza, Katie Colledge, Cash Colledge  




Mormon Helping Hands came to our campus with about 50 volunteers and chainsaws. 
They finished clearing out the north side of our campus. I was very impressed that this group of volunteers came to our campus and spent their time, expending their energy, to help us. It was an amazing demonstration of selfless service and love. The group included Nolan Tyler (3L), Jacqueline Coronel (1L), and Andrew Bennett, class of 2013, who is also one of our adjunct professors.

A very special thanks to Nolan and Jacqueline for arranging the group to come to our campus. I would also like to give a special thanks to Mormon Bishop Stewart Smith, who led the group.
 



Professors Maureen Milliron and Kirk Miller took the time to donate nonperishable items to a church in Immokalee. They stationed their vehicle in front of the Ave Maria School of Law Veterans Memorial Law Library and packed it to the brim, thanks to all of you who stopped by to donate items.  Thank you, Professors, for your kind gesture to our community!

Alumni Proud
  

 
On September 15, Ave Law Alumnus Brett Branham announced on Facebook that he was bringing a team of volunteers to Naples to help with hurricane relief efforts. 
  
When Hurricane Matthew hit his home, Myrtle Beach, last year that thousands of volunteers came together to help his community. He wanted to pay it forward.

He traveled hundreds of miles and spent a few days with people who had the  same desire to serve. He spent time in Immokalee helping to rebuild the  devastation he witnessed - no electricity, water or food for days. He also had the pleasure of helping a non-profit education center, A Child's Path. United Way provided his group with the clean-up supplies.
 
This is an exemplary example of the type of individuals that make up our Ave Law community. Our alumni go out in to the world to server the greater good.
 
Thank you for your service, Brett.

 
Newly Appointed Florida Bar Members
Congratulations to the Ave Law alumni who are newly appointed members of the Florida Bar:  
  

Greyzer Torrico '17 | Andrea Phillips '17 | Dustan Lorimer '17 | Charles Demchak '17 | Patrick Finnegan '16

On Friday, September 22, the Alumni Affairs office hosted an Induction Ceremony for Ave Law alumni who passed the Florida Bar taken in July. The Honorable Mac R. McCoy, United States Magistrate Judge, administered the oath of admission, and Jaime Hewitt, President, Ave Maria School of Law Alumni Association, gave closing remarks. 

Jaime shared words of wisdom with the group including, "The legal profession is a noble one with many a storied history, welcome to it, have fun with it, create the right work/life balance in it, but most of all, do yourself a favor and your alma mater proud by becoming involved in it."
 
Since I know each of these individuals personally and have had the opportunity to spend quality time with them throughout their law school journeys, I can say with certainty that each one of them will be extremely good ambassadors for our school. They will bring faith and professionalism to the practice of law. I look forward to watching them go off and enter into a noble profession.
 
Thank you to Professor Chris Buscaglia, Director of Bar Preparation, and his team for preparing our alumni for this immense undertaking, the bar exam. We're extremely proud of this group, as well as all of our alumni who recently passed the bar exam! 
In the Spotlight: Five Questions with Daniel Pardo, Class of 2019
Bartlomiej Milewski '18, Sarah Sulsona '18, Daniel Pardo '19, Stephanie Williams '18
Q: 
Where is your hometown?
A:  I am originally from Boca Raton, FL. 

Q:  Why did you decide to attend Ave Law? 
A:  I chose Ave Law because I attended a small college and fell in love with the small school environment. I have found great academic success in an individualized academic environment, which provides small class sizes and an opportunity to cultivate relationships with professors. Law school is a challenging experience, and having a relationship with your professors will help in an insurmountable way.  

Q:  What are some of your favorite pastimes while living in Naples? 
A:  Naples is the happiest place in America. The beach is a 10-minute drive from campus, and it is beautiful to be able to enjoy the beach year round. I definitely enjoyed reading my outlines on the beach during finals! Additionally, there are a wide variety of restaurants, bars, and shopping areas to decompress and relax over the weekend. Many student organizations organize happy hours for students to attend which are a great way to make connections and network. The first week of my 1L year, I attended a happy hour in Mercato and met many upperclassmen that helped me succeed throughout my first year. 

Q:  You are an Ave Law Admissions Ambassador. How would you describe this role? 
A:  As an Ave Law Admissions Ambassador, I get to meet new students and show them around the campus.  I enjoy showing people our campus and sharing my experience and the reasons why I love Ave Law. Ambassadors also assist in open houses.

Q:  How would you describe the Ave Law community? 
A:  Amazing! The student body is friendly, and willing to help each other all the time. We are here for the same goal, to become successful lawyers and people of integrity. Everyone at Ave wants each other to succeed and pass the bar, and upperclassmen are willing to help you succeed and share their tools of success. New 1L's: make sure you meet with many upperclassmen; they all want to help, and have successfully completed their first year. Take their advice! 

Welcoming the Newest SBA 1L Senate
The Student Bar Association held a debate for first year student senator candidates. As a result, we would like to congratulate and welcome the new 1L Senate for the SBA:  Thomas De Maio, Theodore Forlenza, Daniel Korycki, and Ian Johanni!

1L SBA Senator candidates at the SBA Debate:
Top row: Ian Johanni, Lindsay Tucker. Theodore Forlenza, Daniel Korycki, Gabriella Fernandes, Alan Celej, Corrinne Burns. 
Bottom Row: Philumina Johanni, Thomas De Maio, David Merrill, Kaitlyn Coyle, Pete Fernandes, Gretchen Wade. 


Celebrating a Beautiful Life



We had the opportunity to celebrate Mary Adah Malavolti, our late Library Assistant's faithful life through a service in our campus chapel led by her brother, Fr. Nathan L. Malavolti, and attended by her sister, Veronica Thomas, and all of her loved ones here in the Ave Law Community. 

Mary Adah will forever remain in our hearts. 

To Honor and Remember 


The Ave Law community celebrated the lives of those lost on September 11th by placing individual flags in their honor following a special 9/11 Memorial Mass led by Monsignor McGrath in our on-campus chapel.
 

Faculty In the News

Professor Elizabeth Donovan recently accepted  an invitation to be an Executive Board member of the Southwest Florida Regional Human Trafficking Coalition. As an Executive Board member, Professor Donovan will have the ability to assist the Coalition establish and reach their goals, and help plan and implement changes that will make the Southwest Florida Regional Human Trafficking Coalition successful. This is an important commitment and we are proud of Professor Donovan. 

As part of Professor Donovan's Human Trafficking Law Clinic course, she encourages students to join her for outreach and education events. 
 
Ave Maria School of Law students Jay Hamilton and Olivia Bach joined Professor at the "Walk like MADD and 5K Dash" at Jet Blue Park in Ft. Myers (an event put on by Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) where runners run the bases and cross home plate at the Red Sox Spring Training Center). The Southwest Florida Human Trafficking Coalition hosted a table. The group spoke with attendees, distributed literature, and sold t-shirts. 
 


Southwest Florida Human Trafficking Coalition materials and t-shirts will also be available on the Information Tables set up around the Law School this Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday (October 4, 5, 6) as part of the Human Trafficking Law Clinic's "Human Trafficking Awareness Days," an annual event Professor Donovan has coordinated since the law school was in Ann Arbor.  

Dean Emeritus Eugene Milhizer  recently completed the following publications:

Ave Law Visits Connecticut and New York
We are very grateful to Jan and Bob Dilenschneider who graciously hosted friends and benefactors of Ave Law at their beautiful home in Darien, Connecticut recently. Our Founder Tom Monaghan, Chief Development Officer Donna Heiser and I joined old friends and new for a very festive evening.

Dean Kevin Cieply greets Maura and Frank Corvino at the Dilenschneider dinner for Ave Law in Darien, Ct.
Jan Dilenschneider, our fantastic hostess, receives a well-deserved round of applause for the dinner she and Bob Dilenschneider held for Ave Law recently at their beautiful home in Darien, CT.
Dian Jennings Mayo and her son enjoy visiting with Tom Monaghan recently at the Dilenschneider dinner in Darien, Ct.

The following night, Jim and Moira Fennessey graciously hosted an event for Ave Law in New York City. Reverend Jonathan Morris, Pastor of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church and NY Times bestselling author and TV commentator on religious and ethical issues, celebrated Mass at St. Patrick's Cathedral for us followed by a reception at 3 West Club. We were joined by special guests including our Founder Tom Monaghan, our Chaplain Monsignor Frank McGrath, Alumni Margaret and Christopher Antonino and many New York area friends and benefactors. Thank you, Jim and Moira for hosting such a wonderful event bringing together this special group of people.

Monsignor McGrath and Fr. Jonathan Morris pictured with friends of Ave Law at our recent NYC event. St. Patrick's Cathedral is in the background.
Tom Monaghan with Fr. Jonathan Morris
Save-the-Dates

Welcoming Back Edwin Black

On Friday, November 3, we will have the pleasure of hosting award-winning New York Times international investigative Edwin Black on our campus for a return engagement. Mr. Black will have a discussion on a special topic:  Israel and International Law--The Historical Underpinnings on the 100th Anniversary of the Balfour Declaration.
 
With more than a million books in print, Mr. Black's work focuses on human rights, genocide and hate, corporate criminality and corruption, governmental misconduct, academic fraud, philanthropic abuse, oil addiction, alternative energy and historical investigation.
 
The discussion will take place on our campus, St. Thomas More Commons, at 12:15 pm. Lunch will be served. If you are interested in attending, please RSVP to Amber Richards, Coordinator of Special Events, at arichards@avemarialaw.edu , 239.687.5341. Limited seating and RSVP is required. 


Announcing our 2018 Signature Event Speaker: Newt Gingrich


I'm pleased to announce our Signature Speaker for 2018, the Honorable Newt Gingrich. We're looking forward to welcoming Speaker Gingrich to Naples to present to our Ave Law community on Saturday, February 17, 2018. Please visit this website for more event details and online ticket sales will be available soon:

I would like to thank our generous sponsors: Ave Maria Mutual Funds   is our Presenting Sponsor. Gulfshore Life  and Naples Daily News  are our Media Spons ors. 

For more information, please contact Donna Anthus (239) 687-5403 or danthus@avemarialaw.edu.

Honoring Our Vets
Please join us on December 7, 2017 for our Second Annual Veterans Memorial Celebration honoring our nation's veterans, on Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day.

Date: December 7, 2017
Start time: 5:00 pm
Location: Ave Maria School of Law Campus, 1025 Commons Circle, Naples,  FL 34119
Ceremony at the Veterans Memorial Law Library and Dinner Reception at St. Thomas More Commons 
Ave Law will be awarding the first Annual St. Martin of Tours, Patron Saint of Veterans & Soldiers, Hero Award.  
Master of Ceremonies: Major General J. T. (Mike) Coyne, United States Marine Corps (Retired) 
Special guests: Ladies for Liberty Singing Troupe
RSVP required, Limited Seating---The event is for the Ave Law community, benefactors, friends, veterans and their families.
RSVP to Amber Richards, arichards@avemarialaw.edu(239) 687-5341

Last year, on December 7, 2016, National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, the law school dedicated the school's law library to veterans, renaming it the "Ave Maria School of Law Veterans Memorial Law Library." Inside the library, Ave Law created a Veterans Wall of Honor, located immediately inside the library's front doors. As patrons enter the library, they are greeted by depictions of oversized service members in uniform, representing each of the five military branches. Benefactors, faculty, staff, students, and members of the community may purchase plaques to place on the wall with the name of a veteran. It enables family and friends to memorialize and honor their beloved veterans, keeping the memory of loved ones and their service and sacrifice to our nation alive for many years to come.   

"Can You Honor A Veteran?" You are invited to become one of the 100 founding members of the Veterans Memorial Law Library at Ave Maria School of Law by pledging your support of $50,000 in this lasting tribute to honor and remember our nation's veterans. Your donation helps us honor our veterans, provide full scholarships to veterans and ensure that those who fought for us and protected our freedoms are never forgotten. Pledges can be paid in gifts of $5,000 each year for 10 years, or in a few payments. Veterans Wall of Honor plaques to honor your loved one are available with a $2500 donation. 

For more information, please visit:  https://www.avemarialaw.edu/veterans/veterans-memorial-law-library/ or contact Sharon Sparrow, Leadership Gifts Officer, (239) 687-5344 or ssparrow@avemarialaw.edu .

Did You Hear?

I would like to welcome the following staff to Ave Maria School of Law:

Tabitha Canalda joined us as Associate Director of Admissions and Veteran Outreach. Tabitha is a 2017 graduate of Ave Law and in addition to her admissions responsibilities, she will also focus on recruitment of veterans.  Tabitha was a work study student for Admissions, and as a result, is very well suited for this position.

Naomi Hatton joined us as Associate Director of Admissions and Student Engagement. Naomi is also a 2017 graduate of Ave Law and will concentrate on the student organizations, as well as admissions.  Her experience as the Student Bar Association president will serve her well in her new role.  Naomi passed the Florida Bar Exam this July!

Tina Thompson joined us as our Admissions Coordinator. Tina has considerable administrative and customer service experience and will be a tremendous asset in working with our students and prospective students

Cameron Colledge has joined the Career Services Office as an Assistant Director of Experiential & Professional Development. In this role, Cameron will have administrative oversight of the Legal Internship, Pro Bono and Externship programs. Cameron will also work closely with students and alumni, counseling them on their practical and professional development.  Cameron is a December 2016 graduate of Ave Maria School of Law.

Iris Zamora has joined us as the new Research, Writing and Advocacy Assistant and will work closely with our team of professors in this integral role in the department.

Jane Klawitter has joined us as the new Housing and Student Accounts Coordinator. Jane's role is quite challenging as it combines two roles in one. Jane is a wonderful addition to our Ave Law family. 

Support Ave Maria School of Law through Amazon Smile      

STAY CONNECTED!

Editor/Writer: Kristy Kryszczak, Director of Marketing and Communications/Editorial Director 
Dean's Introduction Video: Ed Neebling, Director of AV
Design: Gwen Fredrickson
Photography:  Tabitha Canalda, Tony Zollo, Michael Paras, J. Gregory Raymond Photography, Monica Rengifo, contributing 
community members


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.

Copyright © 2017 Ave Maria School of Law, All rights reserved.