The seventeenth annual 1L dinner was held at Avalon Manner in Merrillville, Indiana on September 12, 2008. The honoree at this year’s event was Richard G. Hatcher, former Mayor of Gary, Indiana. Among the other speakers were Dean Jay Conison, Professor Derrick Carter, Mark Heckler, the new president of Valparaiso University, and Alger Boswell, a recent Valpo Law graduate.
The dinner was sponsored by both the Black and Hispanic Law Student Associations (BLSA and HLSA). Members of both organizations introduced the speakers and announced the
winner of the first annual Hilbert Bradley Scholarship.
In giving his speech at the dinner, Hatcher talked about the importance of hard work and dedication and where those two things can lead. He shared his love for public service and how meaningful it can be to help people. Family was also very important to him, and he talked about his wife and three daughters, pointing out how strong of a
support system people can find in family. Hatcher credited many of his accomplishments to his law degree from Valpo Law and pressed students to take advantage of all that is offered by their legal education.
Hatcher is a distinguished alumnus from Valpo Law, as well as an integral part of this nation’s history. He
was the first African-American mayor of a major U.S. city. After being elected in 1967, he served as mayor of Gary for 20 years. Following his five terms, Hatcher was involved in numerous political organizations, served as Vice Chairman of Jesse Jackson’s presidential campaign, opened his own consulting firm and started teaching at colleges including Valpo.
Hatcher also extended thanks to many deans, professors and friends.Boswell, from the class of 2008,
gave a reflective speech at the dinner. He had many positive experiences to share, and explained how it is difficult to fit three years of school into a short speech. Boswell instead listed a few negative things regarding the law school work load in law, but made sure to share helpful tips with the new students as well. “Study for Carter’s mid-term,” Boswell said. “I know you don’t think much of it now, but that test can save your life. I repeat, study for Carter’s mid-term.”
The presentation of the first annual
Hilbert Bradley Scholarship followed Boswell’s speech. Hugo Gamez, President of HLSA, and Bridgitt Anderson, President of BLSA, announced the winner together. First year law student, Mecca Anderson, was chosen from a group of students who submitted essays about race and politics. Anderson’s essay, “The Race: Color and the Run for the White House,” discussed race and the election in addition to the three roles that race plays in politics. The scholarship is named after alumnus, Hilbert Bradley, who was the first African-American student to graduate from Valpo Law. Bradley has been previously an honored guest at the 1L dinners on two separate occasions. The annual dinner began in 1992
as a small affair to welcome first-year BLSA students. Both Hatcher and Carter were instrumental in organizing the event. HLSA joined as a partner in 1998. Over the past seventeen years it has evolved to include all 1L students, school faculty, lawyers and judges in the community.
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