It was a day to celebrate the Class of 2018, and to applaud their hard work and congratulate the newly minted graduates on their hard-earned accomplishments. “You teach us new things every year, and inspire us with your energy, your dedication to justice, your many, many talents, and your community spirit,” said Dean Erika Chamberlain, speaking at the Western Law awards ceremony on June 20.
Michael Rubinoff, LLB’01, who developed the Tony-winning musical, Come From Away, delivered an inspiring keynote address and told the grad that realizing their dreams is possible. He encouraged them to embrace and learn from failures.
He told the grads it was his dream to tell the story of the outpouring of humanity by the people of Gander, Newfoundland following the dark days of 9/11.
Rubinoff encouraged the grads to speak out against injustice, to raise up the most vulnerable, and to make Canada better for everyone.
“You have the power to make a difference for so many. We all have an important role and it starts with speaking up,” he said.
In his valedictory address, Mark McAuley, JD’18 said the Class of 2018 forged strong bonds in their three years together.
“We laughed together, cried together, we cheered for our peers and colleagues when they triumphed at national moot competitions and at Law Games. We consoled each other in times of tragedy and sorrow. That’s what friends do. That’s what family does. That’s what we are now.”
“As lawyers we will not simply be readers of rules, we will be working in a changing and evolving society… Today your already impressive résumés have been enhanced by a law degree that empowers you to be an agent of that change,” he said.
Some of the honoured guests who joined in the awards ceremony were: Tony and Betsy Little, who presented the Arthur T. Little Scholarship and Gold Medal to the top graduating student Will Fawcett; Joshua Lerner, JD’17, who presented the Hon. Mayer Lerner QC Award to Dylan Dilks; Dr. Kevin Flynn, and his son Kevin Flynn presented the Ailbe C. Flynn, LLB’97 Memorial Scholarship to David Chapman; and Anna Maria Braithwaite, who presented the Lorenzo Di Cecco Memorial Award in Criminal Law to Danielle D’Alonzo.
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