College of Law

Law Commencement Ceremony Celebrates Students and Faculty

By Lauren Smieszek | May 9, 2024

The University of Toledo College of Law held an in -person commencement celebration on Sunday, May 5, 2024, in the Student Union Auditorium, where 105 law candidates and graduates were recognized. University of Toledo Trustee  Lidia Ebersole conferred degrees. The livestream recording is available to watch on-demand. Photos are available on our Flickr album to download.

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Keynote Speaker

Corey Minor Smith '01

Harvard Business School recognized the immense commitment Corey Minor Smith made to fulling the requirements to earn a certificate for completion of its 2023 Women of Color Executive Leadership Program. Rolling Out magazine calls Corey Minor Smith a “legendary lawyer, renowned attorney, noted mental health advocate, prominent media fixture, and New York Times celebrated author.” These experiences along with becoming a trained facilitator for the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), have paved the way for her mental health advocacy work. As a well-regarded author, Minor Smith contributed to the Audible Original We’ve Got Answers and penned a powerful memoir entitled #Driven (pronounced Hashtag Driven) with a foreword by the renowned motivational speaker Les Brown.

Minor Smith’s legal career spans over 23 years and has been dedicated to public service as an assistant prosecutor, judicial attorney, and mayoral cabinet member before serving as general counselor for the same public housing authority that provided housing for her and her family. Minor Smith made history as the first African American to be elected to a city-wide position to serve as an at-large member of Canton City Council. Currently, Minor Smith is appointed to serve with the Biden-Harris Administration as senior counsel for the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

She has received numerous accolades and awards, including the NAACP - Stark County Image Award, NAMI-Stark County Starfish Award, Boy Scouts of America Buckeye Council Spirit of Scouting Award, She Elevates Woman of Courage Award, induction into the YWCA Women’s Hall of Fame, and was named an ATHENA International Women’s Leadership Finalist.

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Student Awards

Valedictorian Award

Hannah Twining received the Valedictorian Award and served as the student speaker.

Twining earned a B.S. in exercise physiology from Ohio Northern University prior to coming to Toledo Law. After graduation, she will be serving as a law clerk to the Honorable Judge Jack Zouhary of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio.

A first-generation law student, Twining had a non-traditional career in informal education before law school. During law school, she served as editor-in-chief of Law Review Board 55.

"Toledo Law introduced me to brilliant friends, enriching mentors, and areas of interest I would have never considered. I am eternally grateful for the time and effort others have selflessly invested in my law school journey," said Twining. "Anywhere my name is listed alongside an accomplishment there is a microscopic footnote containing the endless list of names of those who have inspired me and encouraged me to persevere. Toledo Law provided me with the opportunities to foster skills and refine abilities that will allow me to serve as an advocate in my community, use my voice to uplift others, and shine light in the darkness."

Dean's Award

Andre White received the Dean's Award, which honors the graduate who has made a significant contribution to the college while maintaining high academic performance. Before Toledo Law, White earned a B.S. in criminal justice from Eastern Michigan University.

White was involved in many organizations, including the Black Law Student Association as president and the Student Bar Association as vice president for day students. He was also a student member of the Toledo Bar Association, volunteered for the mediation program, and was a recipient of the Levison Family Dispute Resolution Fellowship. "At Toledo Law, the most valuable learning experiences for me came from my social interactions. I made the best out of my opportunities to meet and learn about my classmates, my professors, and others in the legal field. Those interactions have helped me gain perspective opportunities, and to refine the path I choose to make for myself," said White. 

White worked as a judicial clerkship for Justice Kyra Harris Bolden, the first black female justice in the Michigan Supreme Court. After graduation, White plans to continue working in public defense with the Toledo Legal Aid Society. "Find the things you’re passionate about and learn ways to help others with the same passions. Look beyond divisive rhetoric and search for solutions to bring people together."

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Faculty Awards

Outstanding Professor Award

Graduating students selected Professors Greg Gilchist and Eugenio Mollo Jr. as the recipients of the Outstanding Professor Award for Dedication to Legal Education.