Commencement CONGRATULATIONS TO THE CLASS OF 2020
OFFICE OF PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT (OPD) STUDENT AMBASSADORS! SAMANTHA ENCALADA
MICHELE DALEY PETERS
I believe the best part about being an ambassador allowed me to connect with the professional development department individuals, but also the networking connections that OPD has made over the years. I was able to have conversations about career path choices and given advice from a lot of the alumni or other practicing attorneys in the area, all while helping other students get connected with potential employers and opportunities. It was a great experience to be a part of the Ave Maria Law community while searching for current or future employment.
Aside from meeting and working with some of my amazing school colleagues, being a student ambassador for the Office of Professional Development (OPD) helped me connect and network with potential employers. I even managed to secure an externship through OPD. I continue to use the tools OPD provides and continue to ask for their opinions and suggestions throughout the process of strategizing my after-law school prospects. NICOLE SANTINI I grew to know the OPD team well and really enjoyed the lasting friendships made with them. OPD helped me each year to find an internship, with one of them becoming my first job out of school. Their help with my resume and cover letters and what I’ve learned through OPD will never be forgotten! Thank you OPD!
ERIC LEEMAN The OPD Ambassador program has been invaluable to me. Being an ambassador gave me exclusive access to those making hiring decisions for local government agencies, non-profits, and law firms. This access allowed me to enhance my networking skills, and to be an example of the caliber of student we have at Ave Maria. While networking at these events allowed me to find my dream job, I am more proud of the opportunity I had to show potential employers what they are getting by hiring a law student from Ave Maria School of Law. My goal as an Ambassador, and now as an associate, is to promote the Ave Maria brand, and ensure that every student who wants a quality internship, has that opportunity. I recommend students that want to network, want to promote Ave Maria, and want to help their fellow classmates apply to the OPD Ambassador program. You won’t regret it – I can guarantee that. ELISA HUAPILLA PEREZ The Office of Professional Development (OPD) has a wide array of opportunities to help each student at Ave Maria Law develop skills that will help them be better attorneys. OPD team members took the time to review a personalized plan that allows me to be prepared for the legal profession. I look forward to using those skills in practice, thank you Ave Law OPD!
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NICOLETTE SELLITTI I enjoyed being an Ambassador for the Office of Professional Development for the past three years because I was able to practice my mock interview skills and become more comfortable in legal interviews with not only local attorneys, but also judges. I think that students should take advantage of this great opportunity that OPD gives us to obtain valuable feedback for our future endeavors! TARYN VAUGHN The Office of Professional Development has helped me to become more involved in the law school and our community; without opportunities from the OPD, I would not have been able to make the contacts and develop the relationships that have been built during the past three years.
