SPECIAL ALUMNI EVENTS By Mary McLean Orszulak G’10
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18th Annual Alumni & Students of Color Dinner Unites Generations Past and Present This year’s Dinner for Alumni and Students of Color was was held at Springfield’s La Quinta Inn and Suites on September 23. The event attracts alumni back to the area to reconnect and reminisce with one another and faculty. For students in attendance, beyond networking with inspiring and accomplished alumni, it is affirmation that they are already a part of a larger community as members of the School of Law. Dr. Charles Rucks ’07 graciously stepped in for scheduled speaker Jodie Roure ’97, who was delayed in Puerto Rico due to the devastation from Hurricane Maria. Student speaker Kerri Ann Manning 2L shared a personal cautionary tale about her rising career working for a multinational retailer and how she nearly lost sight of her ideals until she left it all behind to make a greater impact in the field of law. Kerri told the group: “Western New England has afforded us, as students, a vast amount of opportunities to challenge existing attitudes and practices that negatively impact the minority population,” she said. “The Law School stimulates and bolsters, in all of us, the fervent passion to make sure the ‘balance’ is tipped in everyone’s favor.” Keynote Speaker Charles Rucks has dedicated his life to his country and community. After attending the U.S. Naval Academy and service in the Navy, he earned his MBA from Cornell University. In his fifties, he received his JD from the School of Law. He holds an honorary Doctor of Humanics degree from Springfield College. His career spans from Digital Equipment Corporation to senior vice president of the Springfield Urban League, to executive director at Springfield Neighborhood Partners. Currently he is the Neighborhood Watch Community Liaison with the Hampden Country Deputy Sheriffs Department. Charles spoke to the guests about being prepared to make the most of the unexpected challenges and opportunities in life. “There is always something that crops up that you didn’t expect, and that’s the way life is sometimes. Be prepared for those moments that you don’t expect, that you hadn’t anticipated,” he said. “Do your assessment, do your due diligence, and then decide based on the information that you have.” u
(Photos top to bottom L-R) Kelvin Thomas ’14, Colleen Monroe ’14, and Trisana Spence ’20; Tasha Marshall ’16; Student speaker, Kerry Ann Manning ’18; Dean Eric Gouvin and Keynote speaker, Charles Rucks ’07; Kedar Ismail ’17 and Salomon Louis ’15; Justine Aljoe 1L and Chanel Smith ’17; and Danielle Williams ’02 with Shelly-Ann Sankar ’04.
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