Dennis E. Benner, Giving Back - Thomas M. Cooley Law School

The Admissions Office would like tothank the members of the Alumni StudentRecruitment Committee for their help incontacting alumni to recruit qualified applicantsto the Thomas M. Cooley Law School.The following alumni contributed their time at events during thefall recruitment schedule in 2005:Ian S. Meyeroff, LSAC Law Forum in Washington, D.C.; KimWinokur, Kaplan Panel Discussion, "The Law School Edge," atthe University of Michigan Law School; Bethany Pierpont,University of Michigan Graduate and Professional School Day;Joseph A. Collins, Greater Western New York Law School Fair,Buffalo, NY; Ray Lail, Vaughn Fisher, Gregory Clifton, andRobert DiVito, LSAC Law Forum, Atlanta, GA.; Scott Sachs,LSAC Law Forum, Los Angeles, CA.; Amy Timmer, JamesMadison College at Michigan State University.Assistant Dean of Admissions Stephanie Gregg expressed hergratitude to the alumni listed who took the time to speak withprospective students around the country about their law schoolexperiences and the education they obtained at Cooley LawSchool. “Prospective students appreciate hearing directly fromour alumni all about what makes Cooley an excellent choiceamong law schools. We value the experiences and the expertiseTHANKS27of our alumni especially when they can tell incoming studentshow their education prepared them for law practice.”Cooley's Admissions Office has two alumni on staff, AllenChung and Bethany Pierpont, both Assistant Directors ofAdmission. Dean Gregg said that “Their recent law school experiencesare important on the recruitment trail. It was not thatlong ago that they were the applicants hoping to be admitted tolaw school. Allen and Bethany help the candidates navigate thelaw school application process and they give good advice onhow to succeed in law school.”The following alumni worked at the Cooley Open Houses inOctober: Jim Siver and Maureen Burns Van Hoven at the GrandRapids Open House; Lawrence Filiberto, Ron Grimm, HarrisSorovigas, and Darryl Parsell at the Lansing Open House;and Ron Grimm, Harris Sorovigas, Michelle R. Esperance,Aaron Kendal, and Tammy Asher at the Oakland UniversityOpen House.The members of the Alumni Student Recruitment Committee are:Evan Barenbaum, Laurie Berner, Chair Larry Betz, MaureenBurns Van Hoven, William Carmody, Brian Casterline, AllenChung, Joseph Collins, Colleen Davis, Robert DiVito, MichaelEllis, Vaughn Fisher, Demetrius Ford, Tiffany Foske, Ron Grim,Helen Haessly, Elizabeth Lindsay-Ochoa, Dr. Gary Label, HelenMickens, John Nocita, Elizabeth Russell, Jim Siver, HarilaosSorovigas, Diane Britt, Terry Carella, Stephanie Gregg, WilliamArnold, Darryl Parsell, and James Robb.Grand Rapids CampusThe fourth and final phase of construction at Cooley’s downtownGrand Rapids campus, located at 111 Commerce Street in theCherry Street Landing district, was announced this term.The project’s final phase will feature two 90-seat classrooms, anumber of smaller classrooms, two state-of-the-art courtrooms –an appellate and a trial courtroom – and faculty and administrativeoffices on the fourth and fifth floors of the building. Theproject is expected to be completed in May 2006.“We’re very excited to be able to make this announcement,”Cooley President and Dean Don LeDuc said. “We have createdone of the finest law school facilities in America and we’reproud to have a location in downtown Grand Rapids.”In total, the project included a renovation of one building andan addition, totaling approximately 100,000 square feet.Design Plus of Grand Rapids served as the architect for the fivestoryproject.“It has been a pleasure to work with Cooley and to design thisstate-of-the-art building,” said Design Plus partner Jack DeBruin.“The growth of higher education in our community is of greatimportance to our future and Cooley’s Grand Rapids location isa shining example of the facilities that are needed for teachingthe top professionals of tomorrow.”Rockford Construction Company, Inc., the construction managerfor the project, began construction on Cooley’s Grand Rapidslocation in September 2003 and will manage the final build-out.Earlier phases included the renovation and construction ofoffices for the dean and faculty members, classrooms and anAcademic Resource Center on floors two and three, as well as alaw library with two computer labs on the lower level and firstfloor.“I commend Cooley for having the foresight to open its campusin the heart of downtown.” said Rockford Companies CEO JohnWheeler. "Cooley is an anchor for the downtown Cherry StreetLanding area. We are thrilled to be a part of this and all theexciting projects that have turned that part of the city into athriving neighborhood.”Cooley Law School is working closely with Grand Rapids-basedCuster Office Environments, Stelter Partners and Irwin Seatingfor office equipment and seating.Cooley also will continue to work with Rockford DevelopmentGroup on the development of a parking ramp at the corner ofCommerce and Cherry streets. The ramp will serve Cooley LawSchool students, faculty and staff, and it will help to fulfill thegeneral parking needs of the Heartside neighborhood.“We’re grateful to our partners – Rockford Development andRockford Construction, Design Plus, Western Michigan University,and a large number of Grand Rapids-area businesses that havehelped to make this happen,” said LeDuc. “The Grand Rapidscommunity, including the city, the bar associations, the courts,and the business community have graciously welcomed Cooleyinto its community.”