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

alumni matters28 Michaelmas Term 2005alumninewsD.C. Area Alumni Join Former MichiganGovernor Engler at December ReceptionMany of Cooley’s CapitalArea alumni congregatedDec. 1 with CooleyPresident and Dean DonLeDuc and Associate DeanJim Robb, at the law firmof King & Spalding LLP,1700 PennsylvaniaAvenue. Everyone wasthere to meet the guest ofhonor, former MichiganGovernor John M. Engler (Wing Class, 1982).Governor Engler is the current president of theNational Association of Manufacturers.Forty Cooley alumni, current students, and friendsattended. Special thanks go to Alumni AssociationPast President M. Carol Bambery (Morrell Class,1985) and John Smirnow (Ostrander Class, 1994),who were instrumental in making this event possibleand shared the hosting duties with President LeDuc,Dean Robb and Alumni Director Darryl Parsell (WiestClass, 1979).The current Alumni Association President, Diane Britt(Chandler Class, 1983), came from Lansing to greetthe guests as well.Alumni guests shared stories of their days at Cooleywith the students. Everyone also enjoyed having achance to get to know the other Cooley graduates inthe area. Past President Bambery noted that “It was awonderful evening visiting with old and new friendsfrom the Thomas M. Cooley Law School, truly a celebrationof Cooley’s successes in our nation’s capitol.”The guests included Suzanne Anglewicz (Swift Class,2004), Glen Baker (Ostrander Class, 1994), DavidBrink (Person Class, 2004), current student VanessaChauhan, former U.S. Senator Dan Coats, current studentSara Cook, J. Burns Earle III (Montgomery Class,1992), Paul Gallo (Moody Class, 1996), current studentJordan Jackson, Katherine Lane (Flannigan Class,1999), Andrew Langreich (McGrath Class, 1992),September LeFevre O'Brien (Weadock Class, 1999),Thomas Magalski (Adams Class, 1997), current studentBrian Melson, Ian Meyeroff (Johnson Class,2002), LaWanda Morris (Starr Class, 2005), KamalNawash (Black Class, 1996), William Niner (ToyClass, 2003), current student Jeffrey Roland, currentstudent Lynda Sangmor, Imad Soubra (Boyles Class,2005), Jeffrey Sural (Williams Class, 1994), JolydaSwaim (Needham Class, 2004), Melanie Taylor (BirdClass, 1995), and Michael Taylor (Weadock Class,1999).Cooley Law Schooland the Illinois AlumniClub Host DecemberChicago LunchCooley Law School and theIllinois Alumni Club hosted analumni lunch in Chicago onDecember 13. Twenty-fiveIllinois alumni and friends joined state alumni leader MarciaNawrocki (Lawrence Class, 1991), Cooley Development DirectorsThomas Garikes and Pamela Heos, and Alumni Relations DirectorDarryl Parsell (Wiest Class, 1979) at Maggiano’s Little ItalyRestaurant in downtown Chicago.The group heard about current events at the law school, includingthe growth of the newly reconstituted alumni association. The groupenjoyed the chance to network. Ms Nawrocki said “I truly enjoyedhearing at the luncheon from alumni who participated in theCooley Law School exchange program headed by Professor Weinerin cooperation with law schools in Australia and New Zealand. Inaddition, I was pleased to hear recent graduates express a positiveexperience once they completed a year with the 60 Plus Clinic atCooley as I felt this was an invaluable experience while I attendedCooley.”In addition to Nawrocki, the alumni guests included El Cid Balatan(Paterson Class, 2002), Susan Budzileni (Montgomery Class,1992), Steve Chareas (Stone Class, 1996), Patience Clark (ToyClass, 2003), Ted Diamantopoulos (Fead Class, 1999), JohnEkonomou (Williams Class, 1994), James Galco (Toy Class, 2003),Maureen Hughes (Cross Class, 2004), Constantine Kanellos(Carpenter Class, 1993), Emily Koch (Swift Class, 2004), GeorgeLiaskas (Swift Class, 2004), Jennifer MacDougall (Needham Class,2004), Majdel Musa (Toy Class, 2003), Antara Nath (CushingClass, 2000), Carmen Reeves (McAllister Class, 2005), JeffreySakol (Wilson Class, 1990), Carl Lloyd Santos (Paterson Class,2002), Wendy Taube (McAllister Class, 2005), and Eric Wooden(Durand Class, 1992).The 2005 Alumni Association Holiday WreathProgram A Great SuccessA hearty thank you goes to all alumni and friends who participatedin the 2005 Alumni Association Holiday Wreath Program. The 22-inch wreath, made of fresh balsam boughs from the Straits ofMackinac region of northern Michigan, was priced at $33, sameas the year before. The purchase price not only included thewreath, but also the shipping and handling cost. A portion of thesale price also was a tax deductible contribution to Cooley LawSchool.The participants sent wreaths as a wonderful seasonal gift to familyand friends, and ordered wreaths for their own homes and offices.The 251 wreaths ordered this year raised $2,525.06 that will beused to support alumni programs. Thanks to all who bought aholiday wreath.