School of Law Commencement May 21

Akron, Ohio, May 1, 2006 - The University of Akron School of Law will award Justice Terrence O'Donnell of the Ohio Supreme Court and community philanthropist Beatrice Knapp McDowell an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree at the school's 2006 commencement ceremony. O'Donnell also will present the commencement keynote address - "The Dignity of the Law."

Approximately 142 candidates, including one from the Master of Law degree program in intellectual property, will participate in the commencement exercises that begin at 2 p.m. on May 21 in E.J. Thomas Performing Arts Hall. A reception will follow for graduates and their guests.

Justice Terrence O'Donnell received a bachelor's degree from Kent State University in 1968 and his Juris Doctor degree from Cleveland State University in 1971. He has been a member of the state judiciary for more than 25 years.

Justice O'Donnell's career began in education before attending law school, and his work has continued to be a blend of law and education. His legal career began as a clerk to Justice J.J.P. Corrigan of the Ohio Supreme Court, and he progressed upward to his appointment to state Supreme Court in 2003.

He has maintained his interest and involvement with education, professionalism and ethics and continues to promote implementation of a mentoring program for new lawyers.

Justice O'Donnell's honors include the Cleveland Bar Association's President's Award for Outstanding Service, and he serves on the board of Our Lady of the Wayside, which provides housing and services for mentally and physically challenged children and adults.

Beatrice Knapp McDowell is a strong supporter of the arts, education and programs for people with special needs. In 2001, she received the Outstanding Philanthropist Award from the North Central Ohio Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals. She was jointly nominated by three organizations that she generously supports - the Akron Art Museum, The University of Akron School of Law and United Disability Services.

Mrs. McDowell has served as a trustee for the Akron Art Museum for more than 16 years. As a member and president of the board of United Disability Services, she has dedicated more than 40 years to helping children and adults with disabilities.

As a major benefactor to The University of Akron School of Law, her generosity continues the longtime McDowell family support of her late husband, attorney C. Blake McDowell Jr., who died in January 1998; and her father-in-law C. Blake McDowell Sr., for whom The University of Akron C. Blake McDowell Law Center is named.

The Beatrice and C. Blake McDowell Jr. Endowed Fund supports five distinguished professorships and several academic scholarships for law school students.

In their latest rankings, National Jurist and Prelaw Insider magazines rated UA's School of Law as the second "best value" Juris Doctorate public school program in the United States, based on tuition, bar passage rates, employment rates, median grants, clinic slots and faculty-student ratio.

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