Congratulations Fall 2024 Graduates; Former TX Supreme Court Justice Encourages Grads to ‘Keep the Courthouse Doors Open to All’

Home Law School News Congratulations Fall 2024 Graduates; Former TX Supreme Court Justice Encourages Grads to ‘Keep the Courthouse Doors Open to All’

South Texas Law celebrated 63 fall graduates Saturday as they received their JD degrees, and Interim President and Dean Jeff Rensberger welcomed them to the strong alumni network of more than 16,000 attorneys.

Valedictorian Jordan Austin Cooney said, “I could never have imagined how fulfilling this experience would be.” He praised the open-door engagement of the faculty and the supportive and challenging culture of the law school, encouraging his fellow graduates to “take this school’s culture of collaboration with us when we leave today.” He noted that the alumni network at South Texas is heavily invested in student success, urging his peers to continue that tradition.

Cooney also highlighted the hard work of part-time students who attend at night and work full-time, noting that his dad — a 2002 South Texas Law alumnus — completed law school as a part-time student.

Jennifer Stogner ’06, Alumni Association president and Of Counsel at Abraham Watkins, welcomed the graduates to the “amazing Alumni Association. You have the support of the all the people on this stage and the entire alumni community.” She noted that her father graduated from South Texas Law 50 years ago and is still practicing, and she met her husband Brant at the law school as well.

“South Texas Law has brought me so much,” Stogner said. “It was the light that showed me the path for my life. I see so much potential in this graduating class. But at some point, you may not know what to do next. Call an alumnus; we will help you or find someone to help you. That’s the support network that you gain when you graduate from this law school.”

Eva Guzman ’89, former Texas Supreme Court Justice and partner at Wright Close & Barger, LLP, was the Commencement speaker for Saturday’s event. She received the Distinguished Alumni Award from South Texas Law earlier this year.

“What your lifetime in the law is going to look like will be largely shaped by you,” Guzman noted. “Our beloved South Texas College of Law Houston has shaped you to do great things. I’ve had a front row seat to see alumni from this school do amazing things and take their seats in the highest places. Graduates from this law school have had a metamorphic impact on the law. So, what can we note about them?”

Guzman said successful alumni take risks and are not afraid of pursuing the careers they envisioned. They commit to excellence and to becoming the kind of lawyers that others trust. And they seize the moment, understanding that even failures can provide opportunities for the next step on the journey.

She called graduates to heed the call to keep the courthouse doors open to all and to be advocates for access to justice. “When you pursue excellence, when you persevere, when you make service a core part of your life, when you show gratitude for those who helped you succeed — you will go far in life,” Guzman concluded.

View the recording of the ceremony here: Commencement

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