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Awards Come to SMWC Paralegal Studies Students

News | 05.01.2010

Several students in the Paralegal Studies Program at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College (SMWC) recently won honors in various local and national competitions.  William Welch won a scholarship from the American Association for Paralegal Education (AAfPE).  Thia Flinn and Jami Myers won the Legal Studies Award for Outstanding Scholastic Achievement from Cengage Learning/Thomson Publishers.  Jennifer Lewis and Jami Myers won the Excellence in Paralegal Studies Award given by the Paralegal Studies Advisory Board.

William Welch, freshman in the distance program from Terre Haute, competed for and won a $500 scholarship from the American Association for Paralegal Education (AAfPE).  This scholarship was one of five scholarships awarded in the annual Lambda Epsilon Chi (LEX) scholarship competition.  Students from paralegal programs that have LEX chapters across the United States were invited to compete.  In order to be eligible, William had to submit an application and write a memorandum after research on the question, “Can a person commit the crime of bigamy if he/she marries someone while at the same time being legally bound by a civil union with another party?”  William’s essay will be published in the fall edition of The Paralegal Educator, the magazine of AAfPE.

Thia Flinn, sophomore from West Terre Haute, and Jami Myers, junior from Terre Haute, received the Legal Studies Award for Outstanding Scholastic Achievement from Cengage Learning/Thomson Publishers.  Instructors from across the United States submit up to two students’ research to Cengage.  The winners receive a certificate and one of Cengage’s Paralegal books.

Excellence in Paralegal Studies Award

Each year at its spring meeting, the Paralegal Advisory Board at SMWC awards one campus and one distance student with the Excellence in Paralegal Studies Award.  The criteria for this award include junior/senior status, transcript, and application.  The application looks at items such as campus and community involvement, future goals, promotion of the paralegal profession, and academics.  The winners receive certificates and engraved gavels.  Their names are engraved on a plaque that is maintained at the college.

Jennifer Lewis

Jennifer Lewis is presented with her excellence in paralegal studies award.

Jami Myers

Jami Myers is presented with her excellence in paralegal studies award.

This year the Board presented the awards to Jennifer L. Lewis, senior from Clinton, as the distance student and Jami M. Myers, junior from Terre Haute, as the campus student.  The Paralegal Studies Advisory Board consists of attorneys, judges, paralegals, and members from the general business community from the Wabash Valley and from Indianapolis, along with students and administration from SMWC.

Paralegal Studies at SMWC

Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College’s Paralegal Program aims to set the standard of excellence in liberal arts-based, career-oriented education that is both academically and technologically progressive within a personal, supportive environment.  To achieve its educational mission, the Paralegal Program provides for the study and exchange of ideas and for the acquisition of career skills so that students think and communicate with greater awareness of themselves and others, gain valuable tools for employment, and develop resources for future opportunities.

The Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College Paralegal program has been approved by the American Bar Association.  The ABA standards and guidelines pertain to organization, administration, curriculum, faculty, admissions, placement, library and support facilities. The approval of the American Bar Association is a designation that is recognized by members of the legal community as an indicator of quality and is respected by leaders in the field of paralegal education. The Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College Paralegal program is the only ABA approved program in West Central Indiana/East Central Illinois.