1L Katherine Kim (at right) proves-up the adoption for the Brose family

Fourteen Texas A&M University School of Law students assisted attorneys with prove-ups and case documents for National Adoption Day (NAD) in Tarrant County on Nov. 18.

Seventy children were adopted into 45 forever families at the Tarrant County Family Law Center in downtown Fort Worth. During this annual event, courts and attorneys waive all fees to consummate adoptions for dozens of foster children. Texas A&M University School of Law was among the eight organizations that sponsored Tarrant County NAD.

N​ational ​Adoption ​Day is a collective, national effort to raise awareness of the more than 100,000 children in foster care who wait ​for an average of four years for permanent and loving families. The event, now in its 17th year, is held in nearly 400 cities across the country.

Shawna Smith, Student Affairs Program Coordinator, said NAD is one her favorite events and is always an emotional one.

1L Emma Martin (in center, with white nametag) with the adopting family in front of the judge

“I am proud of our students that participated in this event and I’m overjoyed by all of the love and happiness that filled each courtroom,” she said.

The joyful atmosphere included costumed superhero characters and volunteer “caped crusaders” greeting the children. Smith said the kids were very excited to see superheroes walking around. Teddy bears, many collected by students and donated by the Office of Student Affairs, decorated the courtrooms and were given to the children.

Aggie Law students volunteering for the 2016 NAD in Tarrant County were:

1L Callie Dobson    1L Katherine Kim    1L Emma Martin    2L Jonathan Berry    2L Jessica Holtman    2L Mehreen Medlock    2L Michael Vinson

2L Sarah Young  2L Elizabeth Anderson  2L Kyle Millsap  3L Lauren Bishop  3L Kyle Corgan  3L Jordan Hartshorn  3L Kimbell Kesling

Kimbell Kesling, Kyle Corgan, Jessica Holtman, Callie Dobson, Michael Vinson and Sarah Young

Tarrant County Family Law District Court judges and associate judges for the cases included Judge Nancy Berger (Texas Wesleyan University School of Law [TWU Law] ’94), Judge Jesus Nevarez, Jr. (TWU Law ’01), Associate Judge Lindsay DeVos (TWU Law ’03), and Associate Judge Cynthia Mendoza (TWU Law ’03).

Learn more about the Tarrant County National Adoption Day ​event with these media links:

• Local ABC ​affiliate
• Fort Worth Star-Telegram