The first Texas A&M University law degrees will be awarded in Fort Worth Friday, Dec. 13, with Texas A&M University System Chancellor John Sharp addressing the first 47 graduates of the Texas A&M University School of Law.

Texas A&M acquired the law school formerly operated by Texas Wesleyan University earlier this year, and the school has operated under the Texas A&M name since the start of the fall semester.

The graduation ceremony, to be held at the First United Methodist Church in Fort Worth, will have a decidedly Aggie flavor for the first time as the law school embraces Texas A&M traditions. Charles W. Schwartz will provide greetings from the TAMUS Board of Regents; Marty Holmes will speak on behalf of The Association of Former Students; and “The Spirit of Aggieland” will be sung to conclude the ceremony.   

The program will include welcoming remarks by Aric Short, interim dean of Texas A&M School of Law, and the presentation of student awards.

A cornerstone of the law school is its Equal Justice Program. Each semester, the student who has contributed the greatest number of hours of pro bono legal services is recognized with the Equal Justice Award. The Daniel Denton Award honors the graduate with the highest score on the state bar exam and the MacLean & Boulware Endowed Law Scholarship is awarded for exemplary student service. Recognizing student perseverance and dedication, the Mark Faris Memorial Award will be presented for the first time during Friday’s graduation ceremony.

Elected by his fellow classmates, the student speaker will be Kamyar Maserrat. His remarks will precede those of Chancellor Sharp.

A congratulatory reception will be held in Wesley Hall at the First United Methodist Church following the conferring of degrees and closing remarks by Dean Short.

In keeping with the rich tradition of Texas A&M military history, a ceremony will be held at the law school prior to graduation at which Judge Joe Spurlock, Texas A&M School of Law professor of law, a decorated Vietnam War Army veteran and an Aggie, will recognize four veteran members of the graduating class. The veterans will be given special commemorative red, white and blue cords to be worn as part of their academic regalia at the graduation ceremony.

Texas A&M School of Law's first graduating class was recently featured on the Texas Lawyer blog.