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Class of 2023 called to "leave tracks" at Convocation Awards Ceremony

June 30, 2023

The late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg once compelled law graduates to “leave tracks” and “repair the tears in their communities.”

Keynote speaker at the 2023 Western Law Convocation Awards Ceremony, Yola S. Ventresca, LLB’05, Managing Partner at Lerners LLP, urged our newest JDs to heed this call as they head into their next chapter.

“As you take your leave of Western Law, my wish for you is that you’ll use the education you’ve received here as a tool to repair the tears in your community, and to move us one step closer to a truly just and inclusive world,” said Ventresca.

Ventresca’s inspiring and uplifting speech to the class of 2023 shared reflections on how her family’s history shaped her desire to practice law, lessons learned at Western Law, and how her educational experience catalyzed the trajectory of her career.

The daughter of Lebanese immigrants, Ventresca shared how her parents came in Canada in search of security in the midst of political, social and economic crisis, and ultimately civil war, in 1970’s Lebanon. Her parents’ experience highlighted the deadly consequences of collapsing laws and ethical norms.

“Growing up in an immigrant household, and hearing about my family’s experiences with political conflict, social violence and structural inequities really shaped and sharpened my appreciation of the law as an essential tool for mediating relations between people and groups,” she said reflecting on her impetus for choosing to practice law.

Ventresca also reflected on the generosity of the Western Law community, including opportunities for financial aid and the incredible support of professors Rande Kostal and Robert Soloman whose attentive mentorship enabled her to become an exceptional writer.

Valedictorian Rheanna Geisel also addressed her classmates sharing three key takeaways summarizing her experience at Western Law.

She began with the lesson that success takes a village, reflecting on the importance of both family support and the bonds developed between classmates during the unprecedented challenges brought about by the pandemic. 

“The class of 2023 has had three very different years of law school…although we spent most of the first year six feet apart, we knew that we were never alone. We have grown together, supported one another, and as cliché as it is, we are leaving here with more than just a law degree,” Geisel said.

Geisel reflected on the immense potential of the class of 2023 providing an overview of their already lengthy list of accomplishments and their underlying commitment to justice.

“It is not only the academic achievements of this class that are worth celebrating,” she said. “Our class has shown a passion for justice, commitment to upholding the rule of law, and the believe that a fair and equitable society is within our reach.”

She concluded her remarks with a third lesson that her law school experience has imparted.

“Nearly every legal question we encounter in our careers can be answered with two simple words: it depends,” Geisel said.

A common thread acknowledged by all speakers was the critical importance of a support network to the current and future success of our graduates. Professor Christopher Nicholls, in his then capacity as acting dean, closed the event with a touching family story, encouraging the class of 2023, and their families, to never miss an opportunity to share sentiments of pride, love and appreciation with their loved ones.

Yola S. Ventresca, Keynote Address

 
Rheanna Geisel, Valedictory Address

A list of award recipients from the class of 2023 can be found below.