Evangeline Mitchell Honored by the National Black Law Students Association

March 19, 2012 - PRLog -- Attorney, social entrepreneur and author Evangeline M. Mitchell was recently selected by the National Black Law Students Association as an honoree of their Sadie T.M. Alexander Service Award.  The National Black Law Students Association is the nation’s largest student-run organization with over 200 chapters representing approximately 6,000 members.  One of the organization’s primary goals is to articulate and promote the professional needs and goals of Black law students.  

The Sadie T.M. Alexander Award is presented at the Sadie T.M. Alexander Awards Luncheon at the national convention every year to attorneys who exemplify the spirit of its namesake – one of excellence, inclusion, and achievement.  Attorney Alexander was not only the first African-American woman to graduate from the University of Pennsylvania School of Law, but she was also the first African-American woman in United States history to receive a doctorate degree.  This special luncheon recognizes national leaders for their accomplishments in NBLSA's core programming areas of youth advocacy and empowerment, equity in the criminal justice system, access to political and legal institutions, and engaged global citizenship.  This year's convention theme was "Pipelines and Pathways: Combining Today's Ambitions with Tomorrow's Reality."  The organization chose to honor those who have demonstrated commitment in doing important pipeline work.  

Evangeline was chosen as a 2012 honoree because of her selfless commitment to diversifying the legal profession through her various initiatives including founding and running the National Black Pre-Law Conference and Law Fair.  The event, known as the nation's premier information-sharing and networking empowerment event for aspiring Black lawyers, will celebrate its eighth year in November and has impacted approximately 1,000 aspiring law students from across the nation.

Evangeline is also the author and publisher of books geared to future Black law students including The African American Pre-Law School Advice Guide, The African American Law School Survival Guide, and Conquering the Bar Exam.  Further, she is the founder of the National HBCU Pre-Law Project, the National Black Pre-Law Network, and Black Pre-Law Magazine.

The awards luncheon took place at the Renaissance Arlington Capital View Hotel in the Washington, DC area on Friday, March 9, 2012.  The keynote speaker was Russlynn H. Ali, Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights at the U.S. Department of Education, who discussed the ongoing educational inequities with regards to race in America.

At the luncheon, Evangeline shared some of her experiences in her journey to becoming a lawyer.  She encouraged NBLSA members to be conscientious of the legacy they leave in terms of not only their accomplishments but their character, to lead a life dedicated to serving others which will benefit and shape them even more than the people they help, and to be relentless in pursuing their goals understanding that life will present circumstances and obstacles they will have to overcome which will only make them better.

NBLSA also honored Dean Everett Bellamy and Attorney Donald Temple during the luncheon for their dedicated work with the Charles Hamilton Houston Law School Preparatory Institute in Washington, DC, a summer program which helps prepare students for the rigors of law school.  The attorneys also shared inspirational words with future lawyers in attendance.

Hundreds of law students and supporters attended the luncheon.  It is estimated that nearly 1,000 people participated in this year's annual convention in the nation's capitol.