As an employer, when Ronald L. Fick, shareholder and attorney at Dunwody White & Landon, P.A., leafs through a stack of résumés for potential new hires, candidates who’ve won several book awards go straight to the top.
Each semester, the Ronald L. Fick Book Award Ceremony honors LAW students who’ve received the highest marks in their classes. This tradition began shortly after Fick learned his daughter, Allison Fick '14, had received the highest mark in one of her classes – but learned Regent didn’t hold book award ceremonies.
“This is something that all top law schools need to do,” said Fick, as he explained how his sponsorship of the ceremony began. “I know that all of you work very hard over the course of a semester, and I hope each of you will take justified pride and satisfaction in your academic accomplishments.”
The book award tradition dates back years ago when the publisher of legal encyclopedia, American Jurisprudence, honored law students who’d received the highest marks in their courses with a book volume of the set. Regent students received plaques to commemorate their accomplishment.
“Today, we recognize the fact that our students have been faithful to use the talent God has given them,” said Michael Hernandez, LAW dean. “And we also recognize Mr. Fick. He’s been a supporter of the school for a number of years, and most important he’s the proud father of Ally Fick. It’s the greatest blessing you can bestow to entrust your child to us.”
Leah Oswald ’18, winner of the Civil Procedure II and Contracts II book awards, can sum up her experience in law school in just one phrase: “Law school is hard, but God is good. And that’s the end.”
“These awards affirm that I can put my trust in what God has called me to do. I can do things way beyond what I can do on my own,” said Oswald. "I can trust if I have a hard time, he will provide. I’ve learned to trust God with everything. Know we can trust him and that he has great things for our lives."
Moriah Schmidt ‘18, winner of the East African Legal Environment: A Comparative Introduction, Introduction to Human Rights in Africa and Civil Procedure II book awards, lives by the credo that, “God doesn’t call the equipped, He equips the called.”
“That’s very true in my life, and that’s what he’s doing for all of us. We’re here for a reason, and sometimes that reason is not going to be revealed to us for a while,” said Schmidt. “And I want to thank Regent and the professors for telling us we can do anything God calls us to, because that’s the only reason I’m still here to this day. It’s not that I’m some genius – I worked hard, and God blessed the rest.”
by Brett Wilson Tubbs