Alumni Return to King Hall for 2012 Reunions
An outstanding turnout of loyal UC Davis School of Law alumni returned to King Hall for the 2012 Milestone Reunions on October 27. The event brought together members of eight classes to mingle and reminisce, enjoy lunch, tour the newly expanded and renovated King Hall building, and listen to remarks from Dean Kevin R. Johnson and Alumni Board President Kara Ueda '00. More than 250 alumni, family members, friends, and faculty attended the noon luncheon, and individual classes also held informal receptions at restaurants and private residences later in the day.
"Welcome back to the Classes of 1972, 1977, 1982, 1987, 1992, 1997, 2002, and 2007," said Dean Johnson at the luncheon. "This is the largest turnout ever for the King Hall reunions. We celebrate many milestones today - 46 years for the school, 45 years for the original King Hall building, and 40 years for the class of 1972."
Dean Johnson recapped the many recent accomplishments of the School of Law, including completion of the King Hall Expansion and Renovation project, rising U.S. News & World Report rankings, the addition of outstanding new faculty, the launch of the California Supreme Court Clinic, the hosting of oral arguments by the California Supreme Court, California Court of Appeals, and U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, the creation of the California International Law Center, Environmental Law and Policy Center, and Center for Science and Innovation Studies, as well as the admission of another outstanding class of students.
"Our students are as bright, committed, and ambitious as ever," he said. "The core values of our community continue to live on. We still have a small law school with a good relationship between faculty, students, staff, alums, and the community. We still have students who are committed to each other. We have a faculty that is committed to teaching as well as research. And we now have a facility that's befitting a top ranked law school."
"As you know, these have also been challenging times," he continued, noting that the School of Law currently receives less than 10 percent of its financial support from the State of California, and students now pay approximately $50,000 per year in tuition. "We rely so much more now on support from alums, foundations, and corporations, and that's why your class gifts are so important for maintaining our academic excellence, our teaching excellence, and the diversity of our community that we appreciate, respect, and enjoy."
Class gifts organized during this year's reunion included support for the Celestial Summer Dove Cassman Scholarship, the Rex R. Perschbacher Scholarship, the King Hall Scholarship Fund, and the Loan Repayment Assistance Program (LRAP).
Plans are already in motion for the 2013 Milestone Reunions. Members of the classes of 1973, 1978, 1983, 1988, 1993, 1998, 2003, and 2008 who would like to help ensure that next year's event is another success are invited to contact Christian Rockwood, Associate Director of Annual and Special Funds, at cdrockwood@ucdavis.edu.