As part of a long-standing tradition, the U of A School of Law presented four student elected awards at the Commencement ceremony on May 8. Each award honors members of the law school community who have excelled in a particular area of endeavor. The awards are endowed, or are funded by, benefactors with important ties to the School of Law.

The 2021 student elected awards and honors

• Professor Alex Nunn received the Lewis E. Epley Jr. Professor of the Year Award for Excellence in Teaching. This is awarded to a faculty member voted professor of the year by the graduating class.

"Without question, the most rewarding part of my job is the opportunity I have been given to engage students in the classroom," Nunn said. "It is a great privilege, and one that I take very seriously — particularly as I try to make my classroom environment enjoyable, encouraging and inclusive. I couldn't be more grateful to know that my approach to teaching has resonated with the Class of 2021."

• Julian Sharp received the Bogle-Sharp Award. This is awarded to the student voted by their peers as most likely to succeed in the practice of law.

It was established in memory of Brinkley law partners, Arkansas Bar Association President William Wilson Sharp and Arkansas Lt. Gov. G. Otis Bogle.

"This is a great honor," Sharp said. "When I started law school, my goal was to simply do good work and make good connections. Being elected by my peers to receive the Bogle-Sharp award means I'm certainly on the right track."

• Alexis "Lexi" Acello received the Outstanding Contribution to the Law School Community Award. This is awarded to the student voted by their peers for exceptional positive contributions and service to the School of Law community.

"I went to law school with the goal of using my legal education to help others and serve my community," Acello said. "Many of my colleagues joined me in that effort throughout the past three years. Together, we made an impact on the law school community and beyond, and I know this is only just the beginning." 

• Hannah Hungate was elected by her peers to deliver the student commencement address.

During her speech, Hungate reminisced about law school experiences through the lens of expectations.

"So, as we all move forward and follow the paths that we've created — you may expect us to be attorneys, judges or maybe even lawmakers," Hungate said. "You may expect us to start our own firms, author court opinions or even begin our treks straight up to the Supreme Court. But after spending these past three years with the incredible students seated before you, with their amazing spirits and endless potential, I can confidently say that we won't be what you expect…we'll be more."

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