March 21, 2024

Media Advisory: SIU Law celebrates 50th anniversary with gala on Saturday

by Pete Rosenbery

CARBONDALE, Ill. — The accomplishments covering five decades of the Southern Illinois University School of Law will be feted on Saturday, March 23, when the law school holds its 50th anniversary gala.

The event begins at 5 p.m. at the Southern Illinois Airport’s Hangar One Event Center, 556 N. Airport Road, Murphysboro. Reporters, photographers and news crews are welcome to attend the celebration. The best time for interviews will be during the reception from 5-6 p.m. and after the awards and recognition ceremony ends at 8 p.m.

The event will honor five distinguished law school graduates. One alum, nominated by law school alumni and former law school faculty, for each of the law school’s five decades will be honored:

  • 1973-1983 – John Brewster, 1976.
  • 1984-1993 – Lyndon Sommer, 1993.
  • 1994-2003 – Cecilia Najera, 1999.
  • 2004-2013 – Tionn Fambro Carter, 2008.
  • 2014-2023 – Cameron Washington Woods, 2017.

Established in 1973 with an aim to improve the available legal services and attorney access in the region, the law school celebrated its 48th graduating class in May 2023 and boasts 4,800 graduates.

For assistance at the gala, contact Katherine Hanson, director of development, at 859-912-3063.