From left, Dr. Jamal Nassar, Dr. Tom Eimermann, David Crumbaugh, President Bowman, and Pat Cotter

On Saturday, April 16, the ISU Pre-Law Program had much to celebrate, including the naming of the Pre-Law Center and the 5th Annual Pre-Law Awards Banquet, at which ISU's top pre-law students were honored. The formal naming ceremony celebrated the generous gift of David Crumbaugh, an attorney with Latham and Watkins in Chicago, to fully equip and name the Pre-Law Center after Dr. Tom Eimermann, Crumbaugh's pre-law advisor when he was a student at ISU in the early 1970s. Dean Olson, President Bowman, Patrick Cotter (Chair of the Attorneys Advisory Council), Dr. Jamal Nassar (Chair of the Department of Politics and Government), and Dr. Robert Bradley (current pre-law advisor) all spoke about the significance of the gift for pre-law students, and the source of the inspiration for the gift—Dr. Tom Eimermann. "ISU is fortunate to have had Dr. Eimermann on the faculty, and now his name will forever be associated with the program he helped create," said Dean Olson. "We are also here to honor David Crumbaugh, who made our dream to have a state-of-the-art Pre-Law Center—the best Pre-Law Center in the state of Illinois, if not the nation—a reality in January through his generous gift. David’s gift means much to the students who utilize this Center on a daily basis."

ISU’s Mock Trial Attorney Coach, Mick Hall, a 1989 graduate of ISU, member of the Attorneys Advisory Council, and attorney with The Hall Law Group, Ltd. in Peoria, presented the Mock Trial Awards. The award for Mock Trial Outstanding Witness went to Josh Rinker, a sophomore political science major from Normal. Abisola Adekoya, a sophomore English major from Chicago, was awarded the Mock Trial Outstanding Attorney Award. The Mock Trial Leadership Award, which is awarded to the mock trial team member who exhibits strong leadership skills and makes significant contributions to team spirit and unity, was presented to Kevin O’Laughlin, a senior majoring in political science from Metamora. Barry Tolchin, a political science graduate student

Carl Kasten, a 1966 graduate of ISU, member of the Attorneys Advisory Council, current Chair of the ISU Board of Trustees, and attorney with Phelps, Kasten, Ruyle, Burnes & Sims in Carlinville, presented the Carl Kasten Pre-Law Leadership Award to Kevin O’Lauglin. The Kasten Award goes to a graduating pre-law student who exhibits strong leadership skills and makes significant contributions to extra-curricular law related activities ISU.

Dr. Tom Eimermann, emeritus professor of political science and Mock Trial educator coach, presented the Tom Eimermann Outstanding Pre-Law Student Award. This honor is given to the graduating pre-law

For more information on the Pre-Law Program at ISU, visit http://www.prelaw.ilstu.edu/index.htm and for information on the ISU Attorneys Advisory Council, visit http://www.cas.ilstu.edu/advisoryboards/attorneyadvisory.htm