(Top Left) Left to right: David Waterstradt, Law Day Chair, with winners of the High School Speech Contest: Cameron Decou (first place), Calvary Christian; Koral Skeen (second place), Mona Shores; Emily Hoffman, Fruitport High School; and Jack Buckley, Holton High School, who tied for third place.
(Top Center) Cameron Decou High School Speech Contest first place winner, presented his speech to the audience at the Law Day Program.
(Top Right) Mr. C.E. Ohan received the Golden Apple Award and a $500 room grant. It was presented by Dana Bryant, Superintendent of Muskegon Heights Pulbic Shools.
(Bottom Left) Middle School Essay winners, left to right: Danial Kilinski, NBC Middle School; Alexandria Wegiarz, Holton Middle School; David Waterstradt, Chair; and Chasae Michelson, NBC Middle School. Also winning was Conner McEvoy, Muskegon Catholic Elementary School, who was ill on the day of the program.
(Bottom Center) Elementary art contest winners, left to right: Alexia Payne, MLK Academy; Lauren Gale, North Muskegon Elementary School; Alexander Slocum, North Muskegon Elementary School; and Star Posthumus, McMillan Elementary School; with David Waterstradt.
(Bottom Right) Left to right: Honorable Gregory Pittman with Louis Churchwell, Director and CEO of West Michigan Therapy, the winner of the 2010 Liberty Bell Award; David E. Waterstradt Law Day Chair.
By Diana L. Coleman
Legal News
Muskegon County Bar Association (MCBA) has been celebrating Law Day in partnership with the community and local area schools. This year’s event marked a record in giving educational scholarships and U.S. Savings bond to area students winning contests available to high school, middle school, and elementary students.
MCBA President Joseph Bader opened the program with a welcome and brief explanation of Law Day ceremonies. This is Joe’s last official event as president of the bar before the installation of new offices later this month.
Honorable Maria Ladas Hoopes introduced attorney Charles E. McCallum, the keynote speaker. McCallum practiced law for nearly 45 years at West Michigan law firm of Warner Norcross & Judd LLP, before becoming Of Counsel to the firm last year. His practice included all aspects of business law, including transnational transactions and investments. He is former Managing Partner of Warner Norcross & Judd and has chaired its International Business Group. McCallum is the Chairman and CEO of TerraLex, an international referral network of 150 member law firms in over 100 countries and 45 U.S. states with an aggregate of 15,000 lawyers among all members.
McCallum stressed the 2010 Law Day Theme selected by the American Bar Association: Law in the 21st Century: Enduring Traditions, Emerging Challenges.
Lawyers must change with the world and adapt to new technological tools used in the practice of law such as electronic discovery, e-commerce, Internet law, email, and the instantaneous transmittal of formation. “We must stay current in the law and its constantly changing environment which does allow us to get to know our clients,” said McCallum. “We must show cultural sensitivity to changes that must be made.”
“Globalization has created great changes, but the duties of a good lawyers have not changed,” said McCallum. “Lawyers should have loyalty, seal, candor, honesty, counsel clients to obey the law and always obey the law themselves.”
David E. Waterstradt, Chair of the 2010 Law Day program presented the scholarship award. The four top High School Speech contest winners were awarded $2000, $1000, $500, and $250 respectively. This year’s $2000 scholarship was presented to Cameron Decou of Calvary Christian High. The $1000 award was presented to Koral Skeen of Mona Shores High School. In a rare turn of events, there was a tie for third place. MCBA split the $500 and $250 awards between Emily Hoffman of Fruitport High and Jack Buckley of Holton High giving each student a $375 scholarship.
Middle School essay awards of $300, $200, $150, and $100 U.S. Savings Bonds went to Danial Kilinski of NCB Middle School, Alexandria Weglarz of Holton Middle School, Conner McEvoy of Muskegon Catholic Elementary School, and Chase Michelson of NBC Middle School respectively.
Art contest entries lined the banquet room walls during the program for all to view. Art Contest prizes of U.S. Savings Bonds in the amount of $150, $100, $75, and $50 were awarded to Star Posthumus of McMillian Elementary School, Alexander Slocum of North Muskegon Elementary School, Alexia Payne of MLK Academy, and Lauren Gale of North Muskegon Elementary School respectively.
The Golden Apple award was presented to Mr. C. E. Ohan of Muskegon Heights High School. Mr. Ohan’s classroom will also receive a $500 room grant for the bar association.
The Liberty Bell award is presented each year to a non-lawyer who has dedicated his or her career to teaching and upholding the rule of law. The 2010 Liberty Bell award was presented to Louis Churchwell, Director and CEO of West Michigan Therapy. He was honored for his dedication to the Muskegon County Homeless Continuum of Care Network and continues to work tirelessly to assist the residents of the county overcome homelessness. The Honorable Gregory Pittman presented the award to Mr. Churchwell.
Working with 2010 Law Day program chair David E. Waterstradt were committee members Honorable Maria Ladas Hoopes, David B. Kortering, Belinda Barbier, Jenny McNeill, Jennifer Hylland, Heidi Hagen, Kevin Huss, D. J. Hilson, and Rachael Terpstra.
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