The American Constitution Society for Law and Policy (ACS) recognized the Georgia State University College of Law chapter with a 2018 ACS Program Award, which honors ACS student chapters that conducted at least 20 “substantive and compelling events” during the school year.
The American Constitution Society for Law and Policy has nearly 200 student chapters. Georgia State Law was one of 22 receiving the award, along with Columbia Law School, Georgetown University Law Center, Stanford Law School and Yale Law School.
Throughout the school year, the Georgia State Law chapter held 20 events, including the ACS Southeast Regional Convening, which bought together leading practitioners, government officials and academics to discuss a progressive vision for the future of equality across a number of prominent policy issues, as well as the annual Legislative Preview, various speaker lunches and informational events.
“It’s so great to know that all our hard work was worth it. I was lucky to be able to lead such an awesome team of law students, and I’m so proud of them and everything we were able to put together. I’m especially proud of our new members that really stepped up to the plate this year,” said Shelby McKenzie (J.D. ’18), outgoing chapter president.
Founded in 2001, the ACS is one of the nation’s leading progressive legal organizations, comprised of a network of lawyers, law students, scholars, judges, policymakers and other individuals dedicated to making the law a force to improve people’s lives. The Georgia State Law chapter’s executive board of nearly a dozen students plan the events and its members help generate awareness of them. Several Georgia State Law faculty and members of the Atlanta legal community also helped with the successful events.
“There are so many people and organizations that supported us throughout the year to help us get this award,” McKenzie said.
“Shelby and the ACS members worked tirelessly this year on many programs with stellar speakers. This is a well-deserved honor,” said Jessica Gabel Cino, associate dean for academic affairs and associate professor of law, who serves as a chapter faculty adviser.
ACS also co-sponsored panels with other student organizations about #MeToo in the Workplace, NFL Protests, Removing Confederate Monuments, Cash Bail Reform, Gun Control, Reproductive Justice and many other issues.
“It’s such a great experience working with other awesome student leaders,” McKenzie said.
McKenzie, along with the incoming chapter president, Javier Trejo (J.D. ’19) and treasurer Bethany Mowery (J.D. ’19) will represent Georgia State Law and receive the award at the 2018 ACS National Convention, in Washington, D.C., on June 7-9.