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2020 AWARDS RECEPTION
Celebrate Morgantown
SAMANTHA CART
WVU COLLEGE OF LAW
Last November , the West Virginia University ( WVU ) College of Law and West Virginia Executive ( WVE ) magazine honored the Lawyers & Leaders Class of 2020 in the Fall 2020 issue of WVE . While this is usually commemorated by a launch party and salute to the award winners , the corresponding event was put on hold due to a rise in coronavirus cases across the state . The fall issue also included a special advertising section titled Celebrate Morgantown , which was to be marked by a reception honoring Morgantown ’ s business community and its accomplishments as well .
On April 20 , 2021 , these elite legal professionals and this stand-out business community were finally recognized at a joint reception held at The Erickson Alumni Center in Morgantown . Attendees were enthusiastic about gathering safely and networking with fellow West Virginians after a long respite .
The inductees of the 2020 class are : Scott Applegate , deputy staff judge advocate for the West Virginia Army National Guard ; Maryclaire Atkins Akers , former senior assistant prosecuting attorney at the Kanawha County Prosecuting Attorney ’ s Office ; Michael Bonasso , member of Flaherty Sensabaugh Bonasso PLLC ; Deborah Curry , director of rural outreach and development for the Marshall University Joan C . Edwards School of Medicine ; Kitty Dooley , attorney at law at The Dooley Law Firm ; Tom Heywood , managing partner at Bowles Rice LLP ; Gary Jack , senior corporate counsel II for FirstEnergy ; Tianna Mays , senior counsel for the Lawyers ’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law ; Marjorie McDiarmid , Steptoe & Johnson Professor of Law and Technology at WVU College of Law ; Tim Miller , shareholder for Babst Calland ; Robert Noone , adoption attorney for Robert Noone Legal Services ; William Powell , former U . S . Attorney for the Northern District of West Virginia ; Kimberly Reed , former president and chairman of the board of directors for the Export-Import Bank of the United States ; Justice Margaret Workman , former Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia ; and Amanda Demmerle and Quentin Collie , members of the WVU College of Law Class of 2020 .
The honors program recognizes the accomplishments of legal professionals who are either graduates of the WVU College of Law or are practicing law in West Virginia .
“ Last year ’ s award recipients are such an accomplished group , yet at the reception they chose to speak mainly about all the ways other people had helped them become better lawyers and better leaders . I felt privileged to listen to them and to be part of this event ,” says Interim Dean John Taylor . •
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WEST VIRGINIA EXECUTIVE