HPU’s New Law School Welcomes Inaugural Class with Professionalism Ceremony
HIGH POINT, N.C., Aug. 15, 2024 – High Point University welcomed the inaugural class of the new Kenneth F. Kahn School of Law today with a professionalism ceremony inside Congdon Hall on HPU’s campus.
The more than 70 students who make up the law school’s first class were joined by their friends and family members as they pledged to always practice law ethically and in a professional manner. They will start classes on Monday as part of the largest total student enrollment in HPU history at more than 6,200 students.
“It has been a dream of mine for some time to establish these professional schools, and now here we are with 11 of them. This is America. Whatever one sets their mind to can be achieved,” HPU President Nido Qubein said about the university’s efforts to grow from three to 14 academic schools today, including the new law school. “I watched our founding dean of this law school, Mark Martin, collaboratively, faithfully and courageously build this class of more than 70 students. It’s remarkable.
“I see you students here today, and I see in you a tremendous promise for the future. I know the new students will be outstanding. I know this will be a demanding program because this university always graduates young men and women who look to change the world. You will always be the founding class. You’ll be telling your kids and grandkids, ‘I was there. They picked me.’”
The professionalism ceremony began with a processional that featured the entire inaugural class of law students dressed in suits and business attire marching through Congdon Hall and entering the Callicutt Life Skills Theater.
Albert Diaz, chief judge for the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth District, served as the ceremony’s keynote speaker. He spoke to the new law students about the importance of always holding themselves to a high standard as future lawyers and judges and to never stray from that ethical code. Click here to read Chief Judge Diaz’s remarks.
“I’m so excited. It’s always been a dream of mine to go to law school, and it’s so amazing that I’m going to be part of the inaugural class and get to learn from all these wise people,” said Nyah Morgan, a native of Atlanta, Georgia. “I get to follow my dream and eventually do what I’m meant to do.”
Alan Hidalgo-Lobo came to HPU from Los Angeles, California. He said HPU was the only law school he wanted to attend, and he was excited to get started along with the other members of the law school’s Class of 2027.
“The reason why I wanted to do law is because I’m very passionate about the law. I’m very passionate about pursuing equal justice under the law,” Hidalgo-Lobo said. “I lost my father due to murder, and I believe life experiences have shaped me to become the person that I am today, and for those reasons I am here today.”
Construction has progressed on a new three-story, 77,500-square-foot building that will be the permanent home for the Kenneth F. Kahn School of Law when it opens next summer. The $46-million building will feature eight classrooms, a 13,000-square-foot law library with study space for students and a 120-seat courtroom that will double as a ninth classroom. The large courtroom will resemble a real courtroom with a jury box, a deliberation room and a visiting judge’s chamber.
This year’s class of law students will operate out of space in several of the newest buildings on HPU’s campus as construction. They will have classes inside Congdon Hall, as well as in the law library, student lounge and faculty offices that will be located inside Panther Commons, which opened last fall.