Charleston School of Law hosted its annual Spring Commencement ceremony on Saturday at the McAlister Fieldhouse on The Citadel campus.
Charleston School of Law graduated 210 students on Saturday, including:
The keynote speaker was The Honorable Judge DeAndrea Gist Benjamin, who serves on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. She reminded the Class of 2026 to never forget why they chose to enter the legal field:
“Lawyers are in a unique position to help people, to be good servants of their communities, to shape people’s lives. Think about the impact that you can have on the lives of those in your community. Remember that behind every citation, there is a person. Behind every contract is trust. Behind every criminal case, there are lives that are altered. The law is not just a profession; it is a calling — a calling to speak for the speechless, to advocate for the hopeless, and to fight against injustice.”
Judge Benjamin, a Columbia native, will serve as a jurist in residence at Charleston Law this summer, the first ever to hold this distinction in the Law School’s modest history.
Charleston Law president J. Edward Bell III told the graduates, “If I could speak to only one value by which we should live, it would be this: integrity is forever. Integrity means doing the right thing at all times and in all circumstances, whether or not anyone is watching. Your honor, your integrity, it’s that important. Integrity in life keeps the soul righteous and the moral compass calibrated.
Integrity is also measured not necessarily by what we do, but by when we have a chance to do something honorable and don’t take the opportunity. A danger that is often overlooked, sometimes the greatest danger, is silence. Martin Luther King Jr. warned the nation about what he called ‘The appalling silence of good people.'” — Charleston Law president J. Edward Bell III
Megan Goldthorpe, Student Bar Association president in 2025-26, offered an inspiring message telling her classmates, “Someone recently reminded me that these next 365 days are some of the most important and exciting days of our lives,” she said. “In the next year, we’ll graduate from law school, take the bar, pass the bar, and begin the careers we’ve dreamed about for years. For the first time in a long time, the future is not hypothetical; it’s here.”
“Law school has challenged all of us in ways we could have never anticipated. It pushed us mentally and emotionally. We became resilient. We’ll remember the late nights in the library study rooms, ordering takeout. We’ll remember the classmates who showed up for each other again and again. This graduating class is full of some of the hardest-working and most committed people that I know. Even while carrying the weight of attending law school and the constant pressure to succeed, our class continued to grow in every single way. Yes, we came here to become lawyers, but along the way, we became stronger friends, parents, leaders, and people. Law school challenged us, but it did not define us.” — Megan Goldthorpe, Class of 2026
Sofia O. Santoemma received the William Bennet Regan Award. The honor is given to the law student for his/her “commitment to public service and leadership.” Regan, an outstanding public servant, served as Legal Counsel for the City of Charleston.
Charleston Law graduate Sydney Harris received the Arthur G. Howe Trial Advocacy Award. The award is presented annually to the graduating student who best exemplifies excellence in trial advocacy. The award is funded by the South Carolina Chapter of the American College of Trial Lawyers and is named in honor of one of South Carolina’s premier trial lawyers – Arthur Howe.
Three Charleston Law students — Caroline Holloway, Samuel Lipman, and Daniel Sterbens — were inducted into the Law School’s prestigious Forensic Club. Membership is determined by law students who have demonstrated leadership, professionalism, and academic commitment.
The Community Partner of the Year Award, which began in 2024, is presented each year to two community organizations, one in the private sector and one in the public sector, that exemplify the true notion of partnership. This award recognizes organizations that have stood out in their commitment to helping students at Charleston Law learn the law, obtain real-world experience, and secure jobs.
Blackbaud, Inc., a publicly traded company headquartered in Charleston, received the private sector Community Partner of the Year honor. Blackbaud provides technology solutions to power social impact for nonprofits, foundations, and educational institutions. Blackbaud has partnered with Charleston School of Law since the Externship Program’s inception.
This summer, Blackbaud will host its 50th Charleston Law extern – a milestone that reflects the depth, longevity, and mutual commitment of this collaboration. Caroline Rykard and Kendall Harbaugh are May 2026 graduates who completed externships with Blackbaud.
Several Charleston Law graduates have begun their legal careers as attorneys in Blackbaud’s legal department. Blackbaud’s Chief Legal Officer, Jon Olson, has personally supported Charleston Law students for more than 17 years as a trusted extern site supervisor, mentor, and frequent speaker at law school events. Jeff Angerman, Vice President and Deputy General Counsel, accepted the award on behalf of the organization.
The public-sector Community Partner of the Year award was given to The Ninth Circuit Solicitor’s Office, which serves Charleston and Berkeley counties. The Ninth Circuit Solicitor’s Office was selected for its outstanding commitment to mentoring the next generation of criminal prosecutors.
The office has been a partner of Charleston Law since the inception of the Externship and Pro Bono programs. Chief Deputy Solicitor Jennifer Kneece Shealy accepted the award on behalf of the Ninth Circuit Solicitor’s Office.
The Charleston Law and the Ninth Circuit Solicitor’s Office partnership provided internship and externship experiences for 11 law students of the Class of 2026: Lauren Beau, Halie Berkowitz, Madison Blanton, Bridget Boland, Jordyn Costello, Lilian Cox, Matthew Hawkins, Anna Powers, Emma Savoie, Jillian Tinnell, and Joshua Zell.
Previous recipients of the Community Partner of the Year award include Charleston Pro Bono Legal Services, U.S. Coast Guard Judge Advocate General, Charleston County Probate Court, and Center for Heirs’ Property Preservation.
Michelle Condon, Director of Externships, Public Service and Pro Bono, reported that 16,196 hours of pro bono work during the 2025-26 academic year. Sofia Olivia Santoemma received the Pro Bono Hall of Fame honor for recording 500 or more hours of pro bono service (757.5 hrs), followed by Sara Elizabeth Richard (416.1 hrs) and Stephanie Jean Lauw (306.25 hrs).
The Pro Bono Circle of Excellence consists of Charleston Law students who have served between 330 and 499 hours. Four students were recognized for their service, including Madison Julia Blanton, Sara Elizabeth Richard, Stephanie Jean Lauw, and Joshua Zell.
31 Charleston Law students completed more than 100 hours of pro bono service during the 2025-26 academic year: Kiana Nicole Barber, Jessica Taylor Bass, Nadia Isabella Basto, Lauren Elizabeth Beau, Halie Rose Berkowitz, Valentina Nicole Bermejo, Madison Lynn Bernal, Samantha Madison Bunn, Jordyn Belle Costello, Lillian Katherene Cox, Jamison Arlyn Drawdy, Eve Abigail Etchegoyen, Brid Elizabeth Freiberg, Jenna Arlene Giuliani, Matthew John Hawkins, Hannah Michele Kiene, Kerri Carleen McGuire, Dharma Paige Monjure, McKenna Rose Moore, Emily Grace Morgan, Lynnsey Caroline Newman, Amber Marie Richey, Maddison, Renee Roe, Emma Catherine Savoie, Emily Gail Son, Olivia Louise Soukup, Logan Caroline Stox, Addison-Lee Field Thompson, Reagan Grey Kalei Kau Maka O’Nalani Thornley, Jillian Kaye Tinnell, and Justin Thomas Vernon.
Community service is a core value at Charleston School of Law and was created to instill a commitment to service. Each graduate is required to participate in a minimum of 50 hours of pro bono service in the community.
Since its inception, the graduates have logged over 601,000 hours of free legal services (pro bono and other free legal service hours).
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Charleston School of Law is a private, ABA-accredited 501(c)(3) law school nationally recognized for its student-centric culture. Our faculty and staff are committed to preparing you for success in both the classroom and the legal profession.
