William & Mary Law School Students Set New Record with Thanksgiving Generosity

Community Spirit
Community Spirit Dean Douglas and Vice Dean Combs pose with W&M Law School students amid the annual Thanksgiving Basket Competition. Photos by Gretchen Bedell of OddMoxie Studios & Design
Fruit of the Non-Poisonous Tree
Fruit of the Non-Poisonous Tree Students from Tarley & Strock won this year's competition. Professor Tarley's students have won 10 of the last 11 years. Photos by Gretchen Bedell of OddMoxie Studios & Design
Good Cheer and Good Friends
Good Cheer and Good Friends Caitlin Carter, Richard Spoor, Alex Grout, Scott Van Der Hyde, Jim Moore and Mike Hernton display their pride in helping those in need this holiday season. Photos by Gretchen Bedell of OddMoxie Studios & Design
Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade Students in Heikes and Brown staged a Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade with their elaborate basket. Photos by Gretchen Bedell of OddMoxie Studios & Design
Beautiful Baskets
Beautiful Baskets The food donated in this year's Thanksgiving Basket Competition will help families in need throughout the Hampton Roads region. Photos by Gretchen Bedell of OddMoxie Studios & Design
by Christopher Lewis '14 |  November 21, 2011

Students at the William & Mary Law School took a break from studying for their upcoming exams to participate in the annual Thanksgiving Basket Competition. In this school-wide event, each section of the Legal Skills Program vies to design and construct the most creative and bountiful basket of food to help local families in need. Sponsored by the Black Law Students Association (BLSA), the event is now in its 11th year. After tallying the donations, BLSA Community Service Co-Chair Jennifer Dilworth announced that the student body had donated 2,681 non-perishable food items, a new record for the school.

The competition was hosted in the lobby of the law school, with students constructing their baskets throughout the day on Thursday. On Friday afternoon, faculty judges rated the baskets in three categories: most creative, best content, and overall winner. The students of Tarley & Strock took home the top prize, with their basket also named most creative. The content award was shared with Conner, Soberick, & Burnham. Professor John Tarley and his students have won the overall competition in 10 of the last 11 years.

The baskets will be delivered this week to families in need in the Williamsburg area. BLSA expresses its gratitude to Campus Kitchen for its help in distributing the food, as well as to Fresh Market, Harris Teeter, Bloom, and Trader Joe’s for supplementing the student body’s generosity with donations of their own.

To view a photo slideshow of the event, please click here.