Latoya C. Asia J.D. '09 Honored with Law School Association's Taylor Reveley Award
The William & Mary Law School Association recognized Latoya C. Asia J.D. '09, an associate at McGuireWoods, as recipient of the Taylor Reveley Award during the Law School's May 11 Diploma Ceremony. The award is named in honor of William & Mary President and former Law School Dean Taylor Reveley, and recognizes outstanding commitment to public service by an alumnus or alumna who has graduated in the previous 10 years.
Dean Davison M. Douglas presented the award and told the audience that Asia's commitment to service during law school and in the five years afterward was inspiring.
In addition to her responsibilities at McGuireWoods, where she practices employment law, Asia serves as Co-Director of the Virginia State Bar's Oliver Hill/Samuel Tucker Pre-Law Institute, a one-week summer program designed, Douglas said, "to encourage young people to think about a career in law, so as to lead to greater diversity in the legal profession." She also serves on the Board of Directors of the Excel to Excellence Foundation, which seeks to inspire underprivileged youth to excel in school and take leadership roles in their communities.
During a nearly year-long leave of absence from her law practice, Asia travelled to Niamey, Niger, to volunteer at the Sahel Academy as a social sciences and Spanish teacher and missionary. During her time there, she also participated in outreach and ministry efforts on issues such as women's empowerment, medical care, and child malnourishment.
At her law school graduation, Asia was co-recipient of the George Wythe Award, which recognizes selfless service to the Law School community. She was also recognized with a Ewell Award, which is given by the Student Assembly to a select group of William & Mary students who best exemplify a liberal arts education through their activities as well as studies. During Asia's 2008-09 tenure as President of the Black Law Students Association, the William & Mary chapter was named National Chapter of the Year.
Previous recipients of the award include Douglas Bunch B.A. '02, J.D. 06 and Douglas Smith J.D. '06 (co-recipients, 2011), Alexis A. McLeod J.D. '07 (2012), and Chris Rey J.D. '10 (2013).
This is the second award created by the Law School Association to recognize public service. The first, the Citizen-Lawyer Award, is also given annually at graduation and recognizes a graduate or friend of the Law School who has demonstrated a lifetime commitment to citizenship and leadership.
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Thomas Jefferson founded William & Mary Law School in 1779 to train leaders for the new nation. Now in its third century, America's oldest law school continues its historic mission of educating citizen lawyers who are prepared both to lead and to serve.