Members of our 2011 entering class possess work and volunteer experiences that exemplify Valparaiso University Law School’s commitment to law as a calling.  Over a third have work experience in the law as paralegals, in paid internships, and in a range of support positions in public defenders’, prosecutors’, and state’s attorneys’ offices.  Several have worked as social workers while eight of our students are military veterans.  Valparaiso Law’s new students have demonstrated their interest in political service by working on campaigns, in internships, and as office staff for state governors, US Congressmen and Senators, and other elected officials. One new student served several years as the Chief of Staff to a US Representative. 

All members of the class have volunteered their time in service to others.  Close to half the class has served as tutors, mentors, and coaches to younger students and peers while a third have served the homeless and been involved in hunger outreach.  More than half have volunteered with various charitable organizations including Big Brothers Big Sisters, the Boys and Girls Clubs, Habitat for Humanity, the Salvation Army, and the Special Olympics as well as participated in mission trips in the US and abroad.  Two have served in AmeriCorps while another six have been involved in animal rescue activities.   

Valparaiso Law is committed to developing lawyers who are leaders. As such, many of our students possess wide-ranging business leadership and management experience in banking, real estate, and sales and marketing.  Seven have worked in banking, two are licensed real estate brokers while others have worked in finance, business analysis, and event management.  One of our new students owns and operates a vineyard in California while another co-founded a restaurant food service company. Two others have worked as PGA Golf professionals.

Our class also includes student leaders whose experiences exemplify Valparaiso Law’s commitment to excellence in research and writing.  Interestingly, four of our new students have worked in medical research.  Eleven have been editors and writers for both college and professional newspapers and magazines. One is a published poet while two other students have published books.  Many others have served as university tutors and teaching assistants.  The class also includes the founder/owner of a film production company.

Many in our entering class have participated in leadership roles in varsity undergraduate athletics, including softball, baseball, football, ice hockey, rugby, and track and field.  Our class also includes 3 Marathon runners, a rock climbing instructor, an equestrian, and several gymnastics instructors as well as 3 who have earned black belts in Taekwondo.

35 students studied abroad in 14 countries, including China, France, Greece, Italy, Mexico, Spain, and the United Kingdom.  Two others worked as English teachers in Korea and China.

20 students have earned Masters’ degrees, with one student earning 2 Master of Arts degrees.  The degrees list includes 6 MAs, 4 MSs, 4 MBAs, 2 Masters in Social Work, 1 Masters in Theology, 1 Masters in Urban Planning and Policy, 1 MFA, 1 MPA, and 1 LLM.

Many members of the Class of 2014 achieved undergraduate academic honors:  72 have been recipients of merit and academic scholarships.  Other academic achievements include:

• 11 (University) Presidential or State Board of Regents merit scholarship awardees; 
• 5 members of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars;
• 3 Mortar Board Society members;
• 2 members of the Golden Key society;
• 2 recipients of the Ronald E. McNair Research Scholarship.  

The class also includes multiple members of honor societies in history, legal studies, and political science.

60% of the class is from Illinois and Indiana. More than 24 other states of legal residence are represented, including 3-10 students from each of the following states: California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Texas, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin.

Valparaiso Law students attended more than 125 different undergraduate and graduate schools in 30 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and 5 foreign countries. Many members of the entering class come from the Great Lakes region, with representatives from the following schools:

INDIANA: Ball State University, Bethel College, Butler University, DePauw University, Indiana Institute of Technology, Indiana State University, Indiana University-Bloomington, Indiana University-Kokomo, Indiana University-Northwest, Indiana University-South Bend, Indiana University-Purdue University-Fort Wayne, Indiana University-Purdue University-Indianapolis, Purdue University-Calumet, Purdue University-West Lafayette, Purdue University-North Central, Saint Joseph’s College, University of Evansville, University of Indianapolis, University of Notre Dame, Valparaiso University. 

ILLINOIS: Augustana College, Benedictine University, Bradley University, Chicago State University, Columbia College Chicago, DePaul University, Eastern Illinois University, Elmhurst College, Garrett Theological Seminary, Illinois State University, Illinois Wesleyan University, Lake Forest College, Loyola University Chicago,  North Central College, North Park University, Olivet-Nazarene University, Roosevelt University, Saint Xavier University, Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville, Southern Illinois University-Carbondale, Trinity Christian College, University of Illinois-Chicago, University of Illinois-Urbana, Western Illinois University.

MICHIGAN: Albion College, Aquinas College, Calvin College, Central Michigan University, Eastern Michigan University, Grand Valley State University, Hope College, Kalamazoo College, Michigan State University, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor.

WISCONSIN: Beloit College, Carroll College, Lakeland College, Marquette University, University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, University of Wisconsin-Madison, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point.

Other members of the 2011 entering class come from institutions across the country, including the Far West, Mid West, Mid South, Mountain West, North East, and South East regions:

Babson College, Baylor University, Berea College, Berry College, Bluffton College, Brigham Young University, Canisius College, Carleton College, Central College, Chestnut Hill College, College of Mount St. Joseph, Colorado State University, Columbia University, Defiance College, Drake University, Drury University, Fort Valley State University, George Mason University, Georgia State University, Grove City College, Howard University, Iowa State University, Kent State University, Loras College, Metropolitan State College of Denver, Middle Tennessee State University, Missouri State University-Springfield, New School University, North Carolina Wesleyan College, Northeastern University, Northern Arizona University, Northern Kentucky University, Ohio University, Randolph College, Rhodes College, Richard Stockton College-New Jersey, St. Ambrose University, St. Edwards University, Saint Louis University, St. Mary’s University, Sonoma State University, Southeast Missouri State University, Spelman College, Suffolk University, Sul Ross State University, SUNY at Albany, SUNY College-Old Westbury,  Temple University, Tennessee State University, Texas Christian University, Thomas Edison State College, Tuskegee University, University of California-Riverside, University of California-San Diego, University of Central Florida, University of Denver, University of Hawaii- Manoa, University of Iowa, University of Kansas, University of Louisville,  University of Montana, University of North Carolina-Greensboro, University of San Francisco, University of Washington, University of West Florida, Xavier University-Louisiana.