As a crowd of elated graduates shared their final moments with their classmates on the LMU Loyola Law School (LLS) campus on Friday, May 16 – joined by LMU mascot Iggy the Lion for high-fives and photobombing – the opening notes of the commencement processional marked the start of LLS’s first-ever Hooding Ceremony.
The ceremony kickstarted a weekend of commencement activities that concluded with the Graduate and LMU Loyola Law School Commencement Ceremony in the Sunken Garden on LMU’s Westchester campus on Sunday, May 18, for degree candidates of the law school’s Juris Doctor (JD), Master of Laws (LLM), Online Master of Tax Law (Tax LLM), Master of Science in Legal Studies (MLS), and Master of Taxation (MT) programs.
The Hooding Ceremony welcomed graduates, faculty, and nearly 1,400 guests to the LLS campus for a ceremony that featured an address by Fritz B. Burns Dean Brietta Clark, the presentation of faculty awards, and student speakers from the Graduate, Day, and Evening Divisions. Father Wayne Negrete, S.J. gave the invocation. Watch the hooding recap video.
Clark commended the Class of 2025 for embodying the Loyola principle of being “lawyers for others,” describing how students reached out to her to ask how they could help victims of the historic Los Angeles wildfires in January 2025 and those impacted by recent governmental policy changes.
“This has prompted a great deal of uncertainty, concern, and reflection for many of us. But, once again, your first instinct was to reach out and ask how you can help those in our community who may be the most vulnerable,” Clark said. “Your class is simply remarkable.”
The Day Division Excellence in Teaching Award was presented to Professor Victor Gold, and the Evening Division Excellence in Teaching Award went to Professor Susan Bakhshian. For her outstanding service and dedication to Loyola Law School and its students, Professor Marcy Strauss received the David P. Leonard Memorial Faculty Service Award from the St. Thomas More Law Honor Society.
Student speakers Julio Cesar Zerecero Marin (Graduate Division), Jorge Villanueva (Evening Division), Rebekah Betemedhin (Day Division), and Victoria Mas (Student Body Day President) acknowledged the challenges they and their peers have overcome to get to this moment and the support they’ve received from family and friends. They encouraged their peers to take immense pride in what they’ve achieved.
“Perseverance, humility, and curiosity. May these values continue to sustain us in our future endeavors,” Villanueva said. “To everyone here, thank you for carrying us through this experience. May we continue to carry one another as we have these past few years.”
One by one, each graduate’s name was announced as they walked across the stage to an LLS senior leader or faculty representative, who placed their hood over their shoulders and posed for a photo with the graduate.
“It really means a lot to celebrate – and see the daylight!” JD Evening graduate Stephanie Myers ’25 said after the ceremony. “Working full time and going to school has been tough, but it’s all coming to a moment now. So I’m just so proud of myself.”
George Vasquez ’25 said he loved participating in the law school’s first Hooding Ceremony. “I really enjoyed being able to celebrate this day with my friends and the law school community. It was great,” Vasquez said. “To my fellow classmates: You worked hard for this, you earned it, and I wish you nothing but the best moving forward.”
LLS graduates and their families gathered again for the Graduate and LMU Loyola Law School Commencement, where Dean Clark presented the degree candidates from the law school. Watch the Commencement recap video.
Throughout the weekend, LLS affinity groups hosted their own celebrations. The Black Law Students Association (BLSA), Latinx Law Students Association (LLSA), and Asian Pacific American Law Students Association (APALSA) gathered on- and off-campus with their families and friends for celebrations honoring their graduates.