The South End

Issue date: 4/16/08 Section: News

Media Credit: Chidinma Ogbuaku / For The South End Guests in Law School lobby for the event.

Media Credit: Chidinma Ogbuaku / For The South End Law School Dean Frank Wu with Dean Designate Ackerman after the award ceremony.

Wayne State University's law school held its 11th annual Treasure of Detroit gala on April 5. The gala honors alumni from the school who have made noteworthy impact on the legal community.

The evening's honorees were John Collins Jr., Judge Jessica Cooper and Cornelius Pitts. Former Detroit news anchor Amyre Makupson led the ceremony. For guests, the evening's festivities began at 5:30 p.m. The Brandon Parker Trio played in the background.

Guests also went on a tour of the law school to see the recent expansions that have been made.

There was also a silent auction where guests could bid on items including Detroit Pistons tickets, restaurant gift certificates and original artwork.

At 7:30 p.m., guests filed into the Spencer M. Partrich Auditorium and the awards program began. After welcomes from Makupson, Law School Dean Frank H. Wu and dean designate Robert Ackerman, the honorees received the Treasure of Detroit award.

Collins graduated from the law school in 1976 and is now a managing director and general counsel for AlixPartners, a global restructuring, consulting and financial firm.

Cooper graduated from the school in 1973. At the graduation ceremony that year, Cooper gave a speech that caught the crowd's attention.

"Half the crowd cheered and the other half sat with their mouths gaping open," she said recalling the speech.

However, Cooper had reasons for her fiery statements then and continues to support them.

"Our law degrees are tools for social change," she said as she addressed the audience after accepting the Treasure of Detroit award.

Pitts, a Detroit native, earned both his bachelor's and law degrees from Wayne State University. He graduated from the law school in 1964. The school has since established an award in his honor.

Georgia A. Clark, director of the Arthur Neef Law Library also received an award in her dedication to building the library. Wu was also honored for his leadership as dean of the school.

Judge Leonia Lloyd, another law school alumna, gave a short speech about the impact that the school has had on her life.

"Wayne State has empowered me to empower others to change the world," she said.

She encouraged her colleagues to make a financial contribution to the school to help student who - like herself when she was in school, "are not looking for a handout, but a hand up."

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