| Chapter Exchange |

Chapter Leadership Training students clerking with federal judges ney’s Office in ; Kathryn Sem- The Chapter Leadership Training and federal agencies this summer. The mler, a first-year law student from the Program was held on April 24–25 at the awardees will be clerking with local South College of Law, who will Westin Gateway in Arlington, Va. This federal agencies and with federal judg- clerk for U.S. District Judge Ewing Wer- year, 41 chapters were represented at es in the Southern District of Texas. lein Jr. and with U.S. District Judge Gray the program, which is designed to pro- The Blask Fellowship, which is Miller; Charlotte Simon, a first-year law vide valuable information and training named in honor of Ronnie Blask, late student from the University of Houston to incoming chapter leaders. The two- U.S. magistrate judge and FBA member, Law Center, who will clerk with U.S. Dis- day program included presentations is awarded annually to law students who trict Judge and at the outlining best programs, planning for have chosen to intern for at least part U.S. Immigration Court; Amber McKeon, the upcoming year, budgeting, FBA of the summer at a federal agency or at a second-year law student at the Univer- resources, and membership issues. On a federal court located in the Southern sity of Texas School of Law, who will Friday evening, participants enjoyed a District of Texas. The fellowship is fund- clerk at the U.S. Equal Employment Op- reception at which they were able to ed by the chapter’s fundraising activities portunity Commission; Erin Smith, a sec- network and socialize. Saturday’s events and serves to promote public service in ond-year law student from the University included breakout sessions that provid- the federal legal sector. of Texas School of Law, who will clerk ed opportunities to discuss challenges This year, 10 law students will share at the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Houston; leaders face in their individual chapters in the award: Alan Hayes, a first-year Mallory Beagles, a first-year law student and describe successful programs they law student from the University of Texas from Texas Tech University School of have carried out. Participants walked School of Law, who will clerk for U.S. Law, who will clerk for U.S. Fifth Circuit away from the successful program with District Judge ; Michael Judge Jennifer Elrod; and Lauren Curbell, tools that will help them in their upcom- Vargo, a second-year law student from a first-year law student at the University ing year as presidents of their chapters. the South Texas College of Law, who will of Texas School of Law, who will clerk clerk for U.S. District Judge Gray Miller as for U.S. District Judge Hilda Tagle. TFL Fi f t h Circuit well as at the U.S. Department of Justice; Erika Glenn, a first-year law student at Chapter Exchange is compiled by Melissa Southern District of Texas the Texas Southern University Thurgood Stevenson, FBA manager of chapters and In April 2009, the Southern District Marshall School of Law, who will clerk circuits. Send your chapter information of Texas Chapter held a reception to with U.S. District Judge Andrew Hanen; and photos to [email protected] or honor recipients of the Blask Fellow- Alexandra Farias a second-year law stu- Chapter Exchange, Federal Bar Associa- ship, a program through which the dent from the University of Miami Law tion, 1220 North Fillmore Street, Suite 444, chapter has awarded $20,000 to law School, who will clerk at the U.S. Attor- Arlington, VA 22201.

Chicago Chapter: At the chapter’s annual State of the Court Luncheon on April 28, which featured Chief Judge James F. Holderman of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of , held at the Chicago Bar Association’s headquarters—(left photo, l to r) Paul E. Freehling, chap- ter president and FBA vice president for the Seventh Circuit; Joel R. Skinner, FBA vice president for the Seventh Circuit; Chief Judge Holderman; and Charles L. Nesbit, immediate past chapter president.

Southern District of Texas Chapter: At the reception honoring recipients of the Blask Fellowship—(right photo, l to r) Daniel D. Hu, chapter president-elect; Kathryn Semmler and Erika Glenn, two of the fellowship awardees; and Erik Garza, chapter vice president and chair of the Blask Fellowship program.

6 | The Federal Lawyer | June 2009