The University of Tennessee College of Law continues an upward trend, welcoming its highest credentialed class for the third consecutive year. The 133 students in the entering class bring a median GPA of 3.82 and a median LSAT of 163, the strongest numbers in the college’s history.
The class was selected from a record number of over 1,800 applications–a 20 percent increase from the last application cycle. The College of Law also saw an increase in applications to its Master in Legal Studies and Graduate Certificate in Legal Studies programs, bringing the total enrollment to 71.
The new class began the semester with a three-day orientation, including a session at the Federal Courthouse with judges and law clerks, various interactive panel discussions, a student organization fair, and welcome dinner hosted by the dean that featured an address by John G. Brock (UT BA ‘93, JD ‘96), name partner of Brock, Shipe, Klenk PLC in Knoxville.
“Tennessee Law has a well-deserved reputation for academic excellence, an unmatched commitment to ethics and professionalism, and a longstanding tradition of serving the public good. I know that the intellect, passion, and impressive and diverse personal backgrounds of this class will further enrich the law school and serve to make it an even better place,” Lonnie T. Brown, Jr., dean and Elvin E. Overton Distinguished Professor of Law, says.
The incoming class represents 24 states and the District of Columbia and Canada and earned degrees from 75 institutions. Their range of academic disciplines include political science, criminal justice, economics, finance, social work, business, English, history, philosophy, psychology, sociology, education, and others.
Ten students hold graduate degrees, five have served in the U.S. military, 24 percent identify as racially or ethnically diverse and 20 percent are first-generation college graduates.
The interests and experiences of the entering class represent a diverse array of fascinating experiences and backgrounds. Below are a few spotlights from the group.
Spotlights from the Incoming Class
Hayden Charles of Johnson City, Tennessee, graduated from Milligan University with a bachelor’s degree in accounting. During his time at Milligan he was a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics Cross Country National Championship team and was awarded the Bill Rhoades Most Outstanding Accounting Student Scholarship. A commitment to justice and desire to positively impact the world around him inspired Charles to study law. He is interested in transactional law, including tax, corporate, and sports law.
Keenan Ellis of San Diego, California, holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Brigham Young University where he played defensive back on the Cougars football team. After sustaining a traumatic injury during a game, Ellis overcame life-changing obstacles, which shifted his focus to helping those around him. His experiences with family members who have dealt with the justice system further inspired him to learn more about advocacy and study law.
Sydney Kirk of Bristol, Tennessee, is a graduate of UT with a master’s degree in special education and a bachelor’s degree in education. Prior to studying law, she was a special education teacher in a Title I elementary school for two years where she worked with a wide range of vulnerable students. This experience motivated her to study law, so she can collaborate with school districts and legislators to provide students and educators with the support they need to be successful. Kirk is the recipient of the Frank Winston Scholarship.
Geneva Mazhandu of Indianapolis, Indiana, earned a bachelor’s degree in law and public policy from Indiana University, Bloomington. She spent the last two years working in communications in the U.S. Senate. She also served as Miss District of Columbia Earth 2023, working with nonprofit organizations in the Washington, D.C., area and representing the District at the Miss Earth USA competition. During her time in Washington, D.C., she was inspired to study law after seeing the role of advocacy and affecting change while helping others.
Ella McBee of Paducah, Kentucky, earned a bachelor’s degree in English from Rice University. There she received the Rice University Distinction in Research Award for her senior English thesis “Science Fiction and the Supreme Court: Developing Literature and Law within a Tripartite Rhetorical Model.” Her diverse studies at Rice led her to discover her passion for advocacy and telling the stories of those who have not previously been heard. She is interested in maritime law with focus on the intersection of admiralty and environmental compliance. McBee is a Tennessee Law Scholar, the premier scholarship program offered by Tennessee Law.