How 2025 Valedictorian Shelby Ponton, Mother of 2, Made It Work
Upon starting law school, 2025 alumna Shelby Ponton realized she had something not all 1Ls possess: a curiosity about law that made studying a labor of love.
“I genuinely find it interesting,” she said.
The sense of fulfillment, combined with her desire to create a better future for her family, motivated the mother of two to work hard no matter what.
It paid off: Ponton is Stetson Law’s spring 2025 valedictorian. An animal cruelty investigator and rescue coordinator prior to law school, she was also the 2025 winner of the prestigious Edward D. Foreman Award, a member of Stetson’s Moot Court Board, and editor-in-chief of the Stetson Law Review.
She said learning of her valedictorian status was “redeeming.”
“All the long hours, deep thoughts, and sacrifices my loved ones made to help me get to the position I am lucky enough to be in felt worth it,” Ponton said. “More than anything, I feel excited to one day, when my kids are older, tell them how, with discipline and an extraordinary work ethic, they can accomplish anything.”
Balancing law school and family
When she started law school, Ponton and her husband, Zachary Ponton, had an infant in tow. Shortly before she started her second year, she gave birth to their second son. Whether she faced a tough assignment or a sleepless child, she would always focus on what was most important.
“When you have competing priorities in life that you really care about, you find a way to make it happen,” Ponton said. “I love my husband and two boys more than life itself and every time I faced a difficult assignment or long night, just thinking of their laughs was enough to get me through it.”
The opposite was also true.
“When the kids wouldn’t sleep or there was a blowout diaper, I’d joyfully think about citations and briefs,” she said.
The family would take their dog, Luna, on walks throughout campus. She said both of her children took their first steps and spoke their first words on the grounds of Stetson Law.
The support of loved ones & colleagues
She said her family was a critical source of support, namely her husband, “who made more sacrifices than I could possibly list to make this dream come true,” she said. She adds that her parents, in-laws, siblings, grandparents, mentors and coaches over the years, colleagues, and friends all factor into her success.
Also, while many Stetson professors positively impacted Shelby’s trajectory, there are a few who served as constant sources of mentorship: Professor Tomer Stein, Professor James Hart, Professor Erin Okuno, and Professor Ellen Podgor.
Serving as editor-in-chief of the Stetson Law Review was an unforgettable experience, she said, one that sparked lifelong friendships formed with members of the editorial board.
When she gave birth just before her 2L year, everyone on SLR united to support the family by providing meals to help offset the stress of sleepless nights. “That goes to show the kind heart of the people involved in this organization, and I am lucky they let me call them my friends,” she said.
On finding your passion
For students who aspire to achieve highly in law school and beyond, Ponton said everyone needs to create an approach to working hard that not only fits their personality and goals, but is sustainable over time – and to have a strong “why” for studying law upon which they can reflect when things get tough.
“Find, build, and lean on your support system,” Ponton said. “Don’t forget that you have control over your own life, your choices, and your future, so take ownership of it.”
Now a litigation associate at the Washington, D.C. office of Kirkland & Ellis, Ponton currently works on complex commercial litigation cases as well as some active pro bono matters.
Post date: Oct. 15
Media contact: Kate Bradshaw
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