{"id":12267,"date":"2013-04-08T17:37:33","date_gmt":"2013-04-08T21:37:33","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.law.stetson.edu\/news\/?p=12267"},"modified":"2024-11-22T11:49:33","modified_gmt":"2024-11-22T16:49:33","slug":"floridas-first-female-attorney-general-pam-bondi-presents-stetson-law-commencement-on-may-18","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www2.stetson.edu\/law\/news\/index.php\/2013\/04\/08\/floridas-first-female-attorney-general-pam-bondi-presents-stetson-law-commencement-on-may-18\/","title":{"rendered":"Florida\u2019s first female attorney general, Pam Bondi, presented Stetson Law commencement on May 18"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Florida\u2019s first female attorney general, Pam Bondi, presented the commencement speech at Stetson University College of Law at 9 a.m. on Saturday, May 18. Commencement took place in the courtyard on Stetson\u2019s Gulfport campus. See more of the commencement experience.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Attorney
Pam Bondi, Florida\u2019s first female attorney general, gave commencement address.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Bondi received her law degree from Stetson University in 1990 and a bachelor\u2019s in criminal justice from the University of Florida in 1987. Watch the commencement video<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“As Florida’s first female attorney general, I’m here to tell you that you can do anything you want to do, and don’t let anyone stand in your way,” said Bondi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Tampa native and fourth generation Floridian, Bondi worked as a prosecutor in the Hillsborough County State Attorney\u2019s Office for 18 years before being elected in November 2010 to serve as Florida\u2019s 37th attorney general.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bondi is a member of the State Board of Administration and the Florida Cabinet, is vice chair of the southern region of the National Association of Attorneys General, and serves on Florida\u2019s Special Olympics board of directors. She was recognized by the Tampa Bay Review<\/em> as a \u201cLawyer of Distinction\u201d and received the \u201cWomen of Excellence in Government\u201d award.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A total of 353 students walked at Stetson Law\u2019s commencement, including 51 part-time JD students, 11 LL.M. in elder law students, 17 LL.M. in international law students, 25 JD\/MBA students and one JD\/MPH student. Student Kimberly Clark, a part-time student who came to Stetson Law to pursue a second career, died shortly before graduation but was presented her degree on Saturday<\/a>. Students participated in a memorial tribute to Clark during commencement, remembering her with pebbles tossed into the courtyard fountain that rose in hundreds of ripples signifying the impact of her life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“You never know what’s around the corner,” Bondi told the graduates. “It’s only important that you take it.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This year\u2019s graduating class included:<\/p>\n\n\n\n