The Stetson Lawyers Alumni Association (SLAA) presented awards to four alumni who have made a positive impact in the community and supported Stetson University College of Law during the 2019 Annual Florida Bar Convention at the Boca Raton Resort and Club in Boca Raton, Florida, on June 27.

SLAA has been honoring alumni accomplishments and presenting them with awards for more than 25 years.

“The Stetson Lawyers Alumni Association’s awards provide an opportunity for Stetson Law to recognize outstanding achievements of our alumni in the community as well as their critical support in advancing the college’s mission,” said Kevin M. Hughes, assistant dean of Development and Alumni Relations.

Outstanding Alumni Representative Award

Stetson Law alumnus Hugo de Beaubien is the recipient of the Outstanding Alumni Representative Award. He was recognized for his dedication and service to the SLAA, commitment to the Central Florida alumni chapter and encouraging other alumni to participate in the group’s activities. Beaubien also established the DSK Law Book Award, which is presented annually to the Stetson Law student who has the highest grade in contracts.

“I’m honored to receive the 2019 Outstanding Alumni Representative Award,” said Beaubien. “Stetson Law has produced a number of outstanding lawyers. I have always felt that alumni should support and give back to Stetson Law as they are able to do so for the great education that we all received.”

Beaubien is the founding partner of DSK Law in Orlando and has remained connected to Stetson Law throughout his law career and been involved with the college’s local alumni chapter. His efforts have been an integral part of the alumni group’s continuous growth.

Distinguished Alumnus Award

Pinellas County Sheriff and Stetson Law alumnus Bob Gualtieri has been honored with the Distinguished Alumnus Award. The accolade recognizes alumni who have been outstanding in their chosen profession and brought honor to the individual and Stetson Law. The award also acknowledges the recipient’s dedication and service to humanity, which fosters Stetson Law’s ideals.

“I have been the Pinellas County Sheriff for the past eight years and during that time, I have worked to uphold the rule of law and protect individual rights while reducing crime in the county and ensuring effective public safety,” said Gualtieri. “Receiving the Distinguished Alumnus Award is a humbling honor, especially because of the many other Stetson Law graduates who have achieved so much during their law careers.”

Paul M. May Meritorious Service Award

Stetson Law alumnus Prineet Sharma has been recognized for his utmost dedication and support of Stetson Law and the SLAA with the Paul M. May Meritorious Service Award.

Sharma is the founding partner of Sharma Eminent Domain Lawyers in Winter Garden. He is a member of the Veterans Law Institute’s advisory board, and along with his wife Shamila Sharma, who is also a Stetson Law alumna, has established the Sharma Family Veterans Endowed Scholarship.

“I’m very honored and humbled to receive the Paul M. May Meritorious Service Award,” said Sharma. “Supporting veteran scholarships allows me to give back to those who have given so much for us to enjoy our country’s freedoms. If anyone deserves recognition, then it’s the brave men and women and their families who serve so honorably to protect us.”

Ben Willard Award

As a fourth-generation Floridian, Stetson Law alumna Pam Bondi was elected twice to serve as Florida’s Attorney General and currently chairs Ballard Partners’ corporate regulatory practice. The SLAA acknowledged her accomplishments with the Ben Willard Award. The recognition honors alumni who have expended extra efforts to prevail for the benefit of Florida’s citizens, and whose humanitarian achievements have brought distinction to themselves and Stetson Law.

“I’m beyond humbled and do not feel deserving of this great honor because so many Stetson Law graduates do so much for Florida and our country,” said Bondi. “I was a career prosecutor and became Attorney General to help people. My Stetson Law professors had a tremendous impact on my career goals and I learned the value of giving back and have tried to make a small impact on the world.”

Bondi tackled dozens of state and national initiatives, including filing comprehensive state litigation regarding the nationwide opioid crisis as Florida’s Attorney General. She also played a leading role in achieving the National Mortgage Settlement, which is the largest consumer financial protection settlement in the United States’ history and ultimately resulted in $56 billion in relief nationally.

In an extraordinary victory for Florida, Bondi sued British Petroleum (BP) and other responsible parties in the Deepwater Horizon oil spill case and settled for more than $2 billion in economic relief for Florida alone.

During her tenure as Florida’s Attorney General, Bondi worked aggressively to shut down pill mills, combat opioid abuse, ban synthetic drugs, end human trafficking, test previously unprocessed sexual assault kits, develop a school safety app to prevent school shootings and recovered more than $1 billion in consumer protection, antitrust and false claims matters.

-Sandra Carr