Florida State Black Law Students Association named National Chapter of the Year

Press Date
March 1, 2011

TALLAHASSEE —The Florida State University College of Law’s Black Law Students Association (BLSA) has been named 2010-2011 National Chapter of the Year by the National Black Law Students Association (NBLSA). Florida State’s student-led organization received the award Saturday, March 12 at the NBLSA National Convention in Houston. BLSA President G.C. Murray accepted the award at the meeting. Also at the NBLSA convention, second-year Florida State law student Keven Leveille was elected 2011-2012 National Community Service Director. 

The National Chapter of the Year award is given to a chapter that has made a difference in its community, and has improved the quality of its law school by enhancing social awareness and communal activism while representing NBLSA ideals. Award selection criteria include chapter and local programming, member participation on national and regional boards and chapter size. As the 2010-2011 Regional Chapter of the Year for the Southern Region of NBLSA, Florida State competed for the national award against five other regional winners, including Harvard Law School, William & Mary Law School, University of Chicago Law School, University of Texas School of Law and Southwestern Law School. 

The Florida State BLSA chapter held more than 60 events during the year on topics ranging from youth empowerment to criminal justice reform and will hold its first BLSA Alumni Reunion April 8-10 at the law school. The group also increased its membership by 150 percent. 

“We are thrilled that our Black Law Students Association was recognized as National Chapter of the Year,” said Dean Don Weidner. “Congratulations and thanks go to the entire BLSA board and especially president G.C. Murray for bringing this honor home to Florida State.” 

Florida State’s BLSA was also selected National Chapter of the Year in 2006.