TALLAHASSEE — The Florida State University College of Law Student Bar Association has been selected as “SBA of the Year” by the American Bar Association’s (ABA) Law Student Division. The honor was announced Aug. 8 at the ABA Annual Meeting in New York City. 

Numerous student bar associations from around the nation competed for the annual award. Florida State Law’s Student Bar Association was recognized following a year of many accomplishments. The organization sponsored a Homelessness Awareness Week; established a speakers bureau and hosted speakers including state lawmakers and U.S. Sen. Mel Martinez (’73); created an innovative Web site to communicate with students; and helped the law school achieve an unprecedented 68 percent student giving rate. In addition, as national co-chair of the ABA Law Student Division’s Mental Health Initiative, SBA Immediate Past President Ben Gibson (’08) helped raise awareness about law-student mental health issues at law schools around the nation. 

“It was an honor to lead such a great student body this past year,” said Gibson, who was in New York City for the award presentation. “This award would not have been possible without the outstanding work of the entire 2007-2008 SBA executive board, as well as Florida State Law’s very supportive student body, faculty and administration.” 

“We are thrilled by this national recognition of the creativity and vibrancy of our Student Bar Association,” said Dean Don Weidner. “Congratulations and thanks go to the entire SBA board and especially to its president, Ben Gibson, for his superb leadership.”