Ave Maria Law School Dedicates Library to Veterans
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Published on Thursday, 08 December 2016 01:35
The Ave Maria School of Law dedicated its library to America's veterans Wednesday on the 75th anniversary of the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor.
The law school has been making an effort to attract veterans, which now account for 10 percent of the student body of about 250, school President Kevin Cieply said.
"The are ideal students for this school," law school founder Tom Monaghan said in brief remarks at the ceremony. "They are excellent examples for other students.
One notable veteran who spoke at the ceremony was Sean Lux, who, with his wife, Debbie, started Collier County's honor flight initiative that flies veterans from the Second World War and Korean War to Washington, D.C. Mr. Lux is a student at the law school who just finished is second year there. (Right, Mr. and Mrs. Lux)
He had been writing software for 15 years after serving in the U.S. Air Force when he and his wife read about the honor flight program. "I decided I couldn't sit in front of a computer anymore," he said.
In the three years since starting the program, 770 veterans have taken the flight to Washington from Collier County, he said.
The Ave Maria school of Law is special, Mr. Lux said, because it "creates truly ethical lawyers who can go out and serve the common good." He said he views the chance to get a law degree as another "opportunity to make a positive change."
Dean Cieply said Mr. Lux applied for entrance like any other student and he was not initially aware of his role in the honor flight program. Wednesday, he referred him as "almost the most famous person we have at the school."
Mr. Lux said he'll be looking for an internship at a law firm this summer but isn't sure exactly what area of law he wants to practice. At 45, he is one of the older students to attend the law school but not the oldest ever by a long shot. That distinction is held by John Arceri from Marco Island who graduated in 2013 at the age of 71.
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