LEAP-Kids - News

The Claude Pepper Chapter at Widener University School of Law's Harrisburg campus had a productive fall semester. In September, Pepper Chapter Justice Keli Knapp attended the District XXII Conference at Penn Law School in Philadelphia, where she accepted the "Outstanding Chapter" award on behalf of her chapter. In addition, the Claude Pepper Chapter received an award in recognition of its fifty percent increase in membership last year.

On September 13, the Pepper Chapter held an open house rush event in conjunction with MicroMash. Both evening and day students found this event to be informative on the benefits of both MicroMash and membership in Phi Alpha Delta. To promote membership growth during rush, the Pepper Chapter sponsored Pin Week, September 19-23, during which current members of the Pepper Chapter showed their PAD spirit and raised awareness of the fraternity by wearing their PAD pins. The fall rush culminated in the chapter's October 8 initiation ceremony and dinner, held this year at the Dauphin County Bar Association. Over 35 new members were welcomed into the Pepper Chapter. Widener University School of Law, Harrisburg Campus's Dean of Students, Elizabeth Simcox, addressed the attendees, after which current and new members joined together for refreshments. In addition to the fellowship opportunities during rush and initiation, the Pepper Chapter's fall social event was held on October 14 for new and old members to have an opportunity to get to know each other.

But, Phi Alpha Delta is about more than socialization and fellowship; it is also about service, both to our schools and to our communities. The Pepper Chapter did not fall short in this regard. As it has in previous years, the Pepper Chapter participated in the LRE/LEAP program. David Travaskis, Esquire, Pro Bono Coordinator for the Pennsylvania Bar Association and founder of LEAP-Kids, trained Pepper Chapter participants, who then went into local middle schools and taught civics lessons. To display the fruits of their education, Chris Falcon (2L) brought Mrs. Zugay's eighth grade class from Downey Elementary, in the Harrisburg City School District, to Widener to present a mock trial, State v. Bean, before acting-judge Derryck Henry, Esquire. Over thirty children participated as attorneys or jurors and many others were in attendance to witness the event.

The Pepper Chapter also worked with a local radio station and Widener's Women's Law Caucus to collect donations of sixteen cases of bottled water and twenty-two gallons of water to ship to victims of Hurricane Katrina in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The water-drive was organized by Christina Gearhart (3L) who had this to say about the effort:

Water is a basic necessity that Hurricane Katrina robbed from Louisiana and the surrounding areas. Phi Alpha Delta wants to lend a helping hand to our fellow Americans in the Southeast by providing them with something they so badly need. As PAD members, we have a responsibility not only to show compassion toward others but to help those who cannot help themselves. We strive to set a good example for others to follow, and by helping Hurricane Katrina's victims we are making our community and our country a better place.

Members of the Pepper Chapter did their best to be of service to their school in a number of other ways, as well: five members participated in Widener's search for a new dean of the law school and Justice Keli Knapp represented PAD on the selection committee for Pennsylvania's Youth Senators (a Pennsylvania Department of Education and Hertz family scholarship program).

The members of the Pepper Chapter continue to embrace the foundation upon which the fraternity was founded: opportunities for fellowship, networking and service.