May 18, 2018

Commencement 2018 Student Speaker and Singer Selected

Part-time evening student Jasen Talise '18 has been selected to deliver the student commencement address at Southwestern’s 103rd Commencement Ceremony on May 20th at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium.  Mary Carmel Y. Manuel '18 (traditional day student) will perform the national anthem.

Talise, who plans to practice entertainment law, is the Managing Editor of the Southwestern Law Review and a Biederman Scholar. Throughout 2017, Jasen worked as a law clerk at the Law Offices of Eric W. Thompson in Hollywood, where he helped represent several major studios and production companies on film, TV, and new media projects. Talise joined Southwestern's Entertainment and the Arts Legal Clinic during the Spring 2018 semester, where he provided pro bono legal services to several Clinic clients.

“We are all the law--whether you go to law school or not, whether you practice law or not. Be it through the ballot box or through marches on the streets, we as a society have the chance to advocate for changes in the law every day regardless of whether you hold a law license." - Jasen Talise

Talise reflects on his time at Southwestern in considering the personal significance of his role in the ceremony. "Commencement is an opportunity for the entire Southwestern Community, especially our family and friends, to join and celebrate the end of this collective journey that would not have been possible without all of the support we have received. I am humbled by this incredible honor."

Manuel echoed these sentiments. "Commencement is a time for all of us to give thanks to our families and everyone who supported us. This is my special way of thanking my parents for bringing our family to America so that I could have the opportunity to go to law school.”

Talise hopes his speech serves as a small reminder of an important lesson learned during his time at Southwestern: “We are all the law--whether you go to law school or not, whether you practice law or not. Be it through the ballot box or marches on the streets, we as a society have the chance to advocate for changes in the law every day regardless of whether you hold a law license. And if we can remember and act on this fact as a larger community, then all the better."

Manuel, equally accomplished in her own right, has sung for 15 years,  is a member of Southwestern’s Bisong Acapella group and co-founder of UCLA’s Resonance Acapella group. She is outspoken about her excitement to perform at the ceremony and merge her two passions – music and law.  “I’m very thankful for the opportunity to sing the national anthem at our commencement,” Manuel said. “Music has been my source of solace throughout law school, and I’m grateful for the opportunities I’ve had at Southwestern to stay in touch with my musical side through Music Law Society’s showcases and  Bisong Acappella."

Join us in congratulating these two exceptional students! 

Southwestern is live streaming the event so you can watch from anywhere with an internet connection and replay your favorite parts. Click here to be notified when the broadcast goes live!

(First published on May 8, 2018)