Mike, Nathan & Rissa prepare to get their party on
Rissa takes a photo op with Mandy Shell, Law Review Note Editor Extraordinaire
Shannon Hartzler, Shelly “Mommy 2 B” Steiner, and Rissa toast to the start of a great evening
Katie and Rissa–ever the Charlotte and Miranda, respectively!
Alison Crane channels Marilyn Monroe, and Rissa (of course!) snags a chance for a photo op with her film classic’s doppelganger.
Rissa and Mike smile happily next to one of Valpo’s best (and most certainly best-dressed) professors, JoEllen Lind. (Why yes, sportsfans, that would indeed be the Professor Lind who comprises one-third of my “Holy Trinity” of law profs!)
Katie, a fellow fan of Professor Lind (and a fellow admirer of the Lind Diamond, as her ring as come to be known amongst the law students), joins Rissa and Mike for a gorgeous shot.
Remember my last post in which I gushed about the fact I would be seated at the same table as another member of my “Holy Trinity” of law profs, Rosalie Levinson? Well, not only was she at my table, but I got to sit immediately to her left, and I got to chat with her all through dinner. As if that wasn’t cool enough, here she poses for a photo op with me. That’s her husband, Don, in the background–as personable, funny, and nice a man as I’d heard he was!
Nathan and Rissa finally get a picture with their friends, Josh Brown and Becca Elberger (I’m not sure if I got her last name correct–apologies, Becca, if I didn’t!). The only picture of Josh & Becca we previously had was where they were dressed as a bowling ball & bowling pin. No, it wasn’t Halloween–why do you ask? (Kidding.)
Josh and Mike look extra happy, as they realize that banquet-season signals the near-completion of their reign as Moot Court Justices
Some gals arrived at the banquet beside only one dapper fellow. I, on the other hand, was lucky enough to arrive with two devilishly handsome lawyers-to-be. Here, I pose with one of those said gentlemen, Mike.
…but of course, the other devilishly handsome fellow would be none other than my main man, Nathan!
What evening would be complete without a shot of the Fab Four?
Both aglow with the happy aura of new coupledom, Princess Katie poses with Prince Tim, the belle and beau of the ball!
A Re-enactment of the moments prior to this photo:
“Are people really asking about Tim and me?” asked Princess Katie.
“They are. That’s, like, the first thing anyone asks me about tonight, is you and Tim,” replied Lady M.
“Oh my god!” exclaimed Princess Katie. “Is it that obvious?”
“Um…” Lady M paused. “I think your matching ear-to-ear smiles, frequent brushes of the hands, and tell-tale dreamy eyes at one another may have let the cat out of the bag.”
“Oh my god!” exlaimed Princess Katie, surprised, though certainly happy.
“Hey, what’s up?” said Prince Tim, striding toward the gals.
“…..” silence ensued, and Princess Katie thought, “I wonder if he could tell we were talking about ‘us’ ?” while Prince Tim thought, “Cool. I bet they were talking about ‘us’.”
Taking a moment away from her Prince to pose with her law school idol, Katie smiles beside Professor Levinson.
The Moot Court Board: These folks give great oral… arguments. (Yeah, I know–juvenile pun! But it was just so easy. Sheesh.) (From left: Kelly Vanderwall, Mike Ruff, Cortney Schaffer, Steve Starks, and Josh Brown)
Tim and Katie look well-matched in their first dance together.
Josh and Becca, who are engaged, practice their dance moves so they’ll be ready for the wedding reception.
You know it’s a party when Professor James Loebl shows the law students a thing or two about how to really twist. Chubby Checker would be proud!
They are, as Sam Cooke would say, twistin’ the night away.
In the scene-stealing dance of the evening, Professor Susan Stuart joined Professor Loebl on the dancefloor, and to the rockin’ strains of “Old Time Rock ‘n Roll” they gave the law students a lesson in gettin’ DOWN.
Who knew that our tuition also covered gettin’ schooled in the art of funkdom by Professors Stuart and Loebl?
Here’s a couple shots of my self-done hair do…
…Grandma, do you recognize my very sparkly “hair clips”?
The following photos are from the Collection of J.P., King of the Law School Prom:
Alison & J.P. prepare to get this party started…
J.P. Cratty and Alison Crane, both fellow Teaching Assistants for Valpo’s esteemed writing program
Dave Smith flashes a great grin–and why wouldn’t he, with a beauty like that beside him?
Theresa Ellis (nicknamed “Mother” Theresa for her nurturing role as Editor of Student Notewriting on law review, which she handled exceptionally well) poses with J.P.
Theresa stands beside her man–her fiance, that is, Charlie Kohler.
You know you’ve partied ’til the end of the evening when the chairs are all lined up for storage behind you!
The following photos come from the Collection of Mandy Shell:
Best friends Alison Crane & J.P. Cratty: Don’t hate them because they’re beautiful, ya’ll.
Alison Crane and Meghan Bass: yeah, that’s right fellas–you want the gorgeous blondes, you better start trying out for law review!
Ellen and Jake Zehnder strike a pose with Jeromy and Becca Cannon. Jeromy, by the way, was the much-deserving recipient of the Distinguised Service Award for his contributions to law review. Of course, he and Becca are humble and sweet enough that they laughed at the idea that he would be the most deserving… but those of us lucky enough to know Jeromy know he is!
Cara Ottenweller, Alison Crane, Meghan Bass, and Mandy Shell. (Seriously, why do we even bother recruiting 1Ls to law review with promises of “It looks good on your resume,” when we could just show them photos like this? It would certainly increase the number of males on the crew… haha)
Kelly Vanderwall gets cozy with her boyfriend, Joel.
Jake Zehnder shows wife Ellen some love!
J.P. Cratty and Theresa Ellis, toasting to the fact that they are a mere 43 days away from graduating.
Mandy Shell and Cortney Schaffer
Jennifer Hagerman cuts a rug while J.P. observes, and Jon Halm looks “pointedly” at the photographer.
Mandy Shell & Rissa
Professor James Loebl pauses for a photo op with Theresa Ellis, prior to proving that he is a deserving recipient of “Professor Most Likely To Star In Saturday Night Fever 2″ on the dancefloor.
Mandy Shell, Jenn Rasmussen, and Shannon Hartzler enjoy some cold beverages and good conversation.
Mandy smiles alongside “Mama” Shelly, who says she still feels the urge to “suck in” when being photographed, but who everyone else agrees is beautiful and glowing as she enters the second half of her pregnancy–with twins!
Mandy Shell and Steph Arcuri
Rebecca McMahon with her husband, Mike (the couple on the left) and Renee Lambermont with her husband, Dylan (the couple on the right)
Renee Lambermont, Mandy Shell, and Rebecca McMahon
Rissa and Alison Crane
Professor Stuart with a gal that I’m sure is her favorite T.A., Alison Crane
The expectant parents: Shelly and Scott Steiner
Theresa Ellis and Mandy Shell
Say it with me: “Awwww!” Tim Emerick & Katie Peterson
Theresa & Mandy
Tim and Katie happily engaged in conversation
“How you doin’, Katie?” 
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I’m Marissa, can-do-ologist, perpetual Curious George, and daily adventurer. 
