When he started law school, Cameron Kubly was not exactly set on becoming class valedictorian. That changed when his grades came in.
“Once I got my first semester grades and saw that I was ranked first, I started to think that it was a real possibility and tried to keep working hard to maintain that position,” he said.
Along the way, he received the highest grade in 11 classes, served as editor-in-chief of the Stetson Law Review, worked as a federal judicial extern to the Honorable Charlene Honeywell, and acted in theatre productions such as freeFall’s God Bless You Mr. Rosewater.
For all his industriousness and spirit, he was honored with the prestigious Edward D. Foreman Most Distinguished Student Award on the eve of commencement.
Gratitude for supportive friends and family
In summer of 2024, a letter from the dean made it official: Kubly is the 2024 class valedictorian. He said he is grateful to those who supported and encouraged him to go above and beyond.
“I’m really grateful to my family—especially my wife, Emma—for supporting me through my law school journey,” Kubly said. “Also, all the friends I made at Stetson encouraged me and challenged me to accomplish this goal, and I’m thankful for them.”
He said he is also thankful for the mentorship of Professors Lance Long, Ellen Podgor, and Kristen Adams, who helped him balance his extracurricular activities and explore career options.
Adams said Kubly was a “joy to teach” and to work with on the Stetson Law Review symposium on the Virgin Islands.
“His kindness, wonderful sense of humor, and fantastic sense of perspective about both life and law school always impressed me just as much as his outstanding intellect and his hard work as both a student and an Editor in Chief,” she said. “It’s going to be really exciting to see where his journey as a lawyer takes him, because I know it’s going to be wonderful.”
Balancing it all
Amid the rigors of law school, Kubly participated in local theatrical productions like God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater and You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown. Although it kept him busy, he said, the excitement of non-law-school activities helped him stay balanced.
“I think having things to look forward to outside of law school, like spending time with family and performing in theatre productions, helped me manage my time better because I knew I only had specific pockets of the day with which I could focus on school,” he said. “It was tough at times but well worth it.”
Where he is off to next
As for his post-law-school plans, Kubly said he is going to work as a judicial law clerk for a judge at the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida.
“I’m looking forward to learning from the judge and improving my research and writing skills for when I do enter practice,” he said.
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