Julian Blackshear, Jr. Scholarship Gala

The 2026 Julian Blackshear, Jr. Scholarship Gala will take place on

March 21, 2026

The 2026 Julian Blackshear, Jr. Scholarship Gala will take place on

March 21, 2026

The Julian Blackshear, Jr. Scholarship Gala celebrates the legacy of trailblazing students, alumni, and friends who have positively impacted the Winston College of Law. This signature event, hosted by the Dean’s Office and the Black Law Students Association, honors alumnus Julian Blackshear, Jr., one of the first African American graduates of Winston Law. By honoring this distinguished alumnus, the college also celebrates its strong and enduring commitment to expanding access to legal education. The annual gala benefits the Julian Blackshear, Jr. Scholarship and recognizes the R.B.J. Campbelle, Jr. Award honoree and outstanding Black Law Students Association members.

About Julian Blackshear, Jr.

Julian Blackshear, Jr. completed his bachelor’s degree at Morehouse College, where he was a student of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and enrolled in law school in 1963. His legal education was preempted from 1965 until 1969 by his service in the U.S. Air Force during the Vietnam War. Upon returning to Knoxville in 1969, he continued his education at UT and completed his third year of law school. Following graduation, he was a civil rights attorney for five years (under the auspices of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund) as an associate of the Law Firm of Avon Williams. From there, he had a long and successful career as a founder and managing partner of a 15-person law firm and outside general counsel of Nashville Metropolitan Transit Authority, Citizens Savings Bank and Trust Company, and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. After retiring, he continued to share his knowledge and wisdom as an adjunct professor of political science at Tennessee State University. He maintains strong ties with the civic organizations today, including the Napier-Looby Bar Association as a Living Legend. In addition to these accolades, Blackshear is an accomplished trumpeter and played in various jazz and R&B bands.

As a member of the African American and legal communities, Blackshear’s ambition in life has been to help those around him bring their own goals to fruition.

2026 Keynote Speaker, Iké Adeyemi

Iké Adeyemi is Chief Legal Officer & Corporate Secretary at Eastman Chemical Company. In addition to the Legal and Compliance functions, Iké also oversees Product Stewardship, Regulatory Affairs and Global Trade Compliance. She was previously Vice President, Corporate Secretary & Associate General Counsel at The Clorox Company where she had responsibility for corporate governance and the company’s stockholder engagement program. She also led corporate legal matters (including M&A, securities law, and corporate finance), the Ethics and Compliance program, as well as Enterprise Risk Management and Business Continuity Planning.

Before Clorox, Iké lived in London for over a decade, where she held positions at the global natural resources company, BHP (head of legal, corporate), and worked in the energy/project finance practices at White & Case. She was also previously a Senior International Attorney at the Millennium Challenge Corporation in Washington, D.C., working in International Development. She started her career at Skadden Arps.

Iké is committed to public service and education, serving until recently on the Board of the Silicon Valley Education Foundation and as a commissioner of Foothill College in California.

She received a J.D. from Harvard Law School (where she was a Paul & Daisy Soros Fellow) and an A.B. in History from Harvard College.

A Look Back: Julian Blackshear, Jr. Scholarship Gala Highlights

2025 Julian Blackshear, Jr. Scholarship Gala

Lillian M. Blackshear

2025 Keynote Speaker & R.B.J. Campbelle, Jr. Award Recipient

The R.B.J. Campbelle, Jr. Award, named to honor the college’s first African American graduate, recognizes extraordinary efforts to advance the cause of equality and justice

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2025 Black Law Students Association Award Recipients

Kameron Johnson

Julian Blackshear, Jr. Outstanding Student Award

This award is given to the 3L student who exhibits leadership, outstanding character, and is a student of distinction.

Trinity Sandifer

R.B.J. Campbelle, Jr. Leadership Award

This award is given to the 3L student who exhibits leadership, social consciousness, dedication, passion, vision, and charisma.

Selena Hawker

Frank Ennix Award for Excellence

This award is given to the 3L student with a commitment to excellence, exemplary character, a strong work ethic, a passion for the legal field, and a desire to help others.

2024 Julian Blackshear, Jr. Scholarship Gala

2024 R.B.J. Campbelle, Jr. Award Recipient
Dr. Harold A. Middlebrook, Sr.
The R.B.J. Campbelle, Jr. Award, named to honor the college’s first African American graduate, recognizes extraordinary efforts to advance the cause of equality and justice.

2024 Keynote Speaker
Teresa Wynn Roseborough
Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary at The Home Depot

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2024 Black Law Students Association Award Recipients

Bryce D. Bradley
Julian Blackshear, Jr. Outstanding Student Award

This award is given to the 3L student who exhibits leadership, outstanding character, and is a student of distinction.

Gerrard Cox
R.B.J. Campbelle, Jr. Leadership Award

This award is given to the 3L student who exhibits leadership, social consciousness, dedication, passion, vision, and charisma.

Tatiyana Lewis
Frank Ennix Award for Excellence

This award is given to the 3L student with a commitment to excellence, exemplary character, a strong work ethic, a passion for the legal field, and a desire to help others.

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