TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- Champ Lyons Jr., associate justice of the Alabama Supreme Court, was recently inducted into the Order of Samaritan, the highest service honor of the Public Interest Institute at The University of Alabama School of Law. Justice Lyons’ induction was recognition for his lifetime of public service to the state of Alabama.

In accepting the award, Lyons spoke to the audience of over 100, consisting of members of the Tuscaloosa Bar and the UA School of Law faculty and students. After accepting the award, Lyons inducted 45 UA Law students, who through their community service earned a position on the Public Interest Institute Student Board.

The law students inducted onto the Public Interest Institute Student Board are: William C. Avant, Hannah Averitt, David Averyt, Brooke Bacak, Jim Barger, Anne Borelli, Kerry Brennan, Jason Britt, Joe Chambers, Ben Chastain, Callie Chenault, William Coxwell, Ed Crackel, Chris Curenton, Anna Curry, Dana Dachelet, Karyl Davis, Lisa Davis, Emilie Denmark, Jennifer Faucett, John Gibson, Charles Goodrich, Kelley Hudlow, Erin Jane Illman, Brian Kane, Jayme Kirkland, Heather Latham, Tina Lightel, William Lindsey, Jimmy Long, Jared Lyles, Wendy Madden, Jennifer McConnell, Denise Miller, Abigail Morrow, Brooke Patterson, Christy Risher, Kimberley Sanders, Aimee Self, Laura Sherling, Stephen Still, Amy Taylor, Tedford Taylor, J.J. Thomas, Jessica Varnon, Allison Walker and Brian Wilson.

To earn a position on the Public Interest Institute Student Board, students performed community service at 41 organizations in the Tuscaloosa area including churches, the YMCA, Meals on Wheels, the Child Abuse Center and Turning Point. Many of the law students inducted onto the board also tutor in the law school’s Tutoring Project at Tuscaloosa Housing Developments.

The new inductees join the following UA law students who were already members of the Public Interest Institute Student Board: Janet Andersen, Emilie Bindon, Alexia Bowers, Jami Crews, Melinda Eubanks, Michael Forton, Thorin Freeman, Alison Herlihy, Sarah Leaver Nichols, Rachelle Little, Amanda Mulkey, Glory McLaughlin, Jenny Parker, Day Peake, Richard Pittman, Jessica Powers, Rachael Raymon, Amanda Reid, Katherine Rogers, David Serwitz, and Chris Williams.

The Order of the Samaritan, which was presented to Justice Lyons, is the highest public service award available at the UA School of Law. Membership into the Order of the Samaritan is granted upon completion of all requirements for both the Dean’s Community Service Award and the Alabama State Bar Volunteer Lawyers Program Student Award. Induction into the Order of Samaritan is made at graduation. Inductees are presented with bronze medallions as they cross the stage to receive their law school diplomas.

Plans are under way to nationalize the Order of the Samaritan. The Alabama chapter, named for Millard Fuller (UA Law ‘60), founder of Habitat for Humanity, will be the inaugural chapter of any national society.