Mr. Thompson has traveled the country speaking at schools, colleges, and to national organizations on leadership, diversity, and professional development. As a mentor, Mr. Thompson has worked with numerous students to foster and encourage career advancement and personal growth.
"With Craig's active track record promoting leadership, and professional and educational excellence in the community and nationally, he is certainly deserving of this honor," said James L. Shea, Managing Partner of Venable LLP. "His work mentoring young people and the next generation of attorneys is of tremendous value to Venable and the legal profession."
Mr. Thompson is a partner in Venable's Litigation Division, where he represents clients in both federal and state courts in the areas of commercial litigation, products liability, personal injury, and premises liability. A former television talk show host, he currently hosts a weekly two-way talk radio show focused on a number of community issues and national topics. Additionally, Mr. Thompson is an adjunct professor and lecturer of a pre-law course at the University of Maryland, College Park.
"Mr. Thompson embodies all that the BLSA was created and designed to achieve and we are proud to bestow upon him the distinguished honor of Alumni of the Year," remarked Tiffany Harvey, president of University of Maryland's BLSA Chapter.
No stranger to recognition, Mr. Thompson has been the recipient of the "Outstanding Young Alumnus" award from the University of Maryland and "Practitioner of the Year" award from the University of Maryland School of Law. Recognized twice by the Baltimore Business Journal as one of Baltimore's "40 Under 40," he has also received the "Leadership in Law" award from The Daily Record.
Mr. Thompson was honored on March 4, 2006 at the BLSA's 31st Annual Scholarship and awards banquet. The BLSA was founded in 1967 and has chapters at virtually every law school in the country. The University of Maryland chapter, one of the first and largest in the nation, is an integral part of the local black community and bar and has received several national BLSA honors and community service awards for its achievements.
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