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Rocky Mount Paralegal Receives Academic Award

By Lynne DeVenny

Congratulations to Melissa Solomon, a paralegal employed by attorney C. Ray Joyner in Rocky Mount, North Carolina, for receiving the first Dovey E. "Kim" Watson, Jr. Award from Wilson Community College. Solomon is a 2010 graduate of the Paralegal Technology program, who maintained a 4.0 grade point average. She plans to pursue a bachelor's degree in legal studies.

The Dovey E. "Kim" Watson Jr. Award was created by WCC to honor the teaching legacy of Kim Watson, a dedicated instructor in the paralegal technology program for many years before his death.

According to Dr. Watson's obituary (available by purchase only via The News & Observer), he died on July 15, 2008 at 56 years of age. He earned his juris doctorate from Wake Forest University as a Blake Scholar. His obituary describes his tremendous impact on the WCC paralegal program:

Watson began his legal career in private practice in Wilson before being asked to start a Paralegal Technology Program at Wilson Community College. His love for both teaching and law made his decision to become a professor an easy one. In 1994, the first students completed the program and the area law firms quickly hired the new graduates. This was just the beginning of the legacy he built for Wilson Community College's paralegal program.

Dr. Watson's students were always a top priority for him. He had time for them no matter what else was going on. Students nominated him for both "Who's Who Among America's Teachers" and "Who's Who in American Law" and he was very humbled by these honors. He provided a relaxing classroom environment as he challenged his students' minds and encouraged them to be the best they could possibly be.

In 1999, Dr. Watson was selected as Wilson Community College's Teacher of the Year. In July 2007, The North Carolina State Bar designated the Paralegal Technology Program as a "Qualified" Paralegal Studies Program earning graduates the right to sit for the North Carolina Certified Paralegal Examination. Gaining this designation is a testament to his commitment in providing his students with all possible professional opportunities and experiences.

Dr. Watson's legacy will live on through the Dovey E. "Kim" Watson Award and his students. Congratulations to Solomon for her outstanding academic record and for being the first student to receive this honor.

Sources: DailyMe; Rocky Mount Telegram;

Full post as published by Practical Paralegalism on July 10, 2010 (boomark / email).