The luncheon began with a warm welcome by Matthew R. Devine ’85, chairman of the LA Bar Association and partner at Jenner and Block, and invocation delivered by Loyola Academy’s Rev. Joe Simmons, SJ. Next, alumnus Conor J. Heaton ’96, who started the Mock Trial Howlett Cup Tournament in 2014,introduced Loyola’s Mock Trial team memberswho weremet with a standing ovation for their first place finish in the 2018 Howlett Cup competition. The team included Ramblers Owen Baker ’18, Matthew Brun ’18, Thomas J. Lindstrom ’19, Marirose C. Osborne ’18, Santiago Roches ’19, Emma C. Roder ’18, Sam K. Sayre ’19, Elliott F. Wenzel ’19 and Thomas J. Wimbiscus ’19. The Mock Trial team is led by head coach Mark A. Javier ’97, supervising investigator at the Civilian Office of Police Accountability (COPA). Loyola graduate parent Erica Dillon and alumni Martin Syvertsen ’00, John A. Ouska III '73 and Catherine C. Howlett '02 assist Javier as coaches. Notably, Catherineis the daughter of the late Judge Michael J. Howlett, Jr. for whom the competition is named.

Next Richard A. Devine ’61, counsel at Cozen O’Connor, welcomed keynote speaker Patrick Fitzgerald, his friend and former colleague. Fitzgerald spoke about his experience at Regis High School, a Jesuit school in New York City. He discussed the importance of Jesuit education and how its basic principles taught him to fight against the injustices in our world.