Samford University’s Cumberland School of Law has been recognized for its consistent and strong participation in the Birmingham Pledge effort.

Cumberland dean John L. Carroll accepted the Birmingham Pledge Foundation’s Distinguished Service Award during the group’s annual lifetime achievement awards ceremony Sept. 13 at Birmingham’s Sixteenth Street Baptist Church. Jefferson County civil court judge Houston L. Brown, a Cumberland alumnus and member of the Foundation’s Board of Directors, presented the award.

As part of the law school’s annual first-year orientation, students are given an opportunity to sign the pledge, which stresses a personal, daily commitment to remove prejudice and treat all people with respect.

Foundation leaders report that the number of signed pledges from Cumberland law students is among the largest group of signatures they receive each year. Only batches from large city-wide campaigns may exceed the Cumberland effort, said Foundation executive director Wade Black.

“I am extremely pleased that we offer our students the opportunity to sign the Birmingham Pledge, and extremely proud of them for the leadership they show in signing the pledge in such significant numbers,” said Carroll.

For information on the Birmingham Pledge, go to www.birminghampledge.org.