Ben Byerly ’17 graduated Summa Cum Laude as Valedictorian from Widener University Delaware Law School last May. His academic achievements speak for themselves, earning him three prestigious awards: the Judge J. Cullen Ganey Criminal Procedure Award for excellence in criminal law, the George B. Lindsay Foundation Award for significant achievement in legal research and writing, and the Alfrid Avins Memorial Scholarship Award for outstanding work in constitutional law. Beyond his academic accomplishments, Ben was an integral part of the Widener Law Review, serving on its editorial board and as a blog editor. He also held one of the most competitive legal fellowships in the country—the Josiah Oliver Wolcott Fellowship—where he worked closely with the Honorable Karen L. Valihura of the Delaware Supreme Court. As a Wolcott Fellow, Ben was essentially a part-time law clerk, assisting in the drafting of judicial opinions and conducting in-depth legal research that directly influenced court rulings. His work with the Delaware Supreme Court is especially significant, as Delaware serves as a major hub for corporate law in the United States. With 68% of Fortune 500 companies and over half of all publicly traded companies incorporated in the state, the court plays a critical role in shaping corporate legal precedents.

Ben had the opportunity to engage in high-profile cases, including corporate disputes involving companies like Tesla and X (formerly Twitter). Ben’s journey into law wasn’t always a foregone conclusion. A graduate of the University of Delaware with a bachelor’s in history, he initially pursued law school without a predetermined passion for the field. However, recalling past encouragement from mentors—including Gunston’s own Mr. Lewis—he took a chance on the legal profession and found it to be the right path. His time at Gunston was filled with fond memories, including classes with Ms. Hock in English and Señor Angarita in Spanish. Now, Ben is preparing for the next phase of his career, having accepted a full-time position as a law clerk for Justice Valihura on the Delaware Supreme Court beginning in 2025. His impressive trajectory serves as an inspiration to current Gunston students, proving that sometimes, the best opportunities arise when you take a leap of faith.