North Carolina Sen. Sydney J. Batch ’05 Delivers Inspiring Commencement Address

North Carolina Sen. Sydney Batch ’05, a triple Tar Heel, delivered the UNC School of Law Commencement address on May 7, 2022 at Carmichael Arena. Batch was selected by the Student Bar Association (SBA) to address this year’s graduating class. UNC School of Law Dean Martin H. Brinkley ’92 presided during the ceremony.  

Since graduating from Carolina Law in 2005 with a dual degree in law and social work, Batch has practiced law as a founding partner at Batch, Poore & Williams, PC in Raleigh, N.C. Her primary practice areas are family law and child protective services. She is a certified Child Welfare Specialist.

She is currently a member of the North Carolina General Assembly representing the state’s 17th Senate district since 2021. She previously represented the state’s 37th House district from 2019 until 2021.

“Senator Sydney Batch is an impactful leader in the state of North Carolina, and the Student Bar Association is truly honored that Senator Batch was the commencement speaker this year. As a Triple-Tar Heel and an esteemed alumna of Carolina Law herself, Senator Batch certainly knows what it means to be a Tar Heel and what it was like to have been a student that walked the halls of this law school,” said Trey Ellis, Class of 2022 and Student Bar Association president.

View some of the special graduation moments below.

Dean Martin Brinkley hands a diploma to a student before they walk across the stage.
SBA President Trey Ellis addresses the class of 2022.
3L Class President Sabrina Shah and Hannah Long pose in the tunnel before processing into commencement.
Faculty dressed in regalia pose together with Dean Martin Brinkley and commencement speaker Sydney Batch in the lobby of Carmichael arena.
A student poses with their girlfriend outside of the law school after commencement.
Dean Martin Brinkley poses with commencement speaker Sydney Batch.
Dean Brinkley poses with students before commencement.
Two students pose with each other by their seats in Carmichael Arena before commencement.
3L Class President Sabrina Shah, presents the check for the 3L class gift to Dean Martin Brinkley.
A student poses with their family in the stands before commencement.
A family poses with their graduate in the gardens outside of the law school before commencement.
A graduate walks back to his seat, diploma in hand.
Dean Craig Smith, SBA President Trey Ellis, Jim Deal, Sydney Batch and Dean Martin Brinkley pose together before processing in to commencement.
Two students pose with each other by their seats in Carmichael Arena before commencement.
North Carolina state Senator Sydney Batch addresses the class of 2022.
Julie Leopold and Trey Ellis pose with each other by their seats in Carmichael Arena before commencement.
Adreanna Sellers and Gabrielle James pose with each other in their seats in Carmichael Arena before commencement.
3L Class President Sabrina Shah poses with her family after commencement
A student poses with family by their seats in Carmichael Arena before commencement.
A student adjusts their cap.
A row of students hold up their diplomas after walking across the stage at commencement
View and download all Graduation photos