SOUTH TEXAS COLLEGE OF LAW HOUSTON — At its annual gala Saturday, the Black Law Students Association honored Executive Vice President Emerita  and Professor Helen B. Jenkins with a Lifetime Achievement Award for 35 years of dedicated service to South Texas College of Law Houston (STCL Houston). Jenkins, who has been referred to as “South Texas’ Renaissance Woman,” was celebrated by a full room of South Texas alumni, faculty and friends. Several  guest speakers, including South Texas Dean Emeritus James Alfini and Jenkins’ former mentees Vice President and Professor Shelby Moore and Judge Toni Wallace. “It was such a joy to be able to honor Dean Jenkins in this special way,” said Heaven Smith, BLSA president and coordinator of the gala. “She is an amazing role model, and we all think the world of her.” The crowd of more than 150 people demonstrated their love and admiration for Jenkins with multiple standing ovations. Mayor Sylvester Turner proclaimed March 5, 2022, as Helen B. Jenkins Day for the City of Houston. When speaking to the crowd before accepting the prestigious award, Jenkins acknowledged the outpouring of love she felt, and said to the crowd, “The thing about love is when you give it, you get it back.” Jenkins attended Johns Hopkins University’s Peabody Conservatory of Music and earned a master’s degree in music from Howard University. She is also an alumna of the University of Houston Law Center.