Week 9 Open the Gate Honoree: Beth Hopkins
10/27/2021 2:48:00 PM | Football
Retired Wake Forest Law School Professor and wife of Wake Forest football and Winston-Salem legend Dr. Larry Hopkins, Beth Hopkins is slated to be the Open the Gate honoree for the Demon Deacons Week 9 matchup with Duke.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -- Beth Hopkins was a distinguished faculty member of the Wake Forest Law School from 1985 to 2016. Under Hopkins' guidance, Wake Forest's law school has become one of the most prestigious law schools in the country.
Hopkins graduated from Wake Forest in 1973 with cum laude honors and a major in Asian history. Upon her graduation from Wake Forest, Hopkins enrolled at the College of William & Mary's law school. In 1977 she graduated from William & Mary and began her career in law.
Before returning to her alma mater, Hopkins served a multitude of different roles. Hopkins was an Assistant United States Attorney in Virginia and Louisiana, an Assistant Attorney General in the Commonwealth of Virginia, and as an associate in a private law firm.
In 1985, Hopkins returned to Winston-Salem and began a thirty-year tenure in the Wake Forest Law School. During her time with Wake Forest, Hopkins oversaw numerous projects and initiatives. Over her last ten years at Wake Forest, Hopkins served as the Director of the Smith Anderson Center for Community Outreach. As the Outreach Director, she contributed to and managed the Pro Bono Project and the Public Interest Law Organization.
The Pro Bono Project was one of Hopkins' major accomplishments during her time in Winston-Salem. The project was designed to organize additional pro bono activities where students could provide legal advice and assistance to citizens across the state of North Carolina.
Projects of the Law School have won several awards under the direction of Hopkins. In 2015, the American Bar Association (ABA) named the Pro Bono Project as a recipient of the ABA Day of Service Award. The Veteran Advocacy Law Organization received the 2012 Judy M. Weightman Memorial Public Interest Award from the ABA.
On Feb. 1, 2020, Beth Hopkins and four other African American women spoke at a panel discussion in Brendle Recital Hall to commemorate the 50-year anniversary of the integration of women's residence halls at Wake Forest in the fall of 1969. Hopkins and Deborah Graves McFarlane were the first African American women students to live on campus, while Awilda Gilliam Neal, Linda Holiday and Camille Russell Love enrolled that fall as day students, then moved on campus in the following spring.
Beth's husband Larry was a standout running back on the football team at Wake Forest. Dr. Larry Hopkins became a member of the board of trustees at Wake Forest in 1986. Hopkins was a well known doctor and member of the Winston-Salem community. In 2020, Dr. Hopkins was awarded the Medallion of Merit, the highest honor available at Wake Forest University. The award is given to recognize years of service to the university and the surrounding community. Dr. Larry Hopkins recently passed away at the age of 70 was survived by his wife Beth, two children Michelle and David, and two grandchildren.
Open the Gate Information & 2021 Honorees
The Open the Gate tradition has been an important and unique aspect of football games since its inception in 2008. This allows Wake Forest to honor individuals that make its University and Winston-Salem community so special. Honorees ride on the back of the motorcycle with the Demon Deacon mascot and lead the football team onto Truist Field. The first ever honoree was Wake Forest and Winston-Salem legend, Chris Paul.
Hopkins graduated from Wake Forest in 1973 with cum laude honors and a major in Asian history. Upon her graduation from Wake Forest, Hopkins enrolled at the College of William & Mary's law school. In 1977 she graduated from William & Mary and began her career in law.
Before returning to her alma mater, Hopkins served a multitude of different roles. Hopkins was an Assistant United States Attorney in Virginia and Louisiana, an Assistant Attorney General in the Commonwealth of Virginia, and as an associate in a private law firm.
In 1985, Hopkins returned to Winston-Salem and began a thirty-year tenure in the Wake Forest Law School. During her time with Wake Forest, Hopkins oversaw numerous projects and initiatives. Over her last ten years at Wake Forest, Hopkins served as the Director of the Smith Anderson Center for Community Outreach. As the Outreach Director, she contributed to and managed the Pro Bono Project and the Public Interest Law Organization.
The Pro Bono Project was one of Hopkins' major accomplishments during her time in Winston-Salem. The project was designed to organize additional pro bono activities where students could provide legal advice and assistance to citizens across the state of North Carolina.
Projects of the Law School have won several awards under the direction of Hopkins. In 2015, the American Bar Association (ABA) named the Pro Bono Project as a recipient of the ABA Day of Service Award. The Veteran Advocacy Law Organization received the 2012 Judy M. Weightman Memorial Public Interest Award from the ABA.
On Feb. 1, 2020, Beth Hopkins and four other African American women spoke at a panel discussion in Brendle Recital Hall to commemorate the 50-year anniversary of the integration of women's residence halls at Wake Forest in the fall of 1969. Hopkins and Deborah Graves McFarlane were the first African American women students to live on campus, while Awilda Gilliam Neal, Linda Holiday and Camille Russell Love enrolled that fall as day students, then moved on campus in the following spring.
Beth's husband Larry was a standout running back on the football team at Wake Forest. Dr. Larry Hopkins became a member of the board of trustees at Wake Forest in 1986. Hopkins was a well known doctor and member of the Winston-Salem community. In 2020, Dr. Hopkins was awarded the Medallion of Merit, the highest honor available at Wake Forest University. The award is given to recognize years of service to the university and the surrounding community. Dr. Larry Hopkins recently passed away at the age of 70 was survived by his wife Beth, two children Michelle and David, and two grandchildren.
Open the Gate Information & 2021 Honorees
The Open the Gate tradition has been an important and unique aspect of football games since its inception in 2008. This allows Wake Forest to honor individuals that make its University and Winston-Salem community so special. Honorees ride on the back of the motorcycle with the Demon Deacon mascot and lead the football team onto Truist Field. The first ever honoree was Wake Forest and Winston-Salem legend, Chris Paul.
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