Peter F. Lake "Spirit of the Law" Award

In Fall 2022 the Stetson Law community celebrated the full endowment of the Peter F. Lake “Spirit of the Law” Endowed Annual Award. Nearly a dozen alumni and other members of the higher education community helped endow the award.

The award is named for Professor Peter Lake, a nationally recognized thought-leader on higher education law and policy issues. Over his long career, Professor Lake has distinguished himself among scholars and higher education practitioners, having been widely published, quoted by the national media, and invited to speak at events across the US and internationally. He has trained thousands of college personnel on issues such as free speech and association on campus, student mental health, federal compliance mandates such as Title VI and Title IX, and more. In addition to his exemplary national reputation in the field of higher education law, he has been a beloved professor at Stetson Law for more than 35 years.

Each year, the award will be given to a Stetson Law student who has dedicated time and service to the advancement of higher education law and policy and who has exemplified the “spirit of the law” by promoting development of character, competence, and access to the law.

Annabella Tubbs – 2026 Awardee

Annabella Tubbs, Intern at the Center for Excellence in Higher Education Law & Policy, received the Peter F. Lake “Spirit of the Law” award at the 47th Annual National Conference on Law & Higher Education in 2026.

Hannah MacDonald – 2025 Awardee

The first ever Peter F. Lake “Spirit of the Law” Award was awarded to then Center Fellow Hannah MacDonald at the 46th Annual National Conference on Law & Higher Education in 2025.