Cleveland State University College of Law Class of 2025 valedictorian Nick Imbrogno reflected on the hard work it took to receive the distinction of valedictorian.
“(Being named valedictorian) means a great deal,” Imbrogno said. “The law is a very noble and difficult pursuit, one that I wasn’t sure I’d be able to find my footing in. The honor affirmed that hard work pays off. But even more than that, it made me realize that there’s nobility in the effort itself.”
This was not the first time the Amherst, Ohio native spoke to his fellow graduates. He addressed his high school class as salutatorian and then served as the student speaker at John Carroll University’s commencement, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in English – Professional Writing and a Master of Arts in English – Rhetoric and Composition.
This time, the honor—and the message—feel especially significant.
“Everyone in the Class of 2025 is so talented, knowledgeable, and helpful,” he said. “Being able to give the address is my way of saying thank you to all those who made our law school experience unforgettable and worth it.”
Originally focused on simply getting through law school, Nick found new motivation after finishing first in the class after his first year. “It then became a goal to maintain that standing until the very end,” he said. “It was probably the most difficult goal I’ve ever set for myself.”
“I went to law school on a whim,” he admitted. “CSU|LAW was the only school I applied to. I had always heard about how CSU|LAW alumni are known for their grit, passion, and ingenuity. I knew that was the kind of legacy I wanted.”
Now one of the newest members of the tight-knit CSU|LAW alumni, Nick joins the ranks of his sister Ami, a 2014 CSU|LAW graduate who currently serves as a Magistrate for the Willoughby Municipal Court. She is also an attorney with Meyers, Roman, Friedberg & Lewis.
Nick will take the Ohio Bar Exam in July, and will then start his legal career as an Associate Attorney at Jones Day’s Cleveland office, where he worked as a Summer Associate in 2024. He plans to explore transactional practices during his first year as an attorney, including financial/capital markets, executive benefits, and real estate.
With his background in English, brief writing came natural to Nick and will likely be a focal point of his practice. Nick’s professional experiences while at CSU|LAW include working as a law clerk with the W. H. Hunt Legal Group, LLC, and as an extern for the Honorable J. Philip Calabrese in the U.S. District Court, Northern District of Ohio, Both experiences were valuable not only for what he learned about the law but for what he learned about himself. Nick prefers collaborative rather and adversarial work and plans to focus his career accordingly.
Nick intends to participate in pro bono initiatives and to join boards that promote literacy, artistic appreciation, and mentorship. He can also see himself teaching legal writing someday and giving back to the academic environments that shaped him. Nick previously instructed as a English Department Graduate Assistant at John Carroll University and as an English Department Teaching
Fellow at Kent State University. While at CSU|LAW, he worked as an Academic Excellence Program Fellow for Professor Johnathan Witmer-Rich’s Criminal Law course.
“The (fellowship) reminded me how much I enjoy teaching and it was also terrific working with a fantastic professor in Professor Witmer-Rich.”