Proud Moment...SIU law degree for Du Quoin's Nick Martin

<pre class="aLF-aPX-K0-aPE aLF-aPX-aLK-ayr-auR">Today is a very proud day for the family of SIU-Carbondale Law School graduate Nick Martin, son of Rick and Mindy Martin of Du Quoin.

He will be bestowed with his Juris Doctorate during commencement ceremonies at 3 p.m.

Other immediate family members include grandparent Norma Martin of Indiana, Jerry Lively of Du Quoin, sister Mandie Davis and husband Tim of Du Quoin and Melissa Tilley and husband Darrell Tilley of Du Quoin. He has seven nieces and nephews.

He and fiance Kayla Willi will be married in November of this year.

Nick, 28, was graduated from Du Quoin schools as an honor student both in junior high and the Du Quoin High School. He was an Illinois State Scholar, among other things.

He attended SIU majoring in psychology, took a year-long break from academics, first considered medicine, then settled on law as his life's path.

He will take his State of Illinois bar exam in July.

Not only is he an honor student in the SIU School of Law, but he is a published author with several contributions to the Southern Illinois Law Journal.

He has also worked as an external clerk for Illinois Supreme Court Lloyd Justice Karmeier who maintains a law office in Nashville, Ill.</pre>