On May 25, 1949, Virgil Hawkins and other African-Americans filed suit in the Supreme Court of Florida asking it to order an end to the University of Florida's policy of denying admission to persons of color. Though Hawkins' himself never gained admission, his lawsuit eventually resulted in the Court-ordered end of this segregationist policy. In cooperation with the Florida Branches of the NAACP and other organizations, the Court has ordered this Ceremonial Session to commemorate this important anniversary.