Elon Law Dean Got Tattoo After Bar Exam Success
Dean Zak Kramer received a tattoo on September 4, 2026, after students surpassed a key bar passage benchmark.
Updated on Sept. 19, 2026 in College Applications
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Elon University School of Law Dean Zak Kramer received a commemorative tattoo on his arm to celebrate the Class of 2025 achieving a 90.9% first-time bar passage rate. He had previously pledged to get the ink if students reached at least an 85% success threshold on their first attempt.
Why it matters
The milestone underscores the success of the law school's unique 2.5-year accelerated J.D. program in preparing graduates for high-stakes professional licensing exams. By fulfilling his public promise, the dean sought to highlight the academic accomplishments of the recent cohort.
The school achieved a 91.96% first-time passage rate on the North Carolina Bar Examination for students taking spring exams. The institution utilizes an accelerated 2.5-year J.D. curriculum.
The players
Zak Kramer
He serves as the Dean of the Elon University School of Law.
Annie Bella
She is a co-founder of Frozen Pines Tattoo who performed the tattooing process.
The details
Dean Zak Kramer received the words One and Done tattooed on his left arm at Frozen Pines Tattoo in Gibsonville. The procedure was performed by shop co-founder Annie Bella, following the student performance that secured the successful passage rate for the 2025 class.
Timeline
The Class of 2025 took their bar examinations in 2025.
Dean Zak Kramer received his tattoo on September 4, 2026.
The December graduating class is set to take the bar exam in February 2027.
Culture Shift
This event reflects a broader trend of academic leaders leveraging social media-friendly bets to foster community engagement and celebrate institutional milestones. It mirrors a cultural move toward less formal, more personal interactions between faculty and students.
For local students and families, this performance highlights the academic rigor and professional outcomes associated with the Greensboro-area legal education programs. Prospective students may view the high passage rates as a key indicator of program quality when evaluating their own law school applications.
The takeaway
The dean's gesture serves as a unique way to celebrate the tangible success of his student body. Such high passage rates are often critical factors for prospective students choosing between various J.D. programs.
What happens next
The December graduating class is scheduled to sit for their bar examinations in February 2027, at which point the dean has challenged them to exceed the current passage rate.
Further reading
For more on local academic trends, visit the College Applications section.
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