Law School Hosts Awards Ceremony
The following awards and recognitions were presented at the ceremony:
Order of the Coif, Class of 2006
Membership in the Order of the Coif is the highest academic honor a law student can achieve. It is equivalent to membership in Phi Beta Kappa for undergraduates and recognizes the scholastic achievements of students selected from the upper ten percent of their class. Members of the Class of 2006 inducted into the Order of the Coif are Sarah Brooke Armstrong, David Austin Baroni, Megan Eliza Bisk, Curtis Grant Carll, Noelle Jean Coates, Melissa Noelle Cross, Nicholas Martin DePalma, Shari Lynn Diener, Colleen R. Diver, Matthew Thomas Gunlock, Joshua David Heslinga, Justin Michael Laughter, Eric Michael Leppo, Matthew William Marzetti, Crystal Lynn Norrick, Evelyn Rose Marie Protano, Mark Alexander Sapirie, Rachel Juhas Suddarth, Christine Ann Trapasso, Kenneth Raymond Wiggins, and Evan Michael Wooten.
Order of the Coif, Honorary Member
Coif chapters may elect to honorary membership “those who as lawyers, judges and teachers attained high distinction for their scholarly or professional accomplishments.” The William & Mary chapter has inducted Henry C. Wolf ’66 as an honorary member of the Order of the Coif.
Wolf is vice chairman and chief financial officer of Norfolk Southern.
ABA-BNA Award for Excellence in the Study of Health Law
Joseph Eric Sciulli
Academic Support Program Teaching Assistants
Sarah Brooke Armstrong, Nicholas Martin DePalma, Colleen R. Diver, Jennifer Ann Evans, Matthew Adley Shaw, Rachel Juhas Suddarth and Evan Michael Wooten
American Bankruptcy Institute Award
The American Bankruptcy Institute Award is presented annually to a member of the graduating class who demonstrates outstanding performance in Bankruptcy Law. The recipient is selected by Law School faculty who teach bankruptcy. The 2006 recipient is David Austin Baroni.
Burton Award
The Burton Awards for Legal Achievement recognize excellent writers at the nation’s law schools and firms. Fourteen law students from across the country were chosen this year and will receive their awards during a special program at the Library of Congress on June 14. The recipient of a 2006 Burton Award for Legal Achievement is Noelle Jean Coates.
Drapers' Scholar
Each year the Law School selects one graduating student as the recipient of the Drapers' Scholarship. The Drapers' Scholar studies for a year at Queen Mary and Westfield College of the University of London, earning an LL.M. degree. Brian Russell Soiset is the 2006-07 Drapers' Scholar.
Environmental Law and Policy Review Award for Excellence in Scholarship
This award recognizes the most outstanding student note published in the current volume of the William and Mary Environmental Law and Policy Review. The recipient is Brian Matthew Hendricks.
Ewell Award
In 1987, the Student Assembly established an award to honor well-rounded graduating students – both graduate and undergraduate – of the College, those who best exemplify a liberal arts education through their activities as well as studies. This award was named in honor of Benjamin Stoddert Ewell, the 16th President of the College of William & Mary, who by ringing the Wren Building Bell kept the College alive when its doors closed during the Civil War. Ewell recognized that students are the heart of the College’s existence and continued the spirit until the students could bring life back to campus. The third-year law student recipient of this award is Stephanie LuAnn Spirer.
Family Law Book Award
The Family Law Section of the Virginia State Bar and the Virginia Chapter of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers co-sponsor a Family Law Book Award to be presented to a graduating student at each Virginia law school who has demonstrated the most promise and potential for the practice of family law. The 2006 recipient is Seth Bradley Zucker.
Carter Kaplan and Company Financial Law Award
This award is given to the outstanding student in the field of international business. Evelyn Rose Marie Protano is the 2006 recipient.
The Herrmann Prize
This prize is awarded to the student who in the opinion of the Dean, President of the National Center for State Courts, and the Director of the Courtroom 21 Project has demonstrated the greatest potential in making future contributions to the enhancement of the efficient administration of justice through the innovative use of technology. The award honors Richard Herrmann. Joshua David Heslinga is the recipient of this year’s award.
Members who served the Honor Council with Distinction
Sarah Brooke Armstrong, Thomas Walter Barrow, Christopher Carney Johnson, Eric James Pohlner, John William Pollom, and Seth Bradley Zucker
Kruchko & Fries Award
The generosity of the Baltimore-based firm Kruchko & Fries makes possible the annual recognition of a graduating student who has excelled in labor law and employment relations. The recipient is selected by Law School faculty who teach labor and employment law. The 2006 recipient is Crystal Lynn Norrick.
Legal Skills Scholar Award
This award is given annually by the Legal Skills Program to recognize graduating students who have received Honors in at least three semesters of Legal Skills, William & Mary Law School's innovative two-year program in legal research, writing, professional responsibility and lawyering skills. Those recognized this year are Sarah Kirk Baker, Eric Peter Benson, Laura Catherine Daniel, Shari Lynn Diener, Colleen R. Diver, Lauren Duff Eade, Christina Lorraine Eberhart, Jennifer Ann Evans, Melanie Anne Friend, Kimberly Ann Gainey, Joshua David Heslinga, Jennifer Leigh Hillman, Dana Michael Hollywood, Heather Leigh Hopkins, A. Joseph Jay III, James Nicholas Kornegay, Nichole Michelle Kossler, Maureen Foley Kufro, Catherine Hope Molloy, Joshua T. Morris, Daniel Victor Mumford, Crystal Lynn Norrick, Elizabeth Ann Pannill, Robert Edward Pealo, Geneva Nicole Perry, Joseph Eric Sciulli, Douglas Allen Smith, Patrick Francis Speice, Rachel Juhas Suddarth, Christine Ann Trapasso, and Evan Michael Wooten.
Legal Skills Teaching Assistants
Jessica Diane Aber, Sarah Kirk Baker, Jonathan Wayne Barlow, Thomas Walter Barrow, Noelle Jean Coates, Christina Lorraine Eberhart, Michael Thomas Kaufman, Erin Colleen McCool, Catherine Hope Molloy, Daniel Victor Mumford, Geneva Nicole Perry, and Rachel Juhas Suddarth
National Association of Women Lawyers Award
This award recognizes a student who contributes to the advancement of women in society; promotes issues and concerns of women in the legal profession; exhibits motivation, tenacity and enthusiasm; demonstrates academic achievement; and earns the respect of the dean and faculty. The 2006 recipient is Kimberly Ann Gainey.
Order of Barristers
The Order of Barristers is a national honor society which recognizes individuals who have contributed substantially in an oral argument program either in the administration of an advocacy program or in the development of advocacy skills through competition. New members from the Class of 2006 are Jessica Diane Aber, Nicholas Martin DePalma, Joshua David Heslinga, Lee Eric Kaufman, Tanja Marja Korpi, Joshua T. Morris, Eric James Pohlner, and John William Pollom.
Phoenix Award
This is awarded by the Division of Student Affairs for service to the College. Recipients of this award clearly demonstrate a commitment to others and exemplary leadership without regard for personal sacrifice. The recipients for 2006 are S. Douglas Bunch and A. Joseph Jay III.
Benjamin Rush Scholars
Benjamin Rush Scholars are upperclass law students whose writing achievements in health law were adjudged to be outstanding, including the formal presentations of their papers as part of the Benjamin Rush Symposium during the spring semester of the academic year. They are also responsible for choosing the recipient of the Benjamin Rush Medal which this year was presented to New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer. This year’s scholars are S. Douglas Bunch, Colleen R. Diver, Catherine Susanne Miller, Joseph Eric Sciulli, Anne Christine Sommers, and Nini Tin.
Spong Professionalism Award
This award is given by the Society of the Alumni of the College of William & Mary to a third-year law student who best exemplifies professionalism and ethics in the Legal Skills Program. The 2006 recipient is Sarah Kirk Baker.
Sports Law Achievement Award
This award recognizes achievement in the field of sports law. Anne Catherine Lahren is the 2006 awardee.
Student Admission Ambassadors
This award recognizes the following students for their personal commitment, dedication and contributions to our admission efforts - Jessica Diane Aber, Sarah Brooke Armstrong, Samuel Roth Brumberg, Michael Edward Dick, Christopher Carney Johnson, Michael Thomas Kaufman, Jeffrey Brian Mead, Catherine Susanne Miller, Geneva Nicole Perry, Ryan Charles Riesterer and J. Maren Schmidt.
Student Bar Association Recognition
Honor Council - Sarah Brooke Armstrong, Thomas Walter Barrow , Emily Ann Jones , Christopher Carney Johnson, Jess Daniel Mekeel, Georges Zachary Musalia Nabwangu, Eric James Pohlner, John William Pollom and Seth Bradley Zucker
SBA – Megan Eliza Bisk, Brian Joel Levy, Gregory David Rohrbough, Margaret Elizabeth Shoup, Stephanie LuAnn Spirer and Christopher Davies Supino
Thomas Jefferson Prize
This prize is given by the Institute of Bill of Rights Law to the student who published the best Student Note in the current volume of the William & Mary Bill of Rights Journal. The 2006 recipient is Noelle Jean Coates.
Tournament Winners
Moot Court
ABA-Nationals
Best Advocate Award - Joshua David Heslinga
ABA-Regionals (Charleston)
Overall Winners, including “Best Brief” award - Joshua David Heslinga, Eric James Pohlner, and Catherine Hope Molloy
George Mason University Law & Economics Competition -
First Place Overall - Evelyn Rose Marie Protano, Shari Lynn Diener, and Paul E. Sumilas
Regent University Moot Court Tournament -
Matthew Steven Barndt, David McLean Morrison, and Michael J. Sweikar
Trial Team
ABA Employment Law Tournament - Semi-Finalists - Sandhya Ganapathy, Shawan Bernadette Gillians (’07), Elizabeth May Martin (’07), and Elizabeth Ashleigh Schuller
ATLA Trial Competition -
Semi-Finalists - Bereket Bisrat (’07), Aimee Marie Byrne, Emily Ann Jones, and Mathew Hilton Mall (’07)
Michigan State University National Trial Advocacy Competition -
Semi Finalists - Aimee Marie Byrne, Nicholas Martin DePalma, Emily Ann Jones and Lee Eric Kaufman. Best Overall Advocate - Nicholas Martin DePalma. Best Opening Statement - Aimee Marie Byrne
National Trial Competition, Regional Tournament
Semi-Finalists - Nicholas Martin DePalma, Elizabeth Yvonne McElroy (’07), and Tanner Alan Nielson (’07)
St. John’s Trial Tournament -
Finalists - Bereket Bisrat (’07), Melanie Anne Friend, Elizabeth Yvonne McElroy (’07), and Jamie Leigh Mickelson (’07)
Trial Advocacy Teaching Assistant
John Christopher Bauer
Virginia Trial Lawyers Award
This award recognizes a graduating student who has excelled in the skills of trial advocacy. The 2006 recipient is Geneva Nicole Perry.
William & Mary Image Awards
Recognized two law school organizations – the Group Recognition Award was presented to the Students for Equality in Legal Education (SELE) and the Most Original Event Award for the Coretta Scott King Memorial was presented to the Black Law Students Association.
William and Mary Women and the Law Journal - Outstanding Member
For outstanding dedication and support to the journal. The 2006 recipient is Jennifer Leigh Hillman.
William and Mary Law Review - Best Student Note
This award recognizes James Nicholas Kornegay as having written the most outstanding student note published in the current volume of the Law Review.