Graduation Award and Recognition Ceremony, J.D. Class of 2018
The Law School hosted an afternoon event to recognize the achievements and contributions of members of the graduating J.D. class at Colonial Williamsburg's Kimball Theatre on Saturday, May 12. A reception followed afterward for graduates and their guests at the Law School. The prizes and recognitions are as follows and are in the order listed in the event program.
ORDER OF THE COIF
Order of the Coif
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 law students selected from the upper 10 percent of their class.
Inductees from the Class of 2018: Caitlin A. Anderson, Mary Kathryn Atkinson, Andrew G. Barna, Bryon P. Becker, Laura E. Bladow, Emily A. Bork, Julie Ann Cascino, Darcee L. Case, Robert L. Jones IV, Lauri Kai, William L. Lewis, Andrew B. Lowy, MaryKatelyn Lukish, Andrew L. Milam, Molly M. Ramsden, Matthew G. Rosendahl, Daniel A. Sinclair, and Paris H. Thompson III
Order of the Coif, Honorary Inductee
Coif chapters may elect to honorary membership “those who as lawyers, judges and teachers have attained high distinction for their scholarly or professional accomplishments.” The William & Mary chapter of the Order of the Coif was established in 1981; those chosen as honorary members graduated prior to 1981 and have achieved distinction as law students and as professionals. William & Mary law faculty who are Coif members select the graduate who will receive this honor.
2018 Honorary Inductee: J.W. (“Jack”) Montgomery III J.D. '72 Read more
COMPETITION TEAM AWARDS
Tournament Winners
Dean Douglas provided an overview for the audience of the successes enjoyed by members of the class who participated in Moot Court, National Trial Team, or the Alternative Dispute Resolution Team. Read more
Order of Barristers
The Order of Barristers, chartered in 1970, is a national honor society that recognizes “graduating law students who excelled as student advocates in written and oral advocacy activities and competitions—moot court, mock trial, and ADR.” Only 10 students can be selected each year.
Class of 2018 inductees: Kevin W. Connell, Collin C. Crookenden, Sarah J. Kuethe, Joshua D. Lang, Anna J. McMullen, Andrew L. Milam, Taylor N. Treece, Trevor N. Ward, Megan N. Watson, and Liesel A. Zimmerman
Order of Barristers, Honorary Inductee
William & Mary Law School recognizes a member of the legal profession who has attained distinction, and been selected by the faculty committee, to honorary membership in The Order of Barristers.
2018 Honorary Inductee: Tillman J. Breckenridge Read more
ACADEMIC AWARDS
ABA-BNA Award for Excellence in Health Law
This award recognizes outstanding performance in the study of health law.
Class of 2018 recipient: Katherine M. Rockwell
ABA-BNA Award for Excellence in the Study of Intellectual Property Law
Faculty who teach intellectual property choose the award recipient for his or her outstanding performance in this area of study.
Class of 2018 recipient: Emily G. Tucker
ABA State and Local Government Law Award
This award, whose recipient is chosen by faculty who teach land use and local government law, recognizes outstanding performance in this area of study.
Class of 2018 recipient: Zachary C. Weisman
American Bankruptcy Institute (ABI) Medal of Excellence Award
This award recognizes outstanding performance in bankruptcy law.
Class of 2018 recipient: Parish H. Thompson III
ALI-CLE Scholarship & Leadership Award
This award recognizes students who best exemplify a combination of scholarship and leadership.
Class of 2018 recipient: Robert L. Jones IV
Carter Kaplan & Co. International Financial Law Award
This award recognizes student excellence in international financial law.
Class of 2018 recipient: Natalia Rezai
John E. Donaldson Tax Award
Named in honor of John E. Donaldson, the Ball Professor Emeritus who taught for 35 years at William & Mary Law School, this award goes to the most outstanding tax student or students.
Class of 2018 recipients: Darcee L. Case and Molly M. Ramsden
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 this 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.
Class of 2018 recipient: Emily A. Bork
William Hamilton Prize
The William Hamilton Prize is awarded to the student who has demonstrated outstanding performance in legal history.
Class of 2018 recipient: Peter Quinn-Jacobs
The Hermann Prize
This prize is awarded to a student, or students, who in the opinion of the dean, president of the National Center for State Courts, and the director of the Center for Legal and Court Technology demonstrated the greatest potential for contributing to the enhancement of the efficient administration of justice through the innovative use of technology.
Class of 2018 recipients: Daniel R. Spencer and Elizabeth Mincer
John G. Kruchko Award in Labor and Employment Law
The generosity of the Baltimore-based firm of Kruchko & Fries makes possible the annual recognition of a graduating student or students who have excelled in labor law and employment relations. The recipient is selected by faculty who specialize in this area of law.
Class of 2018 recipient: Hillary C. May
National Association of Women Lawyers Award
This award recognizes a student or students who have contributed to the advancement of women in society by promoting issues and concerns of women in the legal profession, exhibiting motivation, tenacity, and enthusiasm, demonstrating academic achievement, and earning the respect of the Dean and faculty.
Class of 2018 recipient: J. Nicole Alanko
Virginia Trial Lawyers Award
This award recognizes a graduating student, or students, for excellence in trial advocacy skills.
Class of 2018 recipient: Megan N. Watson
LAW JOURNALS
William & Mary Environmental Law and Policy Review Award for Excellence in Scholarship, Best Note
Class of 2018 recipient: Sarah E. Spencer
William & Mary Bill of Rights Journal, Thomas Jefferson Prize
Class of 2018 recipient: Elizabeth Mincer
William & Mary Business Law Review, Best Student Note
Class of 2018 recipient: Christopher B. Anderson
William & Mary Business Law Review, Outstanding Member
Class of 2018 recipient: Zachary C. Weisman
William & Mary Journal of Women and the Law, Best Student Note
Class of 2018 recipient: Lindsay L. Blumberg
William & Mary Journal of Women and the Law, Outstanding Member
Class of 2018 recipient: Samatha J. Forsyth
William & Mary Law Review, Best Student Note
Class of 2018 recipient: Matthew G. Rosendahl
PROFESSIONALISM AWARDS
Gambrell Professionalism Award
This award honors students who best represent professionalism, public service, integrity, and dedication to the improvement of lawyering skills.
Class of 2018 recipients: Perry F. Austin, Bryon P. Becker, Savannah R. Gibbs, Marc J. Greco, Robert L. Jones IV, Lauri Kai, William L. Lewis, Andrew L. Milam, Sara E. Miller, Shevarma T. Pemberton, Natalia Rezai, Ethan J. Sanders, Alison L. Schoettler, Catherine O. Shames, and Trevor N. Ward
Spong Professionalism Award
This award is given by the Society of the Alumni of William & Mary to a third-year law student who best exemplifies professionalism and ethics in the Legal Practice Program. It honors the memory of William B. Spong, Jr., 1920-1997, who served as Dean of the Law School from 1976 to 1985. Before entering academia, Dean Spong represented Virginia in the U.S. Senate from 1966 to 1973, and had served previously as a member of the Virginia House of Delegates and the Virginia State Senate.
Class of 2018 recipient: Natalia Rezai
SERVICE AWARDS
Dean’s Certificates
Each year the Dean recognizes select members of the graduating class whose efforts on behalf of the Law School community have been especially outstanding.
Class of 2018 recipients: J. Nicole Alanko, Perry F. Austin, Laura E.Bladow, Katherine S. Blum, Kevin W. Connell, Samantha J. Forsyth, Kelsey R. Gill, Patrick L. Harner, Kristin B. Hopkins, Sarah J. Kuethe, William L. Lewis, Michaela R. Lieberman, Kevin B. McCandlish, Sara E. Miller, Mary V. Pickard, Vania B. Ratliff, Natalia Rezai, Matthew G. Rosendahl, Renuka Santhanagopalan, William L. Waller, Trevor N. Ward, Blake A. Willis, and Victoria L. Woods.
Benjamin Ewell Awards
The William & Mary Student Assembly established an award in 1987 to honor well-rounded students, both graduate and undergraduate, who best exemplified a liberal arts education through their activities as well as studies. The award was named in honor of Benjamin Stoddert Ewell, the College’s 16th president, who by ringing the Wren Building bell during the Civil War kept the spirit of William & Mary alive until the students returned to campus.
Class of 2018 recipients: J. Nicole Alanko, Kristen B. Hopkins, Peter Quinn-Jacobs, and Liesel A. Zimmerman
BLSA Recognition
Dean Douglas spoke about one student organization with a particularly robust commitment to service: the Black Law Students Association (BLSA). This student group, he told the audience, sponsors an extraordinary range of service activities, including, for example, the annual Thanksgiving Basket Competition, which collects several thousand food items each year for people in need in the local community, an annual banquet to raise scholarship funds and an annual Law Day. BLSA members also contribute their time to a wide variety of service endeavors including mentoring students involved in an alternative school in Norfolk, Va., Habitat for Humanity, and the Adopt a Highway program. They also worked with the Alumni Affairs and Development Office to welcome returning alumni back to the Law School for the Second African-American Law Alumni Weekend.
Clinical Legal Education Association Outstanding Student Award
This award is given to a student who shows excellence in the fieldwork component of the clinical course based on the quality of the student’s performance in representing individual clients or in undertaking group advocacy or policy reform projects; excellence in the seminar component of the clinical course based on the quality of the student's reflection in exploring the legal, ethical, strategic, and other pertinent issues raised in the particular clinic; and the extent of the student's contribution to the clinical community.
Class of 2018 recipient: Timothy D. Watson
George Wythe Society Award
This award is bestowed by the George Wythe Society and recognizes a member of the Law School community who performs outstanding service and demonstrates fidelity to those qualities of character, leadership, and selfless service that distinguished the life of George Wythe.
Class of 2018 recipient: Kevin B. McCandlish
Honor Council Recognition
The following members of the class were recognized for participating with distinction on the Honor Council: Katheryn A. Broderick, Sara E. Miller, Jeffrey A. Moore, Sarah B. Rabin, Matthew G. Rosendahl, Amanda E. Stephenson, Trevor N. Ward, and Mary J. Zeoli
Special Education Advocacy Award
This award recognizes outstanding service to children with special needs and their families by a student who participated in the Special Education Advocacy Clinic. The award is made possible by the generosity of Claire Maddox ’05 and Robert Ribble in honor of Evan and in memory of Brooks.
Class of 2018 recipient: Jennifer A. Quezada Castillo
Student Bar Association Recognition
This recognition is awarded to members of the class who have participated with distinction within the SBA.
Certificates were presented to Morris J. Brailsford III, Daniel J. Hankes, Kristin B. Hopkins, Emily E. Manbeck, Kevin B. McCandlish, Kameron V. Melton, Rebecca R. Ribley, Katherine M. Rockwell, Tyler J. Sherman, Lin Wang, and Blake A. Willis.
William & Mary Public Service Awards
Members of each graduating class who have distinguished themselves through volunteer service to clients, organizations, and causes that better their communities are recognized with William & Mary Public Service Awards.
Class of 2018 honorees: J. Nicole Alanko, Lauren M. Ballback, Taylor A. Basford, Lindsay L. Blumberg, Rachel A. Bogdan, Kiren D. Chauhan, Arthur R. Cohen, Kevin W. Connell, Collin C. Crookenden, Grace E. Cuda, Gregory S. Dahl, Elizabeth C. Edmondson, Samantha J. Forsyth, Savannah R. Gibbs, Vincent J. Grosso, Zhiqi Guo, Daniel J. Hankes, Emily J. Heltzel, Kristin B. Hopkins, Nancy C. Iheanacho, Breanna B. Jensen, Sarah J. Kuethe, Joshua D. Lang, William L. Lewis, Michaela R. Lieberman, Molly V. Lovell, Andrew B. Lowy, Mahlet H. Makonnen, Hillary C. May, Miranda R. Mayhill, Stephanie McEnery, Willie A. Mejia, Sara E. Miller, Maria C. Monastra, Matthew B. Neufeld, Mary V. Pickard, Michael K. Pinkard, Jennifer A. Quezada Castillo, Sarah Beth Rabin, Molly M. Ramsden, Katherine M. Rockwell, Matthew G. Rosendahl, Renuka Santhanagopalan, Sara L. Sapia, Gregory M. Scialabba, Patrick I. Seo, Catherine O. Shames, Ethan M. Smith, Daniel R. Spencer, Sarah E. Spencer, Paris H. Thompson III, Taylor N. Treece, Emma B. Vignali, Timothy D. Watson, Megan N. Watson, Bianca A. White, Chelsea H. Wilkins, Benjamin Williams, Blake A. Willis, Victoria L. Woods, Simon F. Zagata, Mary J. Zeoli, Rui Zhang, Liesel A. Zimmerman, and Jishu Zong
Please visit our news site for a listing of other awards and honors given during Commencement Weekend 2018.
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