Law School Recognizes Contributions and Achievements of 2021 J.D. and LL.M. Graduates
A number of awards and recognitions are presented to members of the graduating J.D. and LL.M. classes each year during commencement week. Below is a list of Class of 2021 honorees recognized during the Law School’s virtual celebration on May 21.
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 those law students who rank, without rounding, in the top 10 percent of their class. the Class of 2021 inductees:
Trevor S. Bernardo
Diana L. Bibb
Andrew R. Board
Thomas G. Brimmer
Dorothy M. Canevari
Jane W. Chiffriller
Bryn L. Clegg
Hannah R. Gourdie
Kristen M. Haight
Karsyn N. Keener
Taylor K. Lain
Allison M. Mentch
Emma C. Merrill
Scott R. Meyer
Elsbeth M. O'Brien
Adam K. Smith
Jenna N. Tyrpak
Lawrence I’Anson Award
The Law School faculty awards the I’Anson Award to a graduating student or students in recognition of great professional promise as demonstrated through scholarship, character and leadership. The award is named in honor of Lawrence W. I'Anson (1907-1990), who earned his undergraduate degree at William & Mary and was Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Virginia from 1974 to 1981.
Class of 2021 recipients:
Dorothy M. Canevari
Taylor K. Lain
Thurgood Marshall Award
The Law School Association bestows this honor each year on a member of the graduating class who exhibits the ideals of distinguished public service exemplified by U.S. Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall (1908-1993).
2021 recipient:
Alicen M. Rodolph
George Wythe Award
The award is named in honor of George Wythe—William & Mary's and the nation's first professor of law—and is given by the Law School each year to a graduating student in recognition of his or her outstanding and selfless service.
2021 recipient:
Nicholas S. Agyevi-Armah
SERVICE AWARDS
The Cypher Award
This award is given by the university’s Student Assembly to a select number of graduates each year, who have demonstrated exemplary engagement, leadership and service to William & Mary.
2021 recipients:
Nicholas R. Matuszewski
Megan E. McCarthy
Mikaela A. Phillips
Gabrielle A. Vance
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.
2021 recipient:
Mikaela A. Phillips
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.
2021 J.D. recipients:
Nicholas S. Agyevi-Armah
Mechelle A. King
Taylor K. Lain
Samantha C. Lamb
Katheryn J. Maldonado
Megan E. McCarthy
Mikaela A. Phillips
Alicen M. Rodolph
Gabrielle A. Vance
William A. Wasson
2021 LL.M. recipient:
Rigzin Dolma
Student Bar Association Recognition
This recognition is awarded to members of the class who have participated with distinction in the Student Bar Association.
2021 honorees include:
Nicholas S. Agyevi-Armah
Jenna Y. Chaudari
Jane W. Chiffriller
Katharine E. Ello
Meagan E. Flora
Eleanor C. Gilbert
Elizabethe L. Harte
Paul D. Johnson
Leah J. Kesselman
Nicholas R. Matuszewski
Nkemka C. Obineche
Yasmine I. Palmer
Mikaela A. Phillips
Gabrielle A. Vance
William A. Wasson
Honor Council Recognition
The following members of the Class of 2021 were recognized for participating with distinction on the Honor Council:
Evan A. Baines
Jamie E. Eisner
Katharine E. Ello
Andrew R. Gardner
Katheryn J. Maldonado
Tolulope H. Olaniyan
Kristin L. Palmason
David Rehfuss
Sirena M. Rowland
Patton W. Solowey
Johsua L. Wagner
Community Service Recognition
These members of each graduating class have distinguished themselves through volunteer service to clients, organizations, and causes that better their communities.
2021 honorees:
Jessica A. Armstrong
Evan A. Baines
Abbey E. Block
Teagan E. Boda
Dorothy M. Canevari
Jordan L. Cerbone
Jenna Y. Chaudari
Antony A. Clemons
Alden B. Coffin
Kerry S. Cooney
Lily M. Cusack
Jamie E. Eisner
Ndome Y. Essoka
Sara L. Ghassemi
Robert A. Grindstaff
Elizabeth L. Harte
Michael S. Heard Snow
Evan G. Kappatos
Anna C. Karabaich
Clay F. Kulesza
Jason Jian-Shuen Lai
Samantha C. Lamb
Haley O. Ligon
Melissa M. Mahan
Brianna R. Mashel
Nicholas R. Matuszewski
Megan E. McCarthy
Allison M. Mentch
Darja M. Meskin
Sarah A. Morain
Rachel C. Morley
Karly A. Newcomb
Elsbeth M. O'Brien
Yasmine I. Palmer
Mikaela A. Phillips
Aaron K. Pinsoneault
Adriana L. Roach
Alicen M. Rodolph
Jamie Seibert
Kira M. Simon
Alexandra M. Smith
Susan M. Thomas
Joshua Turiel
Jeffrey C. Tyler
Gabrielle A. Vance
Joshua L. C. K. Wagner
Sarwat Waseem (LL.M.)
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.
2021 recipients:
Neal E. Devins
Moriah B. Allen
LL.M. RECOGNITIONS
LL.M. Academic Excellence Awards
This recognition is given to students who have achieved the highest overall grade point averages in class.
2021 recipients:
Ali Alfozan
Khaled Alghamdi
Dana Drožina
Jingjing Huang
Anusha Marepalli
Yuliang Zhang
LL.M. Legal Writing Awards
This recognition is given to students who achieved the highest grades in the Legal Writing class.
2021 recipients:
Dana Drožina
Anusha Marepalli
Sarwat Waseem
Yifan Xian
Yuliang Zhang
LAW JOURNAL AWARDS
William & Mary Environmental Law & Policy Review, Award for Outstanding Member
2021 recipient:
Jessica E. Kraus
William & Mary Environmental Law & Policy Review Award for Excellence in Scholarship, Best Student Note
2021 recipient:
Matthew L. Woodward
William & Mary Bill of Rights Journal, Thomas Jefferson Prize—Best Student Note
2021 recipient:
Taran Wessells
William & Mary Business Law Review, Outstanding Member
2021 recipient:
Leah J. Kesselman
William & Mary Business Law Review, Best Student Note
2021 recipient:
Seth Konopasek
William & Mary Journal of Race, Gender, and Social Justice, Outstanding Member
2021 recipient:
Dorothy M. Canevari
William & Mary Journal of Race, Gender, and Social Justice, Best Student Note
2021 recipient:
Mikaela A. Phillips
William & Mary Law Review, Best Student Note
2021 recipient:
Kristen M. Haight
ACADEMIC AWARDS
ABA State and Local Government Award
Recipients of this award are chosen by faculty who teach land use and local government law. It recognizes outstanding performance in this area of study.
2021 recipients:
Jane W. Chiffriller
Makenna X. Johnson
American Bankruptcy Institute Medal of Excellence Award
This award recognizes outstanding performance in bankruptcy law.
2021 recipient:
Kate C. Ashley
ABA-BNA Award for Excellence in the Study of Health Law
This award recognizes a graduating student for outstanding performance in the study of health law.
2021 recipient:
Ndome Y. Essoka
ABA-BNA Award for Excellence in the Study of Intellectual Property Law
This award recognizes graduating students for outstanding performance in the study of intellectual property law.
2021 recipient:
Taylor K. Lain
ALI-CLE Scholarship & Leadership Award
This award recognizes the student who best exemplifies a combination of scholarship and leadership.
2021 recipient:
Kristen M. Haight
Clinical Legal Education Association Outstanding Student Award
2021 recipient:
Teagan E. Boda
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.
2021 recipient:
Scott R. Meyer
William Hamilton Prize
The William Hamilton Prize is awarded to the student who has demonstrated outstanding performance in legal history.
2021 recipient:
Adam K. Smith
Hermann Prize
The Hermann Prize is awarded to a student, or students, who demonstrates the greatest potential for contributing to the efficient administration of justice through the innovative use of technology
2021 recipient:
Joshua Turiel
John G. Kruchko Labor and Employment Law Award
The Krucko Award recognizes a graduating student who has excelled in labor law and employment relations.
2021 recipient:
Evan A. Baines
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.
2021 recipient:
Gabrielle A. Vance
PELE Special Education Advocacy Award
This award recognizes outstanding service to children with special needs and their families by a student who participated in the PELE 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.
2021 recipient:
Alexandra M. Smith
Virginia Trial Lawyers Award
This award recognizes a graduating student for excellence in trial advocacy skills.
2021 recipient:
Darrell J. Getman
William & Mary Law School’s Award for Excellence in International Law
This award recognizes graduating students who show the most promise in and commitment to the practice of international law.
2021 recipients:
Yasmine I. Palmer
Katherine L. Sorrell
ORDER OF BARRISTERS
The Order of Barristers is a national honor society that recognizes graduating law students who have excelled as members of advocacy competition teams or in service to an advocacy program. Only 10 students can be selected each year.
2021 inductees:
Abbey E. Block
Mila S. Kelly
Katheryn J. Maldonado
Megan E. McCarthy
Elsbeth M. O’Brien
Jasmine D. Palmer
Alxis K. Rodis
William L. Spotswood
Joshua L. Wagner
Alec S. Young
GAMBRELL PROFESSIONALISM AWARD
This award honors students who best represent professionalism, public service, integrity, and dedication to the improvement of lawyering skills.
2021 recipients:
Evan A. Baines
Kaitlin Baxter
Andrew R. Board
Dorothy M. Canevari
Hannah R. Gourdie
Kristen M. Haight
Karsyn N. Keener
Mechelle A. King
Jessica E. Kraus
Chandler D. McKinney
Scott R. Meyer
Elsbeth M. O’Brien
Mikaela A. Phillips
Adriana L. Roach
Patton W. Solowey
Honor Council Recognition
Evan A. Baines
Jamie E. Eisner
Katharine E. Ello
Andrew R. Gardner
Katheryn J. Maldonado
Tolulope H. Olaniyan
Kristin L. Palmason
David Rehfuss
Sirena M. Rowland
Patton W. Solowey
Johsua L. Wagner
University-wide Award
The Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award
The Sullivan Award, given in the form of a medallion, is in recognition of influence for good, taking into consideration such characteristics of heart, mind, conduct and demonstrating a spirit of love and helpfulness to others. It is awarded each year to two individuals from the graduating student body and to a third person who has a close relationship to the university.
2021 recipient:
Nicholas Agyevi-Armah
About William & Mary Law School
Legal education in a university setting began at William & Mary in 1779. Now in its third century, America's first law school continues its historic mission of educating citizen lawyers who are prepared both to lead and to serve.