Class of 2026 Awards and Recognitions
Commencement is a time for shining a light on the achievements and contributions of students, faculty, alumni and staff.
Graduation Awards and Recognition, Class of 2026
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 2026: Olivia Louise Campbell, Kathryn Margret Franco, Zachary James Ham, Emma Davis Herber, Nathan H Huguley, Peyton Matthew Kendall, Alastair Robert Laing, Declan Cullen Lawson, Morgan Miller Pinado, Christopher Raymond Porter, Benjamin Alan Brazell Richmond, Sarah Sung-Eun Sim, Emma Marie Skeen, Grant Foster Toler and Jonathan Michael Woolston
Students Ranked First in the Class
The following students were ranked first in the class, and received special medals during the Commencement Ceremony: Zachary James Ham, Benjamin Alan Brazell Richmond, Emma Marie Skeen and Emma Davis Herber
COMPETITION TEAM AWARDS
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 2026 inductees: Hampton Bryant, Sarah Cox, Kate Franco, Rebecca Hyman, Robert Kunkel, Stephanie Minor, Victoria Paller, Elle Rickman, Trey Rogers, Gracie Smith, Thomas Squires and Devyn Sword
ACADEMIC AWARDS
ABA-BNA Award for Excellence in Health Law
This award recognizes outstanding performance in the study of health law.
Class of 2026 recipient: Emma Skeen
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 2026 recipients: Stephanie Hoke
ABA Section of State, Local, and Tribal 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 2026 recipient: Katherine Pappas
ALI-CLE Scholarship & Leadership Award
This award recognizes students who best exemplify a combination of scholarship and leadership.
Class of 2026 recipient: Zack Ham
Carter Kaplan & Co. International Financial Law Award
This award recognizes student excellence in international financial law.
Class of 2026 recipient: Chentuo Zhu
Clinical Legal Education Association Outstanding Clinical Student Award
Recognizes excellence in clinic fieldwork and exceptionally thoughtful, self-reflective participation in an accompanying clinic seminar, as nominated by the clinical faculty at William and Mary Law School.
Class of 2026 recipients: Aja Robinson and Juliana Bachiri
Clinical Legal Education Association Outstanding Externship Student Award
Recognizes the valuable work for justice that law students do through externships and provides schools the opportunity to nominate an outstanding and self-reflective externship student for CLEA’s recognition.
Class of 2026 recipient: Zack Ham
Award for Excellence in International Law
Class of 2026 recipients: Julie Stanwyck
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 2026 recipient: Sarah Jaques
William Hamilton Prize
The William Hamilton Prize is awarded to the student who has demonstrated outstanding performance in legal history.
Class of 2026 recipient: Dylan Kochan
Herrmann 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.
Class of 2026 recipient: Copper Quist
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 2026 recipient: Kate Franco and Elizabeth Raymakers
Lewis B. Puller, Jr., Veterans Benefits Clinic Award for Excellence (Bozman Award)
Presented in honor of Captain Raymond E. Bozman, Medical Corps, U.S. Navy (in memoriam) & Jeffrey T. Bozman J.D. ’12 U.S. Marine Corps, 2005-2009. The Bozman Award recognizes outstanding character, leadership and service to the Lewis B. Puller, Jr. Veterans Benefits Clinic.
Class of 2026 recipient: Aubrey Good
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 2026 recipient: Kate Franco
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.
Class of 2026 recipient: Levi Steward
Virginia Trial Lawyers Award
This award recognizes a graduating student, or students, for excellence in trial advocacy skills.
Class of 2026 recipient: Hampton Bryant
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 2026 recipients: Steven Cauthron, Brady Clark, Michaela Hill, Mycah Kindle, Danny Ogden, Sarah Shepley, Ruthie Savile, Sophie Tully, Jason Whitted and Raahim Zaidi
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 2026 recipient: Ben Richmond
Honor Council Recognition
The following members of the class were recognized for participating with distinction on the Honor Council: Sarah Beaube, Harris Burton, Olivia Campbell, Cameron Dunnavant, Diego Granada, Stephanie Hoke, Stephanie Minor, Morgan Pinado, Emma Rodgers, Trey Rogers, Gabriella Torrijos, Sophie Tully, Mustafa Turaani and Rubin Williams
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 Brooks Alderman, Hank Blackburn, Katy Bortz, Caitlin Vasko Brown, Brady Clark, Andrew Flaxman, Angelina Han, Emma Herber, Gavin Horoszewski, Mycah Kindle, Griffin Krawitz, Ben Richmond, Elizabeth Safaryn, Ruthie Savile, Thomas Squires, Julie Stanwyck and Jason Whitted