Law School Commencement Awards

On Saturday, May 14, the Law School community gathered in Colonial Williamsburg's Kimball Theatre with soon-to-be graduates, their families and friends to celebrate the Class of 2011's contributions and achievements. Dean Davison M. Douglas presented awards and special recognitions with help from faculty, administrators and staff, and representatives of the Student Bar Association and Honor Council. Following the ceremony, class members and guests enjoyed a reception in the courtyard of the historic Wren Building.

The following awards and special recognitions were celebrated during the ceremony:

Order of the Coif, Class of 2011
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 ten percent of their class. Members of the Class of 2011 inducted into the Order of the Coif were Anne Hampton Andrews, Lauren Tucker Andrews, Stephen Paul Barry, Cara Jane Boekeloo, Brandon Lee Boxler, Virginia Jean Brown, Hannah Irene Carrigg, Matthew E. Flyntz, John Scott Frankenhoff, Eve Margaret Grina, Michael Edward Knierim, Katherine Heather Levy, Rustin Kent Mangum, Antonia Elise Miller, Jason Eli Ohana, Johnanna Lloyd Orleski, Amy Danielle Paul, Colin Jewell Sclueter, Justin Carl Sorrell, Garrett Dwyer Urban and Benjamin Michael Wengerd.

Order of the Coif, Honorary Member
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 Order of the Coif was established in 1981; those chosen as honorary members graduated prior to 1981 and achieved distinction in law school and during their careers. This year, the Chapter inducted Stephen P. Carney '80 as an honorary member of the Order of the Coif. Carney received his undergraduate degree from the College of William & Mary in 1972 and later graduated from the Law School as one of the most outstanding students in his class. Since 2006, he has served as an adjunct professor teaching insurance law. Carney has also served many years on the Law School Alumni Association Board, the Law School Foundation Board, and the Law School Co-Counsel program.

Order of Barristers
The Order of Barristers is a national honor society that recognizes individuals who have made substantial contributions in the administration of an advocacy program or in the development of advocacy skills through competition. All members of the competitive teams of Moot Court, Trial Team and Alternative Dispute Resolution were asked to stand and be recognized for their accomplishments of 2010-2011. The selection to Order of Barristers is limited by the school's student participation in competitive advocacy activities. Only eight students can be selected from William & Mary. Inductees from the Class of 2011 were Bradford Thomas Bartels, Brian Ross Cannon, Brianna Camille Coakley, Kyle Reese Elliott, Keri A. Joeckel, Rustin Kent Mangum, Alyssa Kate Miller and Amanda Victoria Ritucci-Chinni.

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 compelling. In his remarks, Dean Douglas spoke about the remarkable number of registered student groups active at the Law School, which now total more than fifty. They include five student-edited journals, a student newspaper, the Honor Council, the Student Bar Association, four competitive teams, and numerous student organizations, many of which are involved in public service. All students who participated in any student organization were asked to stand and be recognized for their service to the school.  Awarded Dean's Certificates in recognition of their outstanding service were Gregory Keith Albert, Sharon M. Barksdale, Bradford Thomas Bartels, Virginia Jean Brown, Brian Ross Cannon, Brianna C. Coakley, Joel H. Davidson, Joy Catherine Einstein, Andrew Stephen Gordon, Melissa McDowell Gutridge, Allison Kathleen Huson, Laura Justine Jacobson, Tamar Leah Jones, Masha Kalinina, Matthew Birch Kapuscinski, Melissa Belle Kessler, Justin Michael Marchesi, Brittany Kathryn Mohler, Mary Elizabeth Rude, Ryan David Ruzic, Paul Joseph Spadafora and Brian Robert Wall.

ABA Award for Excellence in Local Government Law
This award, whose recipient or recipients are chosen by the professors on the faculty who teach land use and local government, recognizes outstanding performance in this area of study. The 2011 recipient was Sara Louise Smith.

ABA-BNA Award for Excellence in the Study of Intellectual Property
The recipient, or recipients, of this award is selected by members of the faculty who teach intellectual property. The award recognizes outstanding performance in this area. Andrew Wayne Boynton was the 2011 recipient of the award.

Academic Support Program Teaching Assistants
Each year, the Law School chooses a select group of students to work in the Academic Support Program to help their peers maximize their academic success. Recognized for their contributions as ASP Teaching Assistants were Joseph Michael Bargnesi, Matthew Edmund Flyntz, Melissa Belle Kessler, Michael Edward Knierim, Rustin Kent Mangum, Antonia Elise Miller, Johanna Lloyd Orleski, Amy Danielle Paul, Jarrette Michael Pittman, Eric Angelo Scalzo and Colin Jewell Schlueter.

ALI-ABA Award
This award recognizes a law student who best represents a combination of scholarship and leadership.  The 2011 award was presented to Justin Carl Sorrell.

American Bankruptcy Institute Award
This award recognizes outstanding performance in the area of bankruptcy law. The 2011 recipient was Mark Allan Brandenburg.

Benjamin Rush Scholars
Benjamin Rush Scholars are a select group of law students who have distinguished themselves by their research for the Health Law and Policy class. The scholars are responsible for choosing the annual recipient of the Benjamin Rush Medal. This year's Class of 2011 scholars were John Richard Annand, Diana K. Kaneva, Mark Adam Knee and Johanna Lloyd Orleski.

BLSA Recognition
The Dean noted that one of the most active service groups in the Law School has been the Black Law Students Association. Every year, throughout the year, BLSA is a leader on a wide range of service projects.   This year, for the third year in a row, the Law School's BLSA chapter received recognition as the Mid-Atlantic Regional BLSA Chapter of the Year, beating out 22 other chapters in the region. The Dean asked members of BLSA to stand and be recognized.

Drapers' Scholar
Each year the Law School selects one graduating student as the recipient of the Drapers' Scholarship, which is funded by the Ancient Order of the Drapers. The Drapers' Scholar studies for one year at Queen Mary and Westfield College of the University of London, earning an LL.M. degree.  Shanda King was named the 2011-12 Drapers' Scholar.

Ewell Award
In 1987, the Student Assembly established an award to honor well-rounded graduating students - both graduate and undergraduate - who best exemplify a liberal arts education through their activities as well as studies. This award was named in honor of Benjamin Stoddert Ewell, William & Mary's 16th president, who by ringing the Wren Building bell during the Civil War kept the spirit of the College alive until the students, the heart of the College, returned to campus. This year, two law students received this honor: Stephanie Gaylord Forbes and Brian Robert Wall.

Gambrell Professionalism Award
This award honors students from each of the Legal Skills law offices who best represent professionalism, public service, integrity, and dedication to the improvement of lawyering skills. Lauren Tucker Andrews, Brandon Lee Boxler, Virginia Jean Brown, Andrew Stephen Gordon, Terry Jonathan Grider, Diana K. Kaneva, Shanda Lee King, Justin Michael Marchesi, Robert Edward Murdough, Katherine Bolton O'Keefe, Johanna Lloyd Orleski, Jonathan Dale Puvak, Rebecca Sarah Sandler, and Justin Carl Sorrell received Gambrell Awards.

Graduate Legal Excellence Award
This prize is awarded to the LLM student achieving the highest level of academic performance in the 2010-2011 LLM course of study. The 2011 recipient was Yuying Wang.

Hamilton Prize
This prize is awarded to the student with outstanding performance in legal history. This year Samuel David Robinson received this honor.

Honor Council Recognition
The honor system among students is one of the oldest and most important traditions of William & Mary, dating back to 1779. Chief Justice James Dougherty and Deputy Chief Justice Andrew Stephen Gordon recognized their classmates including Cara Jane Boekeloo, Kelsey Arnett Clyburn, Daniel Dawson Fassio, Zan Khan, Stephen Andrew Murray, Jarrette Michael Pittman, Samuel David Robinson, Rebecca Sarah Sandler and Eric Angelo Scalzo for serving on the Honor Council with distinction.

Journals
The Dean asked students to stand and be recognized who had served on any of the Law School's five student-edited journals: the William & Mary Law Review, the William & Mary Bill of Rights Journal, the William & Mary Environmental Law and Policy Review, the William & Mary Journal of Women and the Law, and the newest journal, the William & Mary Business Law Review.  The Dean noted that in the past year the five journals have published more than 5,000 pages of legal scholarship. He added that the Law Review was ranked as the "20th most cited law review in the United States," and the Bill of Rights Journal, the Environmental Law and Policy Journal, and the Journal of Women and the Law were among the most cited law reviews in the United States in their subject-matter specialty.  

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 faculty who teach labor and employment law. The 2011 recipient was Jamilia Charlotte Pollard.

Legal Skills Scholars 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, the Law School's innovative two-year program in legal research, writing, professional responsibility, and lawyering skills.  Those recognized this year were Lauren Tucker Andrews, John Richard Annand, Karla Rachel Baker, Joseph Michael Bargnesi, Stephen Paul Barry, Milton Hughes Bates III, Brandon Lee Boxler, Virginia Jean Brown, Khara Latoya Connor, Joy Catherine Einstein, Justin Patrick Freeland, Andrew Stephen Gordon, Terry Jonathan Grider, Christopher Robert Healy, Laura Justine Jacobson, Masha Kalinina, Diana K. Kaneva, Kelly Maureen Kennedy, Shanda Lee King, Angelina Sunjoo Lee, Justin Michael Marchesi, Antonia Elise Miller, Jason Eli Ohana, Katherine Bolton O'Keefe, Johanna Lloyd Orleski, Amy Danielle Paul, Corey Michael Preston, Jonathan Dale Puvak, Lindsay Jean Raymond, Albert Gardner Rordam, Rebecca Sarah Sandler, Colin Jewell Schlueter, Rhianna Elise Shabsin, Justin Carl Sorrell, Matthew James Sutton, Brian Robert Wall and Brandon Matthew Waterman.

Legal Skills Teaching Assistants
The Legal Skills Program chooses a select group of third-year students each year to serve as junior partners of Legal Skills law firms. The following junior partners were recognized for their contributions: Lauren Tucker Andrews, Virginia Jean Brown, Hannah Irene Carrigg, Joy Catherine Einstein, Andrew Stephen Gordon, Alison Cline Graab, Shanda Lee King, Danchai Mekadenaumporn, Katherine Bolton O'Keefe, Corey Michael Preston, Samuel David Robinson, Justin Carl Sorrell, Brian Robert Wall and Benjamin Michael Wengerd.

National Association of Women Lawyers Award
This award recognizes a student who has 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. The 2011 recipient for her class was Eve Margaret Grina.

Presidential Management Fellowship Finalists
Class of 2011 members who were finalists for Presidential Management Fellowships were also recognized. They were John Richard Annand, Amanda Brooke DeVuono, Mark Adam Knee and Katherine Elizabeth Reynolds. The Program's purpose is to "attract to the Federal service outstanding men and women from a variety of academic disciplines and career paths who have a clear interest in, and commitment to, excellence in the leadership and management of public policies and programs."

Special Education Advocacy Award
In recognition of outstanding service to children with special needs and their families through the Special Education Advocacy Clinic, this award is given to a graduating student who has shown a dedicated commitment to special education law and the rights of children. The 2011 recipient was Katherine Elizabeth Talalas.

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.  William B. Spong, Jr. (1920-1997) was Dean of the Law School from 1976 to 1985. He also served as a U.S. senator during a long and distinguished career devoted to the public good. This year two graduates overwhelmingly demonstrated these ideals: Shanda Lee King and Justin Carl Sorrell.

Student Admission Ambassadors
Associate Dean for Admission Faye Shealy recognized the following students for their personal commitment, dedication and contributions to our recruitment efforts: Stephen Paul Barry, Christopher Michael Bettis, Virginia Jean Brown, Hannah Irene Carrigg, Brianna Camille Coakley, Amanda Brooke DeVuono, Alison Cline Graab, Melissa McDowell Gutridge, Laura Justine Jacobson, Tamar Leah Jones, Kerline Joseph, Melissa Belle Kessler, Jamiah D. Lecruise, Sarah Elizabeth Nokes, Amy Danielle Paul, Rebecca Sarah Sandler, Todd Michael Torres and Brian Robert Wall.

Student Bar Association Recognition
The Law School's student government is called the Student Bar Association. The following members of the Class of 2011 were recognized for their significant contributions to the Law School through their work with the SBA: Stephen Paul Barry, Daniel Edward Cogley, Fitz Beckwith Collings, Laura Christine Foley, Tamar Leah Jones, Antonia Elise Miller, Courtney Lynn Mills, Ryan David Ruzic, Ali Faez Sayyid, Eric Angelo Scalzo, Todd Michael Torres and Brian Robert Wall.

Thomas Jefferson Prize
The Thomas Jefferson Prize is awarded every year by the William & Mary Bill of Rights Journal to the author of the best Student Note during the journal's end-of-year banquet.  The award is given for the contribution that best addresses a novel and timely issue in constitutional law in a clear and persuasive manner. Colin Jewell Schlueter was the 2011 recipient of the Thomas Jefferson Prize.

Tournament Winners
Dean Douglas noted that the Law School's competitive programs - the Alternative Dispute Resolution Team, the Moot Court Program, and the National Trial Team - have had outstanding success in recent years. The Moot Court team won six tournaments, their most successful year in law school history. The trial team members have also captured many championships. He recognized members of the Class of 2011 who over the course of their law school education had achieved honors in team competitions or were recipients of individual awards in brief writing or as oral advocates. They included Phil Baber, Stephen Barry, Chris Bettis, Brandon Boxler, Maggie Brunner, Brian Cannon, Brianna Coakley, Dan Fassio, Chris Healy, Justin Hoover, Matt Kapucinski, Jessica Keuhn, Rustin Mangum, Alyssa Miller, Courtney Mills, Joanna Orleski, Lindsay Raymond, Amanda Ritucci-Chinni, Rebecca Sandler, Colin Schlueter, and Brian Wall.

Trial Advocacy Teaching Assistant
The Trial Advocacy Program recognized Adam Ulrich for dedicated service as its teaching assistant.

William & Mary Community Servants
Rob Kaplan, Associate Dean for Career Services and Public Service Initiatives, recognized members of the class who contributed at least 35 hours of pro bono legal service or volunteer service to charitable, religious, civic, governmental and educational organizations or causes for the good of the community. The following members of the Class of 2011 were recognized for their work as Community Servants: Lauren Andrews, John Annand, Stephen Barry, Bradford Bartels, Brandon Boxler, Virginia Brown, Margaret Brunner, Elizabeth Carpenter-Hughes, Daniel Caywood Barker, Kelsey Clyburn, Amanda DeVuono, Seth Doherty, Ashley Dolan, Sean Donnelly, Joy Einstein, Daniel Fassio , Edward Finn, Alexaundra  Fitzgerald, Laura Foley, Stephanie Forbes, Jessica Gordon, Justin Hoover, Rica Hudson Calhoun, Allison Huson, Veda Igbinedion, Laura Jacobson, Keri Joeckel, Tamar Jones, Kelly Kennedy, Melissa Kessler, Elizabeth Kiernan, Pearl Kim, Shanda King, Mark Knee, Jennifer Lea, Jamilah LeCruise, Rustin Mangum, Alyssa Miller, Martina Mills, Brittany Mohler, Ambrosia Mosby, Stephen Murray, Brittany Olwine, Amy Paul, Jamila Pollard, Jonathan Puvak, Maakor  Quarmyne, Jennifer Reichle, Amanda Ritucci-Chinni, Samuel Robinson, Suzanne Robinson, Gardner Rordam, Ryan Ruzic, Rebecca Sandler, Eric Scalzo, Lesley Stefan, Matthew Sutton, John Torcivia, Todd Torres, Lauren Vogt, Krystle Waldron, Brian Wall, David Warren, Brandon Waterman, Tiffany Webb and Benjamin Wengerd.

Virginia Trial Lawyers Award
This award recognizes a graduating student, or students, for excellence in trial advocacy skills.  The 2011 recipient was Brian Ross Cannon.

William & Mary Business Law Review - Best Student Note
Jason Eli Ohana received this award in recognition of having written the most outstanding student Note published in the current volume of the Business Law Review.

William & Mary Business Law Review - Outstanding Member
Michael Spolander Munson was recognized for his outstanding dedication to and support of the journal.

William & Mary Environmental Law and Policy Review - Excellence in Scholarship
Bradford Thomas Bartels received this award in recognition of having written the most outstanding student Note published in the current volume of the Environmental Law and Policy Review.

William & Mary Journal of Women and the Law - Outstanding Member
Brandon Matthew Waterman was recognized for his outstanding dedication to and support of the journal.

William & Mary Law Review - Best Student Note
Brandon Lee Boxler received this award in recognition of having written the most outstanding student Note published in the current volume of the Law Review.