Every spring, Georgia State College of Law hosts the Honors Day Program to celebrate student accomplishments. Due to the Coronavirus, the College of Law held a virtual Honors Week by recognizing outstanding students on Facebook and Instagram.
“We pride ourselves on cultivating an incredible sense of community for our students, so it is important that we find ways to celebrate them, especially at this time,” said dean of students, Alexis Martinez. “I am incredibly proud of the dedication and tenacity that our students exhibit each day and every student being recognized this year exemplifies a commitment to excellence.”
Below is a full list of all of this year’s award recipients as well as details about each award:
Experiential Learning and Clinic Awards
Trammell Foundation Tax Clinic Outstanding Service Award
Presented by the Trammell Foundation to the student(s) who provides the best service to the Philip C. Cook Low-Income Taxpayer Clinic based on interview skills, quality of research and the ability to present a case to the IRS.
Scott St. Lifer and Emma Williams
State Bar of Georgia Tax Section Award
Abigail Fitts
The Atlanta Bar Foundation Paul Coverdell Tax Clinic Client Service Award
Travis Pulliam and Tamra Voll
The Atlanta Bar Foundation J.B. Moore Tax Clinic Client Service Award
Hunter Garrett
The Atlanta Bar Foundation Ginny and Kelly Smith Tax Clinic Award
Abigail Fitts and Lauren Heron
The Atlanta Bar Foundation Dean R. Morley Tax Clinic Award
Lloyd Mohney
HeLP Legal Services Clinic Awards
Presented to a HeLP Clinic student who demonstrates excellent legal analysis, writing, advocacy, and professionalism in the delivery of legal services to low-income families served by the clinic
Michael Foo, Taylor Lin, Ryan Malone and Ngan Nguyen
Centers and other Academic Awards
Excellence in the Study of Intellectual Property Law
Anthony “Tony” Prosser
Academic Achievement in Health Law
Christopher David Whitson and Joseph Allen
American Bankruptcy Institute Medal of Excellence
The Medal of Excellence program was developed by Christopher F. Graham of the New York law firm of Thatcher Proffitt & Wood and inaugurated by the American Bankruptcy Institute in 1997. Participating law schools may nominate the student with the highest grade in a bankruptcy course or other area of bankruptcy scholarship for the award.
Joseph Taylor
The Georgia Chapter of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers Custer-Tuggle Award for Excellence in Family Law
Ashley O'Neil
Michelle Ferguson-Priestly Award
Given to a student who excelled in either criminal law or Criminal procedure courses and who demonstrates concern for other’s welfare through community service.
Kathryn Hamoudah and Evan Hansinger
Urban Fellows Research Award
Awarded to the law student most actively engaged in the program, including research and writing.
Andrew Brown and Patrice Ruffin
Georgia Bar Environmental Section Award
Based on academic achievement and a demonstrated commitment to addressing issues concerning the physical and built environment
Samuel Richards
Land Use Law Award
Based on academic achievement and a demonstrated commitment to addressing issues concerning the physical and built environment
Maggie Garrett and Courtney LeBeau
Excellence in the Study of Health Law
Joseph Allen and Christopher David Whitson
Outer Barristers’ Guild Award
Established to recognize the top 10 first-year students and encourage superior academic achievement
Nicholas Daly, Alex Estroff, Boris Gautier, Briana James, Logan Kirkes, Dana McDonald, Anthony Prosser, Stephanie Remy, Brittiny Slicker and Angelena Velaj
Charity Scott Health Law Award
Granted to students who demonstrate outstanding achievement and promise in the area of health law.
Morgan Bridget Schroeder
Law Review Best Note Award
Nicholas C. Daly, “Amateur Hour Is Over: Time to Retire the NCAA’s Amateurism Principles and Recognize College Athletes as Employees”
CALI Awards
Awarded to students who earn the highest grade in a given class. View the full list.
Advocacy
Edward J. Henning ADR Award
Awarded to a student who has demonstrated an excellent academic record and a keen interest in dispute resolution
Evan Hansinger
Best Brief Awards in Lawyering Advocacy
Awarded to students who write the best summary judgment brief in each section
Joseph Brickman, Jacob Cohen, Nicholas Daly, Maggie Garrett, Boris Gautier, Peyton Kelley, Logan Kirkes, Allison Kretovic, Insoo Lee, Jessica Leugering, Veronica Macias, Amanda Nardi, Amanda Dixon-Shropshire, Sarah Skinner, Brittiny Slicker and Kadeja Thomas
Excellent Performance in Lawyering Advocacy Spring 2019
Joshua Adams, Laura Alford, Paul Allmon, Alexandra Armbruster, Monteshea Barnes, Jasmine Becerra, Taylor Bell, Eugene Butler, David Carducci, Andrew Coffey, Latrevia Collins, Charles Cullen, Ansley Fantaski, Emma Fennelly, Mitchell Funk, Vanessa Galvan, Joseph Guardino, Lillian Henry, Alex Henson, Katherine Hunt, Merima Mahmutbegovic, Alex Malcom, Ryan Malone, Parth Matalia, Juliana Mesa, Ana Moises, Kianne Nicholson, Minho Seo, Furhawn Shah, Jamey Sherrod, Laura Shoop, Adam Simonton, Daniel Skelton, David Whitson and Whitney Woodward
ALERT Program
Highest Distinction
Ovidiu Balaj, Andrew Coffey, Latrevia Collins, Emily Gaston, Timothy Graves, Richard Quarles and Justin Showalter
High Distinction
John Hooven and Tiffany Williams
Distinction
Julia Collins, Kristi Gibbs, Tyler Graff, Mark Hunter and Courtney LeBeau
Pro bono Program Award
Recognizes a student for outstanding volunteer legal work through the center for access to Justice and/or the Pro Bono Program.
Hazel Rains
2019 Moot Court Competitions
Officers
Megan Alexander, President
Courtney LeBeau, Vice President
Megan Kirk, VP of Competitions
Emily Gaston, VP of Appellate Advocacy
Eugene Butler, VP of Appellate Advocacy
Kady Litwer, VP of Communications
John Hooven, VP of Records
Luke Hoover, Treasurer
Tulane Mardi Gras Invitational Appellate Sports Law Competition
Octofinalists
Lauren Newman and Erin Winn
Giles Rich Patent Moot Court Competition
Regional Semi-finalists
Vivian Chew and Abby Fitts
Intrastate Moot Court Competition
Semi-finalists (Team B)
Nick Daly, Luke Hoover and Megan Alexander
2nd best brief (Team A)
Kassi Conley, John Hooven and Megan Kirk
Best Oralist
Megan Kirk
Jerome Prince Memorial Evidence Moot Court Competition
Best Brief & Octofinalist
Kady Litwer, Lillian Henry and Alessandra Palazzolo
Robert F. Wagner National Labor and Employment Law Moot Court Competition
National Champions
Abigail Stout and Brooke Wilner
Best Preliminary Round Petitioner Oralist & Best Final Round Oralist
Brooke Wilner
Thomas Tang Southern Regional Competition
Best Brief and Second place overall
Sara Lim and Parth Matalia
National Health Law Moot Court Competition
Quarter finalists
Evan Hansinger, Ellen Messer and Gilbert Morales
3rd Best Oralist
Ellen Messer
New York National Moot Court Competition
Quarterfinalist in the 5th Region
Madeline Harper and Amanda Nardi
2019 STLA Competitions
Officers
Sierra Lawrence, President
Mitch Funk, Vice President
South Texas Challenge Quarter Finalist
Competition Best Advocate
Emily Cohan, Charles Cullen and Vanessa Galvan
National Trial Competition
Team 1
Misty Gann,Hannah Drosky and Alisa Radut
Team 2
Tyler Almon,Paul Spann and Roland Turner,
American Association for Justice
Regional Finalist
Team 1
Brittany Barto, Cameron Boone, Joshua Jones and Devon Rafus
Team 2
Amer Abukhdeir, Allie Armbruster, Mitch Funk and Sierra Lawrence
Mockingbird Challenge
Quarter Finalists
Matt Chick, Charles Cullen, Vanessa Galvan and Arlissa Jennings
Lonestar Competition
Steven Hendryx, Yasamine Jalinousszadeh, Peter Jaraysi and Brittany Stocus,
William Daniel Competition
Semi Finalist
Allie Armbruster, Jacob Berry, Robert Brawner, William Hammond and Maggie Meetze
Public Interest
P.I.L.A. Fellowships
Awarded to students interested in public interest work who secure a summer legal position with a nonprofit or appropriate government agency
Latravia Collins, Fulton County Public Defender; Trey Barnett, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Hearings Unit; Evan Hansinger, Clayton County District Attorney; Lina Machado-Bejarano, City of Atlanta - Office of the Public Defender; and Alessandra Palazzolo, U.S. Department of Labor - Office of the Solicitor
Leadership
Georgia Association for Women’s Lawyers Outstanding Law Student Award
This award is given to a student with significant academic accomplishments and contributions to women’s issues.
Emily Gaston
Georgia State University Public Service Award
Honors a student or students whose devotion to the public good is demonstrated by an outstanding record of public service. A recipient will have made substantial volunteer contributions in government service, public interest law, educational activities, pro bono work, and/or community service.
Gabriela Batista Vargas and Alex Estroff
ALI CLE Scholarship & Leadership Award
Awarded to the graduating student who best represents a combination of scholarship and leadership
Timothy Graves and Lina Machado-Bejarano
2019-2020 Student Mentor Program
Amanda R Nardi, Chair,Gabriela Batista-Vargas, Shykeena L. Blanton, Kate Hannah Collins, Alex Nathan Estroff, Michael Gregory Foo, Timothy James Graves, Evan W Hansinger, Yasamine Jalinouszadeh, Allison Mary Teresa Kretovic, Clarissa Lavin, Racquel Vondell McGee, Ellen Y. Min, Lisa Northrop, Gabriela Jose Medina-Nunez, Samuel Richards, Madeline Ross, Kristi Kiku Shinfuku, Andrew C Shipp, Jr., Rahma Taha, Courtney Lorehn Taylor, Troy Vincent Viger, Carolynn Josephine Wall and Glenn D. Wells, Jr.