Greetings,


Below we share the names of graduates who received awards this year. 

As defines our gatherings now, the awards presentation was done online. I invite you to hear all about these students and their accomplishments, presented in short videos by faculty, friends, and alumni of the college who sponsor the awards.


Until the footnotes,
 
Marc
 
2020 James E. Rogers College of Law 
Graduate Awards Celebration

The James E. Rogers College of Law Spring 2020 Awards Celebration program recognized the following graduating law students (go to full playlist):

Law College Association Service Award
Darrah BlackwaterMika Galilee-Belfer
Presented by Matt Muehlebach ('96), LCA Board of Directors 
 
Law College Association Scholastic Merit Award
Elise Phalen & Sameehan Phatak
Presented by Abby Raddatz ('03), LCA Board of Directors 

Abby Raddatz ('03) presenting


Munger Prize For Scholars In International and Business Law
Alessandra Bermudez
Presented by David Ruiz (LLM '01), 
Partner, Munger, Chadwick & Denker
 
S. Thomas Chandler Public Service Award
Laura Stump Kennedy & Mackenzie Pish
Presented by the Hon. Terry L. Chandler ('80), 
Pima County Superior Court (ret.)
 
Hon. Earl H. Carroll Public Service Award
Matthew Doyle & Brian Heddell
Presented by Toni Massaro, 
Regents Professor and Dean Emerita
 
Thomas Clark Civility in Litigation Award
Maura Hilser
Presented by Brian Chase ('11), Professor of Practice and Barry Davis National Trial Team Coach
 
Dannie Lee Chandler Memorial Award
Ashley Caballero-Daltrey
Presented by Dee-Dee Samet ('63)
 
DeConcini, McDonald, Yetwin & Lacy 
Academic Achievement Award
Kelleen Mull
Presented by Lisa Anna Smith ('95), Managing Shareholder, DeConcini, McDonald, Yetwin & Lacy
 
John G. Hawkins Professionalism Award
Rachael Lopez
Presented by Jim Carlson ('16), Assistant Director, 
Career Development Office
 
Dean's Achievement Award for Community Engagement
Jordan Paul, Kylie Allen, & Shanmei Liu
Presented by Dean Marc Miller

Dean's Achievement Award for Leadership
Brian Fullmer & Q"apaj Conde Choque
Presented by Dean Marc Miller
 
ALI-CLE Scholarship And Leadership Award
Blaine Boles
Presented by Ellie Bublick, Dan B. Dobbs Professor of Law and Faculty Director, Arizona Law Phoenix Program

Ralph W. Aigler Memorial Award
Rachael Lopez
Presented by Stacy Butler ('02), Director, 
Innovation for Justice Program
 
Rose Davis Public Service Award
Martie Simmons & Karen Donderewicz
Presented by Barbara A. Atwood ('76), 
Mary Anne Richey Professor Emerita of Law
 
Professor Barbara Atwood ('76) presenting


William T. Birmingham Trial Advocacy Award
Michael Victor
Presented by Barbara Bergman, Professor and 
Director of Advocacy
 
Andrew Silverman Community Service Award
Yesenia Gamez Valdez
Presented by Shefali Milczarek-Desai ('01), 
Assistant Clinical Professor, Workers' Rights Clinic
 
Roger C. Henderson Distinguished Graduating Senior Award
Karen Donderewicz
Presented by Nancy Stanley, 
Assistant Dean for Strategic Relations
 
Joseph M. Livermore Service Award
Molly Rothschild
Presented by Andy Silverman ('69), 
Joseph M. Livermore Professor Emeritus of Law
 
Ralph E. Long Memorial Award
Patricia Mabry
Presented by Sylvia Lett, Assistant Professor of Legal Writing
 
Professor Sylvia Lett presenting


Darrow K. Soll Memorial Award
Samuel Carroll
Presented by Stacy Butler ('02), Professor and Director, 
Innovation for Justice Program
 
Jim Himelic Award
Ryan Hammond
Presented by Paul Bennett, Professor and
Director of the Child and Family Law Clinic

Junius Hoffman "Beyond The JD" Award
Summer Blaze Aubrey
Presented by Robert A. Williams, Regents Professor, E. Thomas Sullivan Professor of Law, Faculty Co-Chair of the Indigenous Peoples Law and Policy Program
 
Professor Robert A. Williams presenting


In case you missed it last week:


Snapshot: MLS Grad Xavier Segura


Name: Xavier R. Segura
Degree: Master of Legal Studies, with a Concentration in Criminal Law
Hometown: Tucson, Arizona


Why did you pursue your Master of Legal Studies (MLS) degree?
 
The MLS exposes you to the law school challenges and courses and allows you to overcome those obstacles while building character and transforming you into a more disciplined law student. 
 
What also intrigued me with the MLS is that this is a program that is held to the highest standard; therefore, as an MLS student, you can compete at the highest academic level. The MLS program expanded my knowledge of the law, strengthened my character and legal writing skills and allowed me to utilize this as a stepping stone for my next academic goal.
 
How do you think you've changed from your first year here to now?

I've changed from my first year here to now in various ways. Especially being an Army veteran, I had discipline instilled into me since day one. However, throughout these law courses, it becomes your ultimate test in making sure you remain disciplined and focused.
 
Also, I remember during my first year here, I had no idea what a FIRAC or IRAC was. Right there, I automatically knew you have to get your head in the game and disregard any distractions, as this is your focus now. I must admit, though, although the finish line is there at the end, you can't get complacent about your work and grades. You have to stay on top of your game and get things done. 
 
There are three things I've learned throughout this entire time: your family, your health, and your discipline remain of the utmost importance if you want to succeed. 
 
What will you miss most about Arizona Law?

The amazing faculty members and mentors that have always kept me on the straight path, provided guidance and remained my aspirations and role models. 
 
Especially learning from Arizona Law LLM student and teaching fellow Derek Kauanoe's incredible legal knowledge and life advice, to even overcoming the challenge of the case file writing project in Professor Rob Williams's classes. I will also miss listening to Nancy Stanley's excellent rationale on why I should attend law school, to even stopping by the casita to say "hello" and check in with professor Keith Swisher, Mark Blair, Marnie Parris-Bingle, and Linus Kafka.
 
Additionally, I will miss my amazing colleagues as we all have remained each other's support group, listening ears whenever we needed to vent, and motivation to continue driving on.
 
Do you have a message for fellow members of the Class of 2020?

Congratulations to my colleagues. Best of luck in your next chapter and future endeavors!

Around the College
 
Join the Bear Down Network
 

 
Graduates! No matter whether you belong to the Class of 2020 or are an alumnus from an earlier decade, join the Bear Down Network to find classmates and access networking and career development opportunities exclusive to Wildcats. Once you've signed up, look for the College of Law group.

 
Opportunity to Help Arizonans with COVID-19 Legal Issues
 
The State Bar of Arizona and Arizona Bar Foundation have put out a call for volunteer attorneys to help Arizonans with COVID-19 legal issues through their Arizona Attorneys Respond: Legal Hotline

University of Arizona Law alumni, students, and recent graduates interested in helping are encouraged to apply. 


Contact Mabel Ramirez at mabel.ramirez@staff.azbar.org or (602) 340-7318 with questions.

In the News

The Counter, featuring professor Robert Glennon

Tucson.com, featuring professor Shefali Milczarek Desai



What an interesting season for graduation events around the University of Arizona, at other law schools, colleges, and universities, and indeed across the educational spectrum.
 
On the lighter side, I appreciated how my daughter Evelyn's middle school, Orange Grove, handled her "promotion" from 8th grade, with a drive-by celebration (timed, by last name) one day and a lovely online celebration the next. My favorite line from the principal to the 13-year-olds: "Your parents will never be more wrong than they are right now." (I hope he is right.)

Graduations at all times are a mix of mirth and melancholy, as we feel the joy of real accomplishment, yet know both that new challenges await, and that we will never gather in the same way again.

I hear from my colleagues that they feel enormous pride and enjoyment in the success of our 2020 graduates -- sentiments that are just as strong as in prior years, though, for many, even more poignant.

Warmly,

 
 

 

 
   Like us on Facebook   Follow us on Twitter   View our profile on LinkedIn   View our videos on YouTube


Copyright © 2019. All Rights Reserved.

Join Our Mailing List button

University of Arizona James E Rogers College of Law, 1201 E. Speedway, Tucson, AZ 85721-0176
Sent by alumni@law.arizona.edu in collaboration with
Constant Contact
Try email marketing for free today!