Student Awards Ceremony Begins
2009 Graduation Weekend Events
The Class of 2009 student volunteers in the Law School Public Service Program, coordinated
in conjunction with the Minnesota Justice Foundation
May 19, 2009—The Law School welcomed graduates and their families for the 2009 Student Awards Ceremony, held at 3 p.m. May 15 in Lockhart Hall. The event acknowledged outstanding student achievement among those in the Class of 2009, prior to the May 16 Commencement.
The Law School Public Service Program
Among this year's graduation class, 136 students participated in the Public Service Program, one of the Law School's hallmarks. The program, in collaboration with the Minnesota Justice Foundation, the Minnesota Bar Association, and more than 40 legal service providers, challenges law students to contribute at least 50 hours of law-related public service during their study years.
At least 45% of the program participants (61 students) met or exceeded the 50-hour challenge, amassing 10,241 hours of volunteer legal services as a class, noted Janine Laird, executive director of the Minnesota Justice Foundation. One student, Mao Lin, contributed an astounding 700+ hours of public service while participating in the program.
Additional student awards and honors
American Bankruptcy Institute 2009 Medal of Excellence:
Mark S. Creer
American Bar Association and the Bureau of National Affairs Award for Excellence in Health Law:
Lindsey J. Hopper
American Bar Association and the Bureau of National Affairs Award for Excellence in Labor and Employment Law:
Natalie Woodward Kohner
American Law Institute/American Bar Association Scholarship & Leadership Award:
Stacy Marie Lindstedt, Justin McCarthy
Steven M. Block Prize:
Claire Bernice Holmgren Deason
Sidney J. Kaplan Legal Scholarship Fund:
Kyle W. Brenton
Ralph M. McCareins Antitrust Prize:
Amba M. Datta
Minnesota Journal of Law, Science & Technology Outstanding Editor Award:
Daniel Reynolds
Mondale Hall Engagement Award:
Zainab Sakina Akbar, Amanda Lyons, Todd E. R. Strom, Anne Hoyt Taff
National Association of Women Lawyers Award:
Elizabeth Canney Borer
Matt Stark Civil Rights and Civil Liberties Student Award:
Gilbert A. Castro
University of Minnesota Human Rights Law Award:
Karen J. Anderson
Festivities and memories
The reception following the ceremony was so well attended(more than 400 celebrated) that the festivities encompassed Auerbach Commons and the Dorsey Foyer, and spilled out onto Stein Terrace. As extra entertainment, the Law School showed a graduation DVD containing photos submitted by students, comments from faculty, clips of law student theatre productions, and other images echoing events and good times from the last three years.
As a gift, the Law School gave each graduate a copy of the DVD and a business card holder at the Commencement ceremonies on May 16.
