Celebrating Outstanding Student Achievements

From excellence in legal writing to demonstrating extraordinary commitment to public interest work, University of Richmond School of Law graduates excel in a myriad of ways. This year, we were delighted to recognize the outstanding achievements of our 3Ls during the Third Annual Awards Ceremony. Congratulations to all award winners on a job well done.

Class of 2025 Award Recipients:

Auzville Jackson, Jr. Award for Excellence in Intellectual Property: Recognizes the graduating students who have made enduring contributions to the study of Intellectual Property law through activities both in and outside the classroom and who show great promise as future Intellectual Property practitioners. 

Winners:

• Eleni Paraskevopoulos
• Savannah Throneberry 

Cudlipp Medal: Recognizes the student with the highest cumulative GPA after the second year.

Winner: Nick Kaye

Excellence in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Award: Awarded to the graduating students who have contributed most significantly to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in the law school, and thereby have demonstrated potential to contribute to ending historical and enduring forms of subordination and structural inequality and injustice.

Winners:

• Keshav Agiwal
• Audrey McElrath
• Rita Orozco

Excellence in Legal Scholarship Award: Presented to the students who have made the most significant contribution to overall legal scholarship during law school.

Winners:

• Madison Faizon
• Jami-Reese Robertson
• Rebecca Seeger

Family Law Section of the Virginia State Bar and the Virginia Chapter of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers Award: Presented to a graduate who demonstrates great promise and potential for the practice of Family Law.

Winner: Liza Garrity

International Academy of Trial Lawyers Student Advocacy Award: Recognizes the student who has excelled in the field of trial advocacy.

Winner: Hannah Romero

Law Faculty Award for Clinical Excellence: Presented to a student who demonstrates superior performance in client representation or other intensive advocacy work through in-house clinics, or who is otherwise regarded as outstanding clinical students.

Winner: Emma Silverman

Law Faculty Award in Commercial Law: Presented to students who demonstrate superior academic performance or who are otherwise regarded as outstanding in Commercial Law.

Winners:

• Moses Hutchison
• Alex Oswalt

Law Faculty Award in Constitutional and Civil Rights Law: Presented to students who demonstrate superior academic performance or who are otherwise regarded as outstanding in Constitutional and Civil Rights Law.

Winners:

• Benedict Roemer
• Alberto Wray

Law Faculty Award in Corporate and Securities Law: Presented to students who demonstrate superior academic performance or who are otherwise regarded as outstanding in Corporate and Securities Law.

Winners:

• Katie Menello
• Kelly Vance

Law Faculty Award in Criminal Law: Presented to students who demonstrate superior academic performance or who are otherwise regarded as outstanding in Criminal Law.

Winners:

• Sophie Fields
• Nick Kaye

Law Faculty Award in Energy, Environmental, and Land Use Law: Presented to students who demonstrate superior academic performance or who are otherwise regarded as outstanding in Energy, Environmental, and Land Use Law. 

Winners:

• Andrew Jacobs
• Hannah Park

Law Faculty Award in Family Law: Presented to students who demonstrate superior academic performance or who are otherwise regarded as outstanding in Family Law.

Winners:

• Cora Heinzen
• Kimberly Lo

Law Faculty Award in Intellectual Property Law: Presented to students who demonstrate superior academic performance or who are otherwise regarded as outstanding in Intellectual Property Law.

Winners:

• Emma Silverman
• Kathryn Threatt

Law Faculty Award in International Law: Presented to students who demonstrated superior academic performance or who are otherwise regarded as outstanding in International Law.

Winners:

• Katie Hall
• Alexia Inge

Law Faculty Award in Labor and Employment Law: Presented to students who demonstrate superior academic performance or who are otherwise regarded as outstanding in Labor and Employment Law. 

Winners:

• Jim Geary
• Magnolia Stuart

Law Faculty Award in Tax Law: Presented to a student who demonstrates superior academic performance or who is otherwise regarded as outstanding in Tax Law.

Winner: Alex Oswalt

National Association of Women Lawyers Award: Awarded by the faculty for academic achievement, professionalism, and potential to contribute to the advancement of women in society.

Winner: Rebekah Carico

National Order of the Scribes: Presented to the students who demonstrate excellence in legal writing.

Winners:

• Brenna Harman
• Mimi Mays
• Katie Menello

Order of the Barristers Award: Awarded for excellence in advocacy and brief writing in moot court or mock trial activities, either through participation on Moot Court teams, as chairs of a Moot Court Board, or on the Trial Advocacy Board. 

Winners:

• Melody Bohannan
• Kevin Byrne
• Savanna Clendining
• Sophie Fields
• Garrett Handegan
• Mimi Mays
• Joe Noser
• Benedict Roemer
• Hannah Romero
• Maggie Staples

Orell-Brown Award for Clinical Excellence in the Children’s Law Center: Awarded to the students who have excelled in the skills necessary for direct representation of clients.

Winners:

• Liza Garrity
• Sara Kimmel
• Hannah Romero

Public Interest Law Association Pro Bono Award: Recognizes a graduating student who has shown extraordinary commitment to public interest work.

Winner: Keshav Agiwal

Racial Justice and Anti-Racism Advocate Award: Recognizes the student who has contributed most significantly to advancing anti-racism in the law school, and thereby demonstrated potential to contribute to ending structural racism, racial inequality, and other forms of injustice based on race.

Winner: Alexia Inge

Virginia Bar Association Tax Award: Recognizes a graduating student who has approached the study of Tax Law with distinction through activities both in and outside the classroom and who demonstrates great promise as a future Tax Law practitioner.

Winner: Avery Younis

Virginia State Bar Section on Criminal Law Award: Awarded to an outstanding student in the field of Criminal Law and Procedure.

Winner: Benedict Roemer

Virginia Trial Lawyers Association: Awarded to the student who has excelled in demonstrating the talent and attributes of a trial advocate.

Winner: Maggie Staples

Professor Nina R. Kestin Service Award: Honors the student or students who have contributed most significantly to the law school, the community, and the profession.

Winners:

• Alyssa Harrison
• Mimi Mays
• Benedict Roemer