The faculty of UConn School of Law has recognized the many and varied achievements of its students and graduates with an array of prizes and awards.
The recipients, announced at the end of the academic year, are honored for their academic and extracurricular accomplishments, which may include grades, class participation, clinical work, leadership and community involvement. Many awards provide a financial component while others offer books, certificates, memberships and other gifts.
The 2024 awards and recipients are:
The Honorable Herbert Barall Family Law Award
• Robert McCormick ’24
Established by friends and family of Judge Herbert Barall and awarded to a graduating student who has excelled in the study of family law and has shown a commitment to family law.
The Honorable M. Joseph Blumenfeld Award
• Matthew Saladino ’24
Established by friends of U.S. District Judge M. Joseph Blumenfeld and awarded to a student who has rendered outstanding service to clients in a clinic program.
The Elihu Burritt Award
• Shae Heitz ’24
Awarded to the student with the highest academic average achieved at a semester abroad program sponsored by the UConn School of Law.
The Robert S. Carey, Jr., JD ’76 Connecticut Attorneys Title Insurance Company Foundation (CATIC) Foundation Award in Real Property
• Kimberly Luciano ’25
Awarded for outstanding work in real property law.
The Clark-Janis International Award
• Lili Holtey (exchange student)
Established by Professor Mark Janis and his wife, Janet Janis, in honor of their parents, Martha and Allan Clark and June and Henry Janis, and given to an international student for superior academic achievement.
The Clinical Legal Education Association Certificate of Recognition
• Benjamin Kline ’24
• Stefanie McArdle ’24
• Rachel Sandor ’24
Awarded for outstanding performance in a clinical program.
The Clinical Legal Education Association Outstanding Externship Student Award
• Olivia Kappel ’25
Awarded to a student for outstanding performance in an externship.
The Connecticut Bar Association Labor and Employment Section Award for Excellence in Employment Law
• Chelsea Connery ’24
Awarded for outstanding achievement in the field of labor and employment law.
The Connecticut Bar Association Real Property Section Memorial Award
• Madison Schettler ’24
Given to the student who has contributed substantially to the development of a sound body of law in the field of real property.
The Connecticut Conference of Municipalities Award
• Olta Shkembi ’24
Given to a student who, in the judgment of the faculty, has written the best paper addressing a problem in municipal law or another aspect of municipal government, or has completed an internship or service project in municipal government in Connecticut and demonstrates the greatest contribution to excellence in local government.
The Maxwell Friedman Award
• Colleen Olsen ’24
Presented to a student for outstanding achievement in commercial subjects.
The Thomas F. Gallivan, Jr. Memorial Award
• Stephen Pendergast ’25
Presented by the Law School Alumni Association for outstanding scholastic achievement in property law in honor of the late Thomas F. Gallivan, a lecturer at the Law School.
The Milton W. Horwitz Award
• Megan Phillips ’25
Awarded to a student who has excelled in the 1L Torts course and who demonstrates a dedication to the highest standards of morality and integrity of the profession.
The Insurance Law Center JD Award
• Lauren Kidd ’24
Presented to a graduating student who has excelled in the study of insurance law or rendered outstanding service to the Connecticut Insurance Law Journal or to the Insurance Law Society.
The Insurance Law Center LLM Award
• Laura Arp ’24
Given to the student receiving a Masters of Laws (LLM) in Insurance Law who best exemplifies the law school’s commitment to scholarship in insurance law and service to the community.
Olimpiad Ioffe Award
• Christopher Torre ’25
Established by friends of Professor Olimpiad Ioffe to recognize a graduating student who has excelled in the study of comparative law or Eastern European law.
Fleming James Jr. Award
• Nicole Palmieri ’24
Established in honor of the late Professor Fleming James Jr. to recognize an upper-level student who has excelled in the study of labor law.
Kathryn Mikolinski ’17 Memorial Award for Criminal Law
• Joyce Lopes ’24
Awarded in memory of Kathryn Mikolinski ’17 to a graduating student who demonstrates excellence in the study or practice of criminal defense law or who best exemplifies dedication to protecting the rights of criminal defendants.
The Distinguished Alumni Professor Kent Newmyer Award in American Legal History
• Nicolas Berube ’24
Established in honor of Kent Newmyer to recognize a student who demonstrates excellence in the study of American legal history.
Joseph F. Noonan Memorial Award
• Shae Heitz ’24
Established in memory of Joseph F. Noonan ʼ48 to recognize a student who combines outstanding legal scholarship with a commitment to public service.
The Pomp-Shine Family Award in Taxation
• Jack Cole ’24
Established by Professor Richard Pomp in honor of his father, Morris Pomp, and awarded to an outstanding law student in the tax certificate program.
The Alvin Pudlin Memorial First Amendment Fund Award
• Guliko Matcharashvili ’24
Awarded to a student who advances the understanding and appreciation of the rights secured by the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.
The Judge Robert Satter Award
• Alona Voronova ’24
Awarded in memory of Judge Robert Satter for contributions through a student’s efforts or written work to the advancement or preservation of civil liberties in America.
George and Lorraine Schatzki Award
• Josh Crow ’24
Awarded by fellow graduates Aaron and Sandra Gersten in honor of Dean George Schatzki to a student for outstanding service to the school.
Paul Schneider LLM ’18 and Bryan Garcia Human Rights and Social Justice Award
• Sara Abdulla ’24
• Enrique Lopez Ramirez ’24
Awarded to two students with demonstrated achievement in and dedication to the area of domestic and/or international human rights and a commitment to advancing human rights and social justice.
Thomas J. Staley Award
• Brynn Furey ’25
Awarded in honor of Thomas J. Staley to a student for distinction in the study of labor law.
William F. Starr Fellowship Award
• Richard Metzroth ’23
Established in honor of the late Professor William F. Starr to recognize the student in the previous year’s graduating class with the highest grade point average.
William F. Starr First Year Award
• Christian Aviles (Evening Division) ’26
• William Sean Fallon (Day Division) ’25
Established in honor of the late Professor William F. Starr to recognize the students who achieved the highest grade point averages in last year’s day and evening divisions.
Edward L. Stephenson Memorial Award
• Drew DeRubeis ’27
Established in honor of the late Professor Edward L. Stephenson and awarded to a student for outstanding scholastic achievement in civil procedure.
Terry J. Tondro Award
• Taylor Friel ’24
• Sarah Frostbutter ’24
Awarded in honor of the late Professor Terry J. Tondro to a student for excellence in the study of land use, historic preservation, affordable housing or urban revitalization.
UConn School of Law Award for Exceptional Achievement in Scholarship
• Taylorann Vibert ’24
Awarded to a graduating student for exceptional achievement in scholarship.
UConn School of Law Award for Outstanding Service to the Law School
• Andrea Catania ’24
Awarded to a graduating students for outstanding service to the law school community.
UConn School of Law International Award
• Bjarne Wiese ’24
Awarded to an international student receiving a Masters of Laws (LLM) in U.S. Legal Studies who best exemplifies the Law School’s commitment to distinguished scholarship in international studies and dedicated service to the community.
UConn School of Law Pro Bono Award
• Alexandria Abacherli ’24
Presented to a graduating student who has demonstrated outstanding commitment to pro bono work that benefits persons of limited means.
Cornelius W. Wickersham Jr. Award
• Keith Brown ’24
Given by the Federal Bar Council in honor of Cornelius W. Wickersham, Jr. for excellence in the study of constitutional law.
Women Law Students Award
• Chloe Dysart ’24
Awarded by WLSA to honor and support a University of Connecticut law student who is using legal skills to serve the community by promoting the interest of women.
The 2024 awards were coordinated by a committee working at the request of Dean Eboni S. Nelson in consultation with faculty members in each subject area. The committee members were Professor Richard Pomp (Chair), Professor Tara Cooley, Professor Miguel DeFigueiredo, Professor Jessica de Perio Wittman, Assistant Dean Christina Mohr, and Director of Student Affairs Shelby Summers.
