2023 Awards and Honors

Special Recognition Awards

ALI-CLE Scholarship and Leadership Award

Awarded to the student in the graduating class who best represents a combination of scholarship and leadership, the qualities embodied by the American Law Institute.

Billy Michaca

Chief Judge Edward D. Re Commencement Award

Established in honor and memory of Chief Judge Edward D. Re, an honor graduate of the class of 1943, who was Chief Judge Emeritus of the U.S. Court of International Trade and served as a professor at St. John’s University School of Law. Awarded to the students in the graduating class who are selected by the Dean based on outstanding scholarship and service.

Ezra Rash
Julia Shea

Daniel A. Furlong Award

Awarded to students in the graduating class who, in the opinion of the Dean, have rendered outstanding service and leadership to the Law School community.

Nadia Balkaran
Rory Buckley
 

National Association of Women Lawyers Award

Awarded to an outstanding law graduate of each American Bar Association approved law school who shows promise to contribute to the advancement of women in society.

Valerie Rodriguez

Academic Excellence Awards

Joseph Kerzner Prize

Established through a generous endowment from Joseph Kerzner and awarded to the student in the graduating class who has achieved the highest cumulative grade point average.

Ryan Fenn
Ashley Flores

Esterina Giuliani Award

Established by Esterina Giuliani ’06 and awarded to the student in the part-time division who has achieved the highest cumulative grade point average.

Sophie Muller

American Bankruptcy Institute Medal for Excellence in Bankruptcy Studies

Awarded to the J.D. and LL.M. students in the graduating class who have demonstrated excellence in the study of Bankruptcy Law.

Victoria Giorgio (J.D.)
Chazz C. Coleman (LL.M.)
 

Justice Harold Birns Award

Established by Renee Birns in memory of her husband, Justice Harold Birns, an honor graduate of the class of 1937, and awarded to the student in the graduating class who has published the best note in a student journal.

Adele Irwin
 

Beatrice Levine Awards

Established by Beatrice Levine in memory of Abraham, Gussie, and Max Levine and awarded to students who achieve the highest grades in Property; Drafting: Real Estate Transactions; and Condominiums, Cooperatives & Homeowner Associations, respectively.

Ashley Flores (Property)
Robert Ibraham (Drafting: Real Estate Transactions)
Thomas Goddard (Condos, Coops, and Homeowner Assoc.)
William Gross (Condos, Coops, and Homeowner Assoc.)
 

Cornelius W. Wickersham, Jr. Award

Established by the Federal Bar Council and awarded to the student in the graduating class who achieves the highest grade in Constitutional Law.

Brendan Spagnuolo

Dean Mary C. Daly Memorial Award

Established by alumni and friends in memory of Dean Mary C. Daly, former Dean and John V. Brennan Professor of Law and Ethics (2004– 2008) and awarded to the student in the graduating class who has achieved the highest grade in Professional Responsibility.

Ryan Fenn
Ashley Flores
 

Michele G. Falkow Excellence in Legal Writing Award

Established in memory of Michele G. Falkow, a former School of Law Assistant Professor of Legal Writing and is awarded each year to the first year J.D. student who submits the best brief in the Legal Writing II course. The student is recognized again at Graduation.

Michael Rawlings

International Academy of Trial Lawyers Award

Awarded to the student in the graduating class who achieves the highest grade in Evidence.

Maria Jelda Doria
Ashley Flores

Justice David T. Gibbons Award

Established by the Bar Association of Nassau County, New York and members of the Gibbons family in memory of the late Justice David T. Gibbons, a member of the class of 1949, and awarded to the student in the part-time division who has achieved the highest grade in Evidence.

Sophie Muller

Justice Louis Wallach Memorial Award

Established by friends and family of the late Justice Louis Wallach, a graduate of the class of 1946, and awarded to the student in the graduating class who achieves the highest grade in New York Practice.

Andrew Henriquez (New York Civil Practice: Pre & Post-Trial)
Michael Quintman (New York Civil Practice: Jurisdiction & Pleading)

Morton Wasserman Award

Established by Frances Wasserman in memory of her husband, Morton Wasserman, and awarded to the student in the graduating class who achieves the highest grade in Introduction to Intellectual Property.

Simcha Weisz

Ned D. Frank Award

Established by Justice and Mrs. Harry B. Frank to perpetuate the memory of their son, Ned D. Frank, a member of the class of 1960, and awarded to the student in the graduating class who achieves the highest grade in Criminal Law.

Ashley Flores
Erin Stahley
Amanda Zoda

Rita Giannone Memorial Award

Established by friends and family in memory of Rita Giannone, a member of the class of 1981, and awarded to the student in the part- time division of the graduating class who has achieved the highest grade in Constitutional Law.

Sophie Muller

Timothy J. Meehan Memorial Award

Established by the family and friends of the late Timothy J. Meehan, a member of the class of 1974, and awarded to the student in the graduating class who achieves the highest grade in Real Estate Transactions.

Robert Ibraham
Peter Klensch

The Wann Family Foundation Award

Established by Robert Wann, Jr. ʼ07 and awarded to the students in the graduating class who achieve the highest grade in each of the following courses: Business Planning, Consumer Protection, Corporate Finance, and Securities Regulation.

Anthony Crasto (Business Planning)
Chelsea Frankel (Consumer Protection)
Robert Ibraham (Consumer Protection)
Michael Rawlings (Corporate Finance)
Brendan Spagnuolo (Corporate Finance)
Michael Russo (Securities Regulation)
 

Appellate and Trial Advocacy Excellence Awards

Center for Trial and Appellate Advocacy Award for Excellence in Mock Trial

Awarded to the graduating member of the Polestino Trial Advocacy Institute who best demonstrated talent in the art and science of trial advocacy through external competitions.

Ryan Fenn

Center for Trial and Appellate Advocacy Award for Excellence in Moot Court

Awarded to the graduating member of the Moot Court Honor Society who best demonstrated talent in the art and science of appellate advocacy through external competitions.

Sarah Hautzinger

Justice Albert H. Bosch Award

Established by Justice Albert H. Bosch, a graduate of the class of 1933, and awarded to the students in the graduating class who have demonstrated excellence in the area of appellate advocacy and trial advocacy.

Gabriella Blum (Appellate Advocacy)
Ariston (Joseph) Papeo (Trial Advocacy)

New York City Trial Lawyers Alliance Trial Advocacy Award

Awarded to the student in the graduating class who has shown excellence in civil trial advocacy.

Michael Pecorella

Tyler Ramaker Memorial Award

Established by the family and friends of the late Tyler Ramaker, a member of the Moot Court Honor Society, and awarded to the graduating Moot Court student who demonstrates outstanding service, leadership through action, dedication, and cooperative teamwork.

Jordan Milite

Public Interest Awards

Dianne Marie Arrue Memorial Award

Established by the classmates of the late Dianne Marie Arrue, a student committed to public interest work and service, and awarded to a graduate who has demonstrated extraordinary commitment to public interest work, including dedication to and leadership of the Public Interest Law Student Association.

Claire Frink
 

School of Law Alumni Association Pro Bono Award

Established by the School of Law Alumni Association and awarded to a student in the graduating class with exceptional pro bono service.

Christa Alexander

Public Service Award

Awarded to the students who, in furtherance of the goal that members of the legal profession and those aspiring to enter the legal profession have a special professional responsibility to assist in providing quality legal services to those who cannot afford them, successfully completed at least 500 hours of pro bono work prior to graduation.

Christa Alexander
Michael Allain
Ivanovich Almonte
Fanta Ba
Nadia Balkaran
Brittany Battista
Carly Berntsen
Sophie Brill
Sara Cardamone
Gabriella Carnazza
Bida Chen
Giuseppe Chiara
Patrick Clancey
Isabelle Dudek
William Eddy
Ryan Fenn
Sarah Franzetti
Claire Frink
Bridget Golden
Ashley Guido
Daniel Hansen Jr
Kimberly Henry
Cesar Herrera Campos
John Jabbour
Emma Lammers
Sara Leston
Jakub Lewandowski
Kate Long
Spencer Luchs
Julia Mackey
Kelly Madigan
Gissel Marquez
Yorlibeth Martinez
Cecelia Masselli
Charles McCracken
Sabrina McDonald
Brendan McNerney
Ramona Miller
Rashad Moore
Joseph Mottola
Megan O'Connor
Jared Paul
Luisa Paz Canton
Anna Poulakas
Ezra Rash
Christine Raso
Tracy Remy
Mary Rizk
Victoria Rubino
Alexa Schimp
Jagjot Singh
Abigail Sloan
Brendan Spagnuolo
Erin Stahley
Madelyn Starks
Yujie Stulberg
Julie Varughese
Gina Varvaro
Anthony Vecchio
Sachika Yadav
Tatiana Zapata
Amanda Zoda

Excellence in Experiential Education Awards

St. Vincent de Paul Clinic Awards

Awarded to the students who made the most outstanding overall contribution to each of the following clinics: Bankruptcy Advocacy Clinic; Child Advocacy Clinic; Consumer Justice for the Elderly: Litigation Clinic; Criminal Defense & Advocacy Clinic; Domestic Violence Litigation Clinic; Economic Justice Clinic; Prosecution Clinic; Refugee and Immigrant Rights Litigation Clinic; Securities Arbitration Clinic; and Tenants' Rights Advocacy Clinic.

Cristian Catanese (Bankruptcy Advocacy Clinic)
Kayla Nieves (Child Advocacy Clinic)
Tracy Remy (Consumer Justice for the Elderly: Litigation Clinic)
Christa Alexander (Criminal Defense and Advocacy Clinic)
Sophie Brill (Domestic Violence Clinic)
Julia Mackey (Economic Justice Clinic)
Carly Berntsen (Prosecution Clinic)
Ezra Rash (Refugee and Immigrant Rights Litigation Clinic)
Anastasia Greer (Securities Arbitration Clinic)
Jessica Bain Bird (Tenants’ Rights Advocacy Clinic)

CLEA Outstanding Externship Student Award

Awarded to the student who has shown excellence in the field work component of the externship course determined by the quality of the student’s performance in assisting or representing individual or organizational clients or in undertaking advocacy or policy reform projects; excellence in the seminar component of the externship determined by the quality of the student’s thoughtfulness and self- reflection in exploring the legal, ethical, strategic, and other pertinent issues raised in the particular clinic or externship; and the nature and extent of the student’s contribution to the clinical community at the law school, legal community, or broader community.

John Jabbour

LL.M. Achievement Awards

Outstanding Academic Achievement Award - LL.M. Programs

Awarded to the students in the graduating class who achieve the highest grade point average in each of the Master’s Degree programs.

Alan Alexander (Bankruptcy)
Aileen Gómez Figuereo (Transnational Legal Practice)
Jacey Johns (U.S. Legal Studies)

Applied Legal Skills Award

Awarded to the LL.M. student who has demonstrated excellence in applied legal skills.

Marine Vaudaine

Excellence in Legal Writing Award

Awarded to the student who has demonstrated superior academic performance in two sections of Legal Research, Analysis, and Writing.

Zhenghong Wang

Excellence in Transnational Legal Practice

Awarded to the LL.M. student in Transnational Legal Practice who has demonstrated outstanding academic achievement over two semesters in required Transnational Legal Practice courses.

Aileen Gómez Figuereo

Global Leadership Award

Awarded to LL.M. students from either the USLS or TLP Program who have demonstrated outstanding leadership and citizenship within the St. John’s Law Community.

Simon St-Onge (Transnational Legal Practice)
Zhenghong Wang (Transnational Legal Practice)
Estefania Betancourt (U.S. Legal Studies)
Francys Chacon (U.S. Legal Studies)

Latin Honors - J.D.

Summa Cum Laude

Ryan Fenn
Ashley Flores

Magna Cum Laude

Michael Allain
Sophie Brill
Maria Jelda Doria
Robert Ibraham
Chloe Lucatuorto
Ariston (Joseph) Papeo
Ezra Rash
Jagjot Singh
Anthony Vecchio
Amanda Zoda
 

Cum Laude

Ryan Biggs
Gabriella Carnazza
Giuseppe Chiara
Katherine Chung
Patrick Clancey
Anthony Crasto
William Eddy
Sarah Franzetti
Victoria Giorgio
Samantha Giuglianotti
Thomas Goddard
Bridget Golden
William Gross
Sarah Hautzinger
Adele Irwin
Aron Kaplan
Peter Klensch
Brendan McNerney
Billy Michaca
Rashad Moore
Joseph Mottola
Sophie Muller
Megan O’Connor
Matthew Pate
Zita Petrahai
Joseph Pizzingrillo
Kassandra Pugliese
Michael Rawlings
Erica Romeo
Michael Russo
Alexa Schimp
Jessica Serviss
Brendan Shaw
Julia Shea
Brendan Spagnuolo
Erin Stahley
Ashlyn Stone
Gina Varvaro
Nicholas Vota

Dean’s List - J.D.

Michael Allain
Ryan Biggs
Alex Bisogno
Sophie Brill
Gabriella Carnazza
Giuseppe Chiara
Katherine Chung
Patrick Clancey
Anthony Crasto
Kiersten Daly
Maria Jelda Doria
William Eddy
Ryan Fenn
Ashley Flores
Sarah Franzetti
Victoria Giorgio
Samantha Giuglianotti
Thomas Goddard
Bridget Golden
William Gross
Ilayna Guevrekian
Sarah Hautzinger
Robert Ibraham
Adele Irwin
Aron Kaplan
Jenna Kirkland
Peter Klensch
Kimberly Lee
Chloe Lucatuorto
Brendan McNerney
Billy Michaca
Rashad Moore
Joseph Mottola
Sophie Muller
Kayla Nieves
Megan O’Connor
Brandon O’Sullivan
Ariston (Joseph) Papeo
Matthew Pate
Michael Pecorella
Zita Petrahai
Joseph Pizzingrillo
Kassandra Pugliese
Ezra Rash
Michael Rawlings
Astrid Roe
Erica Romeo
Michael Russo
Alexa Schimp
Jessica Serviss
Brendan Shaw
Julia Shea
Jagjot Singh
Nicholas Smargiassi
Brendan Spagnuolo
Erin Stahley
Ashlyn Stone
Gina Varvaro
Anthony Vecchio
Nicholas Vota
Amanda Zoda
Chaninah Zweihorn

Latin Honors - LL.M.

Summa Cum Laude

Bankruptcy:
Alan Alexander

Transnational Legal Practice:
Aileen Gómez Figuereo

U.S. Legal Studies:
Jacey Johns

Magna Cum Laude

Bankruptcy:
Sean Johannsen

Transnational Legal Practice:
Zhenghong Wang

U.S. Legal Studies:
Maria Betancourt

Cum Laude

Transnational Legal Practice:
Marine Vaudaine

U.S. Legal Studies:
Navjot Kaur

Dean’s List – LL.M.

Bankruptcy:
Alan Alexander

Transnational Legal Practice:
Juliette Barbary
Aileen Gómez Figuereo
Xin Lu
Marine Vaudaine
Zhenghong Wang

U.S. Legal Studies:
Maria Betancourt
Navjot Kaur
Jacey Johns
Andrea Bohorquez Romero