Awards and Honors

Special Recognition Awards

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.

Abigail Drummond 
Noa Cadet
Christopher Colbert

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.

Michaela Balboni 
Sadia Kauser
Justin Fuller

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.

Nana Nyantakyi

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.

Tyler Flaherty

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.

Kevin O'Connor

Michele G. Falkow Excellence in Legal Writing Award

The Michele G. Falkow Excellence in Legal Writing Award was 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 student who submits the best brief in the Legal Analysis, Writing and Research course.

Lianna Meehan

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.

Julianne Buff (J.D.)
Annmarie Gruick (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.

Harmonia Peet 

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.

Frederick Giovanelli (Property)
Ian Holtz (Property)
Panayiotis Xenakis (Property)
Sung Jae Hwang (Drafting: Real Estate Transactions) 
Jack Adams (Condos, Coops, and Homeowners Assoc.)
Christopher Colbert (Condos, Coops, and Homeowners Assoc.)
Yelena Khajekian (Condos, Coops, and Homeowners Assoc.)
Robert Konopka (Condos, Coops, and Homeowners Assoc.)
Vanessa Leung (Condos, Coops, and Homeowners Assoc.)
Alfred Polizzotto (Condos, Coops, and Homeowners 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.

Talia Gal-Osher

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.

Vanessa Leung

International Academy of Trial Lawyers Award

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

Nino Aspanadze
Katelynn Burke

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.

Kevin O'Connor

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.

Grace Browne
Julia Bryant
Alexis Fishman
Michelle Gonikman
Olivia Mukherjee
Jack Reilly
Justin Song

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.

Qianyuan Xu
Vanessa Leung 

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.

Chelsea Merrill

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.

Dmitri Orlov

Springer Legislative Award

Established by Adele I. Springer ’30 in honor of her brother, Jack Springer ’33 to encourage appreciation of the law-making process and the enactment of worthwhile legislation, and awarded to the student in the graduating class who achieves the highest grade in a legislation course.

Gulfam Dhillon
Jessica Dimattia
Alison Hnatow
Yelena Khajekian
Hope Salts

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.

Vincent Bartiromo
Christopher Colbert
Gulfam Dhillon
Sung Jae Hwang
Yelena Khajekian
Sarah Masheyev
Megan Mali
Alfred Polizzotto

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.

Abigail Drummond (Corporate Finance)
Vincent Bartiromo (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.

Justin Fuller

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.

Jonathan Schloth

CourtCall Awards for Advocacy

Awarded to the students in the Polestino Trial Advocacy Institute and the Moot Court Honor Society who received the highest grades in Trial Advocacy (PTAI) and Appellate Advocacy-Moot Court, respectively. 

Tayler Eynon (Appellate Advocacy)
Hailey Janysek (Trial Advocacy)

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.

Daniella Sesto (Appellate Advocacy)
Agustin Bujanda (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.

Lucas Immer

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.

Meghan Loftus

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.

Fiona Donovan

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.

Nicole Cummins
Linda Isis Fajardo Santana

Pro Bono 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.

Jack Adams
Rabab AlAjmi
Mari Bijimenian
Awa Camara
Jesper Chitsaz
Victoria Ciminera
Nicole Cummins
Federico Curbelo
Fiona Donovan
Melissa Esposito
Linda Isis Fajardo Santana
Sadie Flannery
Talia Gal-Osher
Kipp Garrett
Justin Gorgchuck
Alison Hnatow
Caroline Johnson
Amber Joyner
Lori Kanina
Sadia Kauser
Zhiqian Ke
Vanessa Leung
Nathalie Lindor
Natalie McIntosh
Rudolph Merlino
Bridget Murphy
Dmitri Orlov
Nadiyah Owens
Ameera Razak
Sloane Salina
Hope Salts
Gabriella Schwartz
Lizzie Spano
Amarachi Ubawike

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.

Jacqueline Montesino (Bankruptcy Advocacy Clinic)
Alexandra Malamud (Child Advocacy Clinic)
Harmonia Peet (Consumer Justice for the Elderly: Litigation Clinic)
Nicole Castillo Guiracocha (Criminal Defense and Advocacy Clinic)
Justin Fuller (Criminal Defense and Advocacy Clinic)
Alexis Brooker (Domestic Violence Litigation Clinic)
Sadia Kauser (Economic Justice Clinic)
Anthony Giliberti (Prosecution Clinic)
Federico Curbelo (Refugee and Immigrant Rights Litigation Clinic)
Maxwell Pitagno (Securities Arbitration Clinic)
Nadiyah Owens (Tenants’ Rights Advocacy Clinic)

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.

Annmarie Gruick (Bankruptcy)
Miguel Alejandro Maldonado Santelises (Transnational Legal Practice)
Zhanna Striano (U.S. Legal Studies)

Applied Legal Skills Award

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

Miguel Alejandro Maldonado Santelises
Iris Cueto Soriano
Merle Evers
Zhanna Striano

Excellence in Legal Writing Award

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

Merle Evers

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.

Mara Dunca
Merle Evers
Hugo Planchon

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.

Merle Evers (Transnational Legal Practice)
Aylin Castillo (U.S. Legal Studies) 

Latin Honors - J.D.

Summa Cum Laude

Vincent Bartiromo
Tyler Flaherty
Talia Gal-Osher

Magna Cum Laude

Kristen Carolan
Gulfam Dhillon
Abigail Drummond
Michelle Gonikman
Ian Holtz
Nikki Junda
Riki Markowitz
Chelsea Merrill
Alfred Polizzotto
Daniella Sesto

Cum Laude

John Adinolfi
Joseph Alfonzetti
Ingrid Angulo
Nino Aspanadze
Shirin Benyaminpour
Hailey Brenner
Arianna Carroll
Victoria Ciminera
Christopher Colbert
Declan Considine
Federico Curbelo
Tiffany Deplas
Luc DeVoe
Mary Ehlbeck
Tayler Eynon
Justin Fuller
Kipp Garrett
Justin Gorgchuck
Scott Hatch
Sung Jae Hwang
Lucas Immer
Amber Joyner
Yelena Khajekian
Vanessa Leung
Giuseppina Mammoliti
Lindsay McCarthy
Shannon McGarr
Harmonia Peet
Maxwell Pitagno
Daniel Ruderman
Robert Safonte
Jonathan Schloth
Cole Snyder
Justin Song
Jordan Strudler
Hamza Suhail
Panayiotis Xenakis
Qianyuan Xu

Dean’s List - J.D.

John Adinolfi
Joseph Alfonzetti
Ingrid Angulo
Nino Aspanadze
Vincent Bartiromo
Shirin Benyaminpour
Hailey Brenner
Kristen Carolan
Arianna Carroll
Victoria Ciminera
Caitlin Cobb
Christopher Colbert
Declan Considine
Federico Curbelo
Tiffany Deplas
Luc DeVoe
Gulfam Dhillon
Abigail Drummond
Mary Ehlbeck
Tayler Eynon
Tyler Flaherty
Justin Fuller
Talia Gal-Osher
Kipp Garrett
Frederick Giovanelli
Michelle Gonikman
Justin Gorgchuck
Scott Hatch
Ian Holtz
Sung Jae Hwang
Lucas Immer
Amber Joyner
Nikki Junda
Merve Kadayifci
Lori Kanina
Zhiqian Ke
Yelena Khajekian
Benjamin Kittay
Vanessa Leung
Giuseppina Mammoliti
Riki Markowitz
Sarah Masheyev
Lindsay McCarthy
Shannon McGarr
Chelsea Merrill
Bridget Murphy
Harmonia Peet
Maxwell Pitagno
Alfred Polizzotto
Sarah Qasir
Kellene Rottenberger
Daniel Ruderman
Robert Safonte
Jonathan Schloth
Rachel Semkhayeva
Daniella Sesto
Cole Snyder
Justin Song
Elizabeth Spano
Jordan Strudler
Hamza Suhail
Panayiotis Xenakis
Qianyuan Xu

Latin Honors - LL.M.

Summa Cum Laude

Transnational Legal Practice:
Miguel Alejandro Maldonado Santelises

U.S. Legal Studies:
Noushin Chowdhury
Zhanna Striano

Magna Cum Laude

Bankruptcy:
Annmarie Gruick

Transnational Legal Practice:
Merle Evers
Hugo Planchon

U.S. Legal Studies:
Aleyna Cakir Dimoglu
Mohamed Ismail

Cum Laude

Transnational Legal Practice:
Christy Tinawi

U.S. Legal Studies:
Iris Cueto Soriano
Flavia Marcos Cabaco

Dean’s List – LL.M.

Bankruptcy:
Annmarie Gruick

Transnational Legal Practice:
Miguel Alejandro Maldonado Santelises
Merle Evers
Hugo Planchon

U.S. Legal Studies:
Sarah Ait Zenati
Khadija Basharat
Aleyna Cakir Dimoglu
Noushin Chowdhury
Iris Cueto Soriano
Mohamed Ismail
Flavia Marcos Cabaco
Zhanna Striano