UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON
LAW CENTER
DEAN’S AWARDS
2012
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
5:00 PM
Krost Auditorium
COVER GRAPHICS: Sheila Childers
Gus A. Schill, Jr. Scholarship for
Ethics in Representation
The purpose of this scholarship is to
recognize personal and professional
attributes that contribute to excellence
in the practicing attorney. The recipient
demonstrates academic promise,
financial need, leadership potential,
social conscience, and commitment to
underserved populations.
Donor:Anonymous
Recipient: Nancy M. Molina
Gus A. Schill, Jr. Maritime Law and
Professionalism Scholarship
Awarded to a third year student in
recognition of his dedication to the study
of maritime law and professionalism.
Donor:
Friends of Gus A. Schill
Recipient: J. Tanner Honea
Ron Bass Scholarship
The Ron Bass scholarship is given in
memory of Ron Bass, a solo practitioner
who had a strong belief in civil liberties
and a sincere interest in making a
positive difference in his clients’ lives.
This scholarship will be awarded to a
continuing student who shows a sincere
interest in civil liberties and/or making a
difference in others’ lives as demonstrated
through volunteer activities, coursework,
and other relevant factors, and is in need
of scholarship support for the continuation
of her education.
Donor:
Meyer Levy Charitable Foundation
Recipient: Casey L. Jordan
Marvin Nathan ’66 Fellowship
Awarded to a student to work as a fellow
with the Anti-Defamation League.
Donor:
Marlene Nathan Meyerson Family Foundation & Marvin Nathan
Recipient: Minator Azemi
Robert C. Sohns ‘72 Fellowship
Awarded to a student who has shown
interest in public service. This student will
serve as a summer intern at Lone Star Legal
Aid.
Donor:
Robert C. Sohns
Recipient: Alexander C. Hunt
Jackson Lewis Scholarship
Awarded to a student from a group
underrepresented in the legal profession
and who has demonstrated an interest
in the study and practice of labor and
employment law.
Donor:
Jackson Lewis LLP
Recipient: Tracie M. Hall
Judge Mary Bacon ‘72 Scholarship
Awarded to a current law student
exemplifying professionalism while
maintaining two generation households
living at the same residence.
Donor:
Friends and Family of Judge Mary Bacon
Recipient: Suchismita Pahi
Gulf Coast Power Association (GCPA)
David Oliver Memorial Scholarship
Awarded to students who have excelled in
coursework or written papers that have a
significant electricity component.
Donor:
Gulf Coast Power Association
Recipients: Andrew S. Campbell
Jesica Rivero Gilbert
Annie Kwan
Nathan W. Stone
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Houston Bar Association, Oil, Gas &
Mineral Law Scholarship
Awarded to a student who has
demonstrated outstanding academic
achievement and an interest in Oil and Gas.
Donor:
HBA Oil, Gas & Mineral Section
Recipient: Natasha B. Breaux
Texas State Bar Oil and Gas Section
Scholarship
Awarded to a student who has
demonstrated outstanding academic
achievement and an interest in Oil and Gas.
Donor:
Texas State Bar Oil and Gas Section
Recipients: Lindsey F. Blankenau
Jillian M. Rae
ConocoPhillips Energy Studies Award
Awarded to a third year law student in the
Energy Studies Program on the basis of
scholarship and interest in the field.
Donor:
ConocoPhillips, Inc.
Recipient: Ryan T. Becker
Jacqueline Lang Weaver Excellence
Award in Oil & Gas
Awarded to the student who has
demonstrated the highest degree of
excellence in studies relating to the field of
Oil and Gas Law.
Donor:
James L. Connor, III
Recipient: Benjamin W. Walther
Buck J. Wynne Memorial Scholarship
The State Bar of Texas Environmental
and Natural Resources Law Section
established this scholarship in memory of
Buck J. Wynne, a prominent environmental
attorney who died in 1996. It is awarded
to the top students in introductory
environmental law classes.
Donor:
State Bar of Texas Environmental and Natural
Resources Law Section
Recipient: Jennifer C. Smith
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James E. Crowther Scholarship
Awarded to students committed to public
interest work.
Donor:
The Hobby Foundation
Recipients: Cara H. Johnson
Ryan C. Myers
Lisa M. Steffek
AT&T Pro Bono Fellowship
This fellowship is awarded to a student
who has a commitment to public service
and will be working full-time for a public
interest or government agency during the
summer.
Donor:
AT&T Services, Inc.
Recipient: Cara H. Johnson
Sondra Tennessee Scholarship
Awarded to a law student who has
overcome hardships and demonstrated
commitment to the study of law.
Donor:Anonymous
Recipient: Ollachi Enzé Holman
Barbara H. Fritz Scholarship
Awarded to a student who has shown
academic execellence, financial need and
a non-traditional educational path, in
fulfilling professional aspirations.
Donor:
The Family and Friends of Barbara H. Fritz
Recipient: Lisa M. Steffek
Celia Figueroa ‘94 Memorial
Scholarship
The Celia Figueroa Scholarship was
established in honor of the late Celia
Figueroa by her family, friends, and
employer, BBVA Bancomer USA, for
whom she served as General Counsel.
The Scholarship is to be awarded annually
to a UHLC student who has displayed
excellence in her studies and service to the
Law Center community. Preference will be
given to a 2L who has family obligations
and/or whose career involves international
business experience.
Donor:
Recipient:
Bancomer Transfer Services, Inc. and Friends and Family of Celia Figueroa
Irma de Jesus Jacobson
Nancy Snyder-Nepo ‘00 Scholarship
In memory of Nancy Snyder-Nepo, a
lawyer and mother, who lost her life to
cancer at a young age. This scholarship is
awarded to provide financial assistance for
a Law Center student who is balancing the
role of parent and student.
Donor:
Family and Friends of Nancy Snyder-Nepo
Recipient: Megan L. Davis
Mr. and Mrs. Larry W. Fultz
Memorial Scholarship
Awarded to students who have
demonstrated outstanding academic
achievement.
Donor:
Friends of Mr. and Mrs. Larry W. Fultz
Recipients: Nicholas Brown
Melissa R. Morris
Juliana Ong
Michael D. Stewart
Srimath S. Subasinghe
Samson Memorial Animal Law
Scholarship
This scholarship is in memory of Moe and
Louis Nasr’s beloved German Shepherd
dog, Samson. Awarded to a student who
has demonstrated a passion for and
commitment to animal advocacy.
Donor:
Mr. & Mrs. Moe Nasr
Recipient: Casey E. Holder
Andy B. Thigpen ‘93 Scholarship
Andrew “Andy” Byron Thigpen ‘93
believed in obtaining justice for “the little
guy” through practicing law with honor.
He was inspired by both literature and
attorneys around him who practiced with
integrity. This scholarship is awarded
to the student who wrote the best essay
describing her extracurricular activities and
how she balances her “life in the law” with
her personal life.
Donor:
Friends of Andy Thigpen
Recipient: Ashley M. Hymel
Phyllis Randolph Frye Writing
Competition Award
For the best paper in topics relating to
an area of law (i.e. family, employment,
education K-12, insurance, criminal)
dealing with gender identity or gender
expression, with preference given to
transgender and intersex issues.
Donor:
Judge Phyllis R. Frye
Recipient: Cristian Rosas-Grillet, “Born This Way: A Comparison of the Asylum Law of the United States, Canada, and the United
Kingdom as Applied to
Transgender Individuals”
Ewer-Oren J.D. Health Law Writing
Award
Awarded to a J.D. student who produced
the best Health Law-related research paper.
Donor:
Professor Laura Oren
Recipient: 1st Place - Stacey Neumann, “Traumatic Brain Injury and Football: Tackling the Issue of Concussions and Football Helmet Safety”
2nd Place - Qiang Hao, “Who Has Control Over Your Gene? – Privacy and Security Concerns of Individual Whole Genome Information in an E-Health Era”
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Ann Dinsmore Forman AWIL Award
In memory of the co-founder and
founding president of the Association of
Women in Law, Ann Dinsmore Forman,
this award is presented to the students
who best exemplify advocacy of matters
of particular concern to the Association of
Women in Law.
Donor:
Friends of Ann Dinsmore Forman
Recipients: Kathy M. Goodwin
Cara H. Johnson
Ann Dinsmore Forman Memorial
Child Advocacy Award
Ann Forman spent nearly her entire
professional life in the Travis County
District Attorney’s Office in its unit
devoted to the protection of abused and
neglected children. She was a tireless
advocate for her charges, and an inspiration
to all who knew her. This scholarship is
awarded to the students whose careers
demonstrate a high level of commitment
to the welfare of abused or neglected
children, or other children with special
needs. Donor:
Friends of Ann Dinsmore Forman Recipients: Shiloh A. Carter
Cara H. Johnson
Alumni Association Scholarship
Awarded to students exhibiting
leadership, character and involvement in
extracurricular activities. Preference is
given to students who have volunteered
with the Law Gala and Auction.
Donor:
Annual Law Gala and Auction
Recipients: Ashley D. Foret
Tamecia G. Harris
Katherine L. Petroski
Claire V. Smith Scholarship
Awarded to assist a law student in fulfilling
her professional aspirations.
Donor:
Claire V. Smith Charitable Foundation
Recipient: Mary Catherine G. Isensee
Yale Rosenberg Memorial Prize
Awarded for the best student paper in
Administrative Law, Civil Procedure,
Federal Jusirdiction or Jewish Law.
Donor:
Friends of Yale Rosenberg
Recipients: David J. Hrncir, “Regulating Through Rules: Suggested Changes in the Federal
Regulation of Veterinary
Compounding”
Matthew C. Hoffman, “Fast’s
Four Factors: A Solution to
Similarly Situated Discovery
Disputes in FLSA Collective
Actions”
Prudential Life Insurance Scholarship
Awarded to students in the Health Law
Program who have exhibited academic
excellence.
Donor:
Prudential Life Insurance Company
Recipients: Stephanie M. Eberhardt
Viana Hodge
Ryan R. Ingraham
Houston Intellectual Property Law
Association (HIPLA) Scholarship
Awarded to students who demonstrate
interest in intellectual property through
coursework, prior internships, prior
employment and participation in student
organizations.
Donor:HIPLA
Recipients: Blaine A. Larson
Priya G. Prasad
Eleanor L. Tyson
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UH Law Center AIPLEF Jan Jancin
Award 2010 Nominee
Awarded to the Law Center’s sole nominee
to a national scholarship competition
conducted by the American Intellectual
Property Law Education Foundation
(AIPLEF), an organization formed by the
nation’s preeminent IP bar organization,
the American Intellectual Property Law
Association (AIPLA). The scholarship is
in honor of the late Jan Jancin, who served
not only as President of AIPLA, but served
with distinction in several other leadership
roles within the intellectual property bar.
Donor:
Institute for Intellectual Property and Information
Law
Recipient: Darren Smith
IPIL Co-Directors Award
Awarded for the best student‑authored
paper in the field of intellectual property
and information law from a seminar course
taught by IPIL core faculty.
Donor:
Institute for Intellectual Property and Information
Law
Recipient: Blake D. Stovall
UH Law Center 2010 IPIL Award for
Distinguished Accomplishment
Awarded to a student who has exemplified
excellence in intellectual property
academic studies and is interested in
pursuing a career in intellectual property or
information law.
Donor:
Institute for Intellectual Property and Information
Law
Recipient: Priya G. Prasad
Houston Bar Association, Corporate
Counsel Section Award
Awarded to a current law student who
demonstrates academic merit and an
interest in corporate law through course
work.
Donor:
HBA Corporate Counsel Section
Recipient: Juliana Ong
IPSO Service Award
Awarded to a member of the Intellectual
Property Student Organization (IPSO)
for outstanding contributions to the
community of students studying
intellectual property and information law
at the Law Center.
Donor:
Institute for Intellectual Property and Information
Law
Recipient: Sujohn Das
Houston Bar Association, Probate,
Trusts and Estates Award
Awarded to a law student who has shown
exemplary success in coursework related to
probate.
Donor:
HBA Probate, Trusts & Estates Section
Recipient: Robert S. Griffin
Houston Bar Association - Real
Estate Law Section Award
Awarded to the top student in advanced
Real Estate courses.
Donor:
HBA Real Estate Law Section
Recipient: Briggs A. Knight
Black Law Student Association
(BLSA) Alumni Scholarship
This award was established by the BLSA
Alumni to assist a student member of the
organization in her quest for professional
success.
Donor:
Alumni of the Black Law Students Association
Recipient: Janese N. Golden-Dews
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Sam Williamson Fellowship in
Immigration Law
This scholarship was created in memory
of Sam Williamson, a tireless advocate
for immigrants. His career spanned more
than five decades during which he fought
fiercely for the rights of his clients. It is
awarded to a student who is committed to
the practice of immigration law.
Donor:
Family and friends of
Sam Williamson
Recipient: Dyan E. Parada
Joseph Vail Memorial Scholarship
To honor the memory of Joseph Vail,
Director of the Immigration Clinic,
this award is given to a student who has
demonstrated interest in immigration
law and also great advocacy on behalf
of immigrants through course work and
involvement with the clinic.
Donor:
Friends and Family of
Joseph Vail
Recipient: Andrea L. Penedo
Irving J. Weiner Memorial Scholarship
Awarded to a student working in the Legal
Aid Clinic
Donor:
Mrs. Irving J. Weiner and friends of Irving J. Weiner
Recipient: Sarah P. Loeffler
ALI-ABA Scholarship and Leadership
Award
Awarded to the law student in the
graduating class who best represents a
combination of scholarship and leadership.
Donor:
American Law Institute-ABA Committee on Continuing
Professional Education
Recipient: Garrett Gibson
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American Bankruptcy Institute Medal
of Excellence
Awarded to the student who receives the
highest grade in Bankruptcy.
Donor:
Thatcher Proffitt & Wood LLP
Recipient: Pamela L.Taylor
DeAnna Mack’08 Memorial
Scholarship
This scholarship is awarded in memory
of DeAnna Mack who died at young age
shortly after graduating from the Law
Center.
Donor:
Jones McClure Publishing, Inc. and Friends and
Family of DeAnna Mack
Recipient: Brandi J. Croffie
Irene Merker Rosenberg Child
Advocacy Scholarship
In memory of Irene Merker Rosenberg,
a scholar and advocate of children’s
rights, this scholarship is designed for
law students who are interested in
working in the area of children and the
law. In addition to providing a financial
scholarship the program also provides
advanced educational opportunities, career
counseling and year-round employment
opportunities to students committed to
advancing the legal interests of children.
Donor:
University of Houston Law Center
Recipients: Shiloh A. Carter
Alexander C. Hunt
Cara H. Johnson
Janice Y. Lu
Katherine B. Quinn
Ubani E. Ukuku
Chloe L. Walker
Patricia H. Zesut
Judge Shearn Smith Scholarship
Awarded to second- and third- year law
students who have demonstrated the greatest improvement in the study of law.
Donor:
Friends of Judge Shearn Smith
Recipients: James D. Cypert
Briana L. Deane
Sabrina K. Johnson
Jordan M. Rolfe
Barksdale Stevens Award
Awarded to a deserving third- year law
student who is active and shows interest in
the Law Center.
Donor:
BakerBotts LLP
Recipient: Tamecia G. Harris
Caroline Hirsch (Vanik) Beers ‘97
Award
Awarded to law students who are single
parents and have a love of the law and a
committment to social service.
Donor:
Lauren and Lindsay Vanik and Caroline Vanik Beers
Recipients: Ollachi Enzé Holman
Vi T. Tran
J. Huey O’Toole Award
Awarded to a student of outstanding
character who has exhibited academic
excellence in family law courses.
Donor:
Friends and family of
J. Huey O’Toole
Recipient: Sarah P. Loeffler
Gil Epstein ‘94 Scholarship
Awarded to a student who plans to be a
criminal lawyer and has shown the greatest
promise in that regard.
Donor:
Friends and Family of Gil Epstein
Recipient: Mallory A. Mc Kenney
Joan Garfinkel Glantz Scholarship
Awarded for the best paper on Civil
Liberties.
Donor:
Professor Irene Rosenberg, Fay Garfinkel
Recipient: Marcella C. Burke
John O’Quinn ‘67 Memorial
Scholarship
In memory of John O’Quinn, one the
nations leading attorneys, this scholarship
is awarded to a deserving student who is
involved in the Houston Law Review and
The Advocates.
Donor:
The John O’Quinn Memorial Fund
Recipient: Frank O. Carroll, III
International Academy of Trial
Lawyers Award
Awarded to a student explemifying
outstanding ability in courtroom advocacy.
Donor:
Mr. Donald F. O’Brien
Recipient: Whitney D. Wester
The Order of the Barristers
The Order of Barristers is a national
honorary organization whose purpose
is the encouragement of oral advocacy
and brief writing skills through effective
law school oral advocacy programs. The
Order also provides national recognition
for individuals who have excelled in
advocacy and service at their respective
schools. In 1973, Martindale-Hubbell,
Inc. acknowledged the distinction of
being selected to membership in the
Order by agreeing to list it among the
scholastic distinctions included in a lawyer’s
biographical sketch.
Recipients: Frank O. Carroll, III
Matthew A. Copeland
Garrett Gibson
Bradford J. Hendrickson
Kelsey Ann King
Mark E. Mitchell
Allison E. Moore
Dennis Siaw-Lattey
Continued
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Whitney D. Wester
Andrea Victoria Ruth Zepeda
James Edmund Kemp Scholarship
In memory of James Edmund Kemp, this
scholarship was created to to provide
financial assistance to UH Law Center
students who are balancing financing their
legal education along with other financial
obligations.
Donor:
Judy Amonett (‘03)
Recipients: Rebecca Farrell
Tracie M. Hall
Jerry W. Mason
Pegah Rahgozar
W. Harold Sellers Scholarship
Awarded to a student who demonstrates
strong academics and financial need.
Donor:
W. Harold Sellers
Recipient: Kausthub Kumar
Robert Allen Memorial Student
Excellence Fund
In memory of Robert Allen, this
scholarship was established to provide
assistance to a part-time student who has a
passion for the law.
Donor:
Elizabeth Allen
Recipient: Shiloh A. Carter
Nathan, Sommers & Jacobs
Scholarship
Awarded to a student who has
demonstrated academic achievement and a
commitment to the Law Center.
Donor:
Nathan, Sommers & Jacobs,
A professional corporation
Recipient: Michael J. Hoffman
Hutcheson & Grundy Scholarship
Awarded to assist a second year student
to fulfill professional aspirations based on
demonstrated leadership, extracurricular
involvement and potential for successful
study in law school.
Donor:
Hutcheson & Grundy LLP
Recipient: Jeffrey S. Adams
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Alicia Jewel / Mehaffey & Weber
Scholarship
In memory of Alicia Jewell a 1990 graduate
who lost her life in an automobile accident.
This scholarship was created to assist
an outstanding 1L or 2L female student
who shows not only scholarship but also
leadership abilities and who is in need of
scholarship support for the continuation of
her education.
Donor:
Mehaffey & Weber and Friends of Alicia Jewell
Recipient: Nancy M. Molina
Murray M. Nusynowitz Memorial
Fund
Awarded to law students who are active in
the recruitment and admissions process.
Donor:
Friends and Family of Murray M. Nusynowitz
Recipients: Nandini Kavuri
Aman Fissihaie
National Order of Scribes
Awarded to graduating law students
who demonstrate the highest levels of
professionalism and are outstanding legal
writers.
Donor:
Order of Scribes
Recipients: Eileen Boyce
Cory Fox
Matthew Hoffman
Legal Research & Writing Best Brief
Award
Awarded to the best appellate brief written
by current first students. Briefs were judged
by practicing attorneys in the Houston
area.
Donor: Liskow & Lewis
Recipient: Michael J. Hoffman
LEX AWARDS
Awarded to students receiving the highest grade in a first year course.
Recipients:
Constitutional Law
Contracts
Criminal Law
Andrew S. Campbell
Scott P. Armstrong
Shaun A. Cassin
Erin Monroe
Nicholas Brown
David J. Hrncir
Ryan C. Myers
Laura W. Duncan
Lisa M. Scharf
Michael D. Stewart
Modinat A. Kotun
Katherine M. Witty
Michael D. Poynter
Procedure I Property
Torts
Sanjay Bapat
Lindsey F. Blankenau
Ashlin C. Aldinger
Nicholas Brown
Michael D. Stewart
Nicholas Brown Alyssa J. Ladd
Srimath S. Subasinghe
Megan A. Ceder
Joshua D. Lee
Robert D. Ward
Scott W. Kendall
Srimath S. Subasinghe
Kourtney L. Osegueda
David J. Rusk
Legal Research and Writing
Dino Arslanagic
Daniel F. Dries
Poh Cheng Neoh
Katherine A. Barnhill
Laura W. Duncan
Clint R. Reed
Yanet M. Benitez
Rissel C. Durand
Rebekah D. Reneau
Evan C. Blankenau
Kate C. Ferrell
Islara U. Rodriguez
Natasha B. Breaux
Kelly R. Ferrell
Michael I. Schneider
Nicholas Brown
Edward B. Goolsby
Benjamin F. Smith
Andrew C. Bueso
Michael J. Hoffman
Joseph R. Struble
Shaun A. Cassin
Lee B. Hunt
Srimath S. Subasinghe
Brendan Conley
Zeeshan H. Malik
Robert D. Ward
Peter D. Danysh
Daniela T. Martinez
Emily L. Williams
Kelsey Del Rio
Sofia Morales
Administrative Law
Intro to American Law
Law Practice Strategies
Jonathan H. Harder
Tiago António Martins Da Cruz Jillian M. Rae
Angela S. Odensky
Poverty Law Practice
Katherine A. Barnhill
Natasha B. Breaux
Jennifer B. Caplan
Sandra L. Garcia Statutory Interpretation & Reasoning
David J. Hrncir
Texas Consumer Law
Davis A. Zapffe
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2012 SUMMER PUBLIC
INTEREST FELLOWS
Awarded for public interest work with an agency that has limited financial support.
Phillip A. Baggett
Lillian A. Baker
Joshua A. Barron
Yanet M. Benitez
Darren A. Braun
Paige A. Cantrell
Shiloh A. Carter
Amy D. Demmler
Stephanie M. Eberhardt
Mili Gosar
Tracie M. Hall L. Ariell Hardy
Brandy A. Howard
Cara H. Johnson
Paul Kharmats
Blair J. Leake
Olivia R. Mathias
Nancy M. Molina
Ballari Mukherjee
Kevin D. O’Brien
Emma R. Raimi-Zlatic
Justin K. Ratley
Amir Roohi
Jenna S. Saldana
James M. Santangelo
Lisa M. Steffek
Alexandra L.Vickery
Drew J. Willey
Julia Y. Zhang
Texas Innocence Network (Non-Capital Division)
United States Embassy, Niamey, Niger
US Attorney’s Office, District of Nevada
Disability Rights Texas
Blair County District Attorney’s Office
PEMEX
Galveston County District Attorney’s Office
Harris County District Attorney’s Office
US Attorney’s Office – SD Texas
Children at Risk
Lone Star Legal Aid
US Attorney’s Office – SD Texas
City of Austin
Bay Area Legal Aid
Lone Star Legal Aid
Harris County District Attorney’s Office
Kids in Need of Defense, Inc.
Disability Rights Texas
TIRR Memorial Hermann – ILRU
Texas Rio Grande Legal Aid – Houston
United States Citizenship and Immigration Services
Harris County District Attorney’s Office
Catholic Charities of Central Texas
Disability Rights Texas
Harris County District Attorney’s Office
Center for Children, Law & Policy
DHS, ICE, Office of Chief Counsel
Texas Innocence Network (Capital Division)
Beijing Arbitration Commission