UB Law Students Honored At Commencement

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Forty-eight graduates of the University at Buffalo School of Law received awards during the law school's 1998 commencement ceremony.

o Corinne A. Carey of Buffalo received The Max Koren Award, which honors the senior judged by the faculty to be the most outstanding member of the graduating class. This award is supported by a gift from the late M. Robert Koren, son of Max Koren, one-time chair of the UB Council and a 1944 UB law-school graduate.

Carey also received the The Justice Philip Halpern Award, which is given to a graduating senior for excellence in writing for the Buffalo Law Review, and a Law Faculty Award, which is presented by the faculty to those graduating seniors who have made outstanding contributions to the law-school community.

o Steven S. Grieco of Buffalo received The John N. Bennett Achievement Award for the member of the graduating class who, according to the faculty and the dean, has exemplified the highest standards of the profession by virtue of scholastic achievement, leadership and dedication to the ideals of the law school. Grieco also received The Robert J. Connelly Trial Technique Award recognizing those students who have the best performance record in the course in trial technique.

o Lourdes M. Ventura of Corona received The Dale S. Margulis Award and The Kenneth A. Gomez Memorial Award. The Margulis award recognizes the member of the graduating class who contributed the most to the law school and the community. The Kenneth A. Gomez Memorial Award is presented to the law student who contributed most to the goals of equality and justice for all minorities.

o Kathleen M. Bennett of Waterloo received the Charles Dautch Award as the graduating senior who demonstrated the greatest proficiency in courses, examinations and independent research in the law of real property. Bennett also received a Law Faculty Award.

o Jodyann Jackson of East Aurora received The Adolf Homburger Law Alumni Association Award as the graduating senior whose academic achievements in civil procedure and whose compassion for people best exemplifies the qualities that Adolf Homburger, a UB law school faculty member from 1960-77, sought to instill in his students.

o Angela M. Zwirecki of East Amherst received The Judge Matthew J. Jasen Appellate Practice Award for course work and Moot Court competition participation that showed outstanding achievement in appellate advocacy. Zwirecki also was elected to the Order of Barristers, a national oralist society whose members include students who have shown dedication and who have excelled in the art of oral advocacy and service to the Moot Court board. In addition, she received a Robert J. Connelly Trial Technique Award.

o James E. Hanlon of Clarence received The Laidlaw Law Alumni Association Award which is given to the students who, according to the faculty, have demonstrated the most outstanding performance in the area of commercial law.

o Kristin J. Long of Buffalo received The Birzon Prize in Clinical Legal Studies, recognizing her excellence in the clinical and trial advocacy program, and The David Kochery Award, which is given to graduating seniors who have taken an active part in the student community through service and involvement in one or more student organizations, and who have performed exceptionally well in courses in civil procedure and remedies. She also received The Lavender Gavel Award recognizing outstanding efforts and accomplishments in the pursuit of lesbian and gay visibility, dignity and civil rights, and a Law Faculty Award.

o Kathryn Bryk Friedman of Buffalo, received the Carlos C. Alden Award as the senior making the greatest contribution to the Buffalo Law Review.

o AnneMarie Bevilacqua of Buffalo received The Prentice-Hall Award for outstanding academic performance in the area of taxation.

o Jennifer L. Berger of Smithtown received The Maurice Frey Award and The Ethics Award. The Frey award recognizes the member of the graduating class whose academic performance in the area of family law is most exceptional. The Ethics Award recognizes either the "best written article, essay or other exposition on the subject of legal professional responsibility or legal ethics" or "a substantial action or activity in furtherance of legal professional responsibility or legal ethics." She also was elected to the Order of Barristers

o Jennifer L. DeCarli of Minsdale received the UB Law Alumni Association's GOLD Group Award for the graduating law student who has demonstrated outstanding leadership skills in advancing the mission of the law school and enhancing its reputation for excellence in legal education.

o Mickey H. Osterreicher of Williamsville was presented The Moot Evidence Award for the best performance in the area of evidence as determined by the faculty.

o Bridget E. Niland of Williamsville and Elaine M. Spaull of Rochester were joint recipients of The Judge William J. Regan Award. This award is presented to the member of the graduating class who has demonstrated the greatest proficiency in estates and surrogate's law, and who is motivated by a strong concern for public service and public welfare. Niland also received a Law Faculty Award.

o Frank J. Jacobson of Williamsville

o Jay S. Ovsiovitch of Amherst

o Kristin M. Nowadly of Orchard Park

o Shawn C. O'Buckley of Elmira

o Leila Hilal of Petoskey, Mich.

o D. Christopher Decker of Rochester. Decker also was elected to the Order of Barristers

o Erin M. Barclay of Rochester

o David R. Fallace of Amherst

o Jessica A. Desany of Buffalo

o Darci A. Falsioni of West Seneca

o Leanne M. Gramlich of Amherst

o James E. Hanlon of Clarence

o Thomas M. Kent of Williamsville. Kent also received The Robert J. Connelly Trial Technique Award.

o Christopher S. Nickson of Amherst. Nickson also received The Robert J. Connelly Trial Technique Award

o Max T. Raterman of Amherst

o Jennifer C. Ruppel of Buffalo

The following students received The Robert J. Connelly Trial Technique Awards recognizing the best performance record in the course in trial technique:

o Michael L. D'Amico of Cheektowaga

o Peter J. Eisenhauer of Buffalo

o Shannon M. Heneghan of West Seneca

o Jason P. Jaros of West Seneca

o Thomas P. Kawalec of Buffalo

o Robert L. LeHane of Poughkeepsie

o Eric C. Naegely of West Seneca

o Scott F. Riordan of Tonawanda

o Robert A. Scalione of Liverpool

o Stephen A. Sharkey of Olean

o Theresa M. Wolniewicz of Clarence Center