UB Law Students Honored At Commencement

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Thirty-nine graduates of the UB Law School received awards during the school's 111th commencement ceremony held on May 14.

The graduating class presented the annual faculty award to Melinda Saran of Amherst, associate dean for student services, and the staff award to Barb Premielewski of Williamsville, who is with the copy center.

Student award winners were:

• Sheila Sullivan Dickinson of Buffalo and Kathlene Marie Loconti of Brantingham jointly received The Max Koren Award, given to the outstanding member of the graduating class who, in the judgment of 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. 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.

Loconti also received the Professor Louis DelCotto Award given to the student whose academic performance in the area of taxation is outstanding as recommended by the faculty.

• Elizabeth Brady Snyder of West Lunfield and Dickinson jointly received The Dale S. Margulis Award recognizing members of the graduating class who contributed the most to the law school and the community.

Dickinson also received the Lavender Gavel Award recognizing outstanding efforts and accomplishments in the pursuit of lesbian and gay visibility, dignity and civil rights.

• Robin Dorthea Barovick of Buffalo received The John N. Bennett Achievement Award for the member of the graduating class who demonstrated the highest scholastic achievement. She also received the Justice Philip Halpern Award, which is given to a graduating senior for excellence in writing for the Buffalo Law Review.

• Jeremy Edward Reis of Snyder received the Harry A. Rachlin Prize in Real Property Law and Real Estate Transactions given to students who exhibit excellence in research, clinical and academic performance in the areas of real property law, housing, housing finance and real estate transactions.

• Christopher William McMaster of North Tonawanda received the American Bankruptcy Institute Medal for Excellence in Bankruptcy for demonstrating excellence in the study of bankruptcy law.

• Bryan James Maggs of Blasdell received the Birzon Prize in Clinical Legal Studies for excellence in the clinical and trial advocacy program. He also received The Robert J. Connelly Trial Technique Award recognizing students who have the best performance records in the course in trial technique.

• David Allan Bauer of Sugar Grove, Pa., and Wendy Kay Schuster of Buffalo jointly received The Charles Dautch Award as graduating seniors who demonstrated the greatest proficiency in courses, examinations and independent research in the law of real property.

• David Patrick Kelly of Naples received The Maurice Frey Award recognizing the member of the graduating class whose academic performance in the area of family law is most exceptional.

• Donald Collins Pingleton, III of Buffalo received the Edith and David Goldstein Award for outstanding performance in courses involving debtor-creditor and bankruptcy law. He also received The Law Faculty Award recognizing graduating students who have made outstanding contributions to the law-school community.

• Andrew Anthony Zakrocki of East Rockaway received the Judge Matthew J. Jasen Appellate Practice Award for course work and Moot Court-competition participation that showed outstanding achievement in appellate advocacy. He also was elected to The Order of Barristers, a national oralists honors society whose members include students who have shown dedication and excelled in the art of oral advocacy and service to the Moot Court Board.

• Carolyn Gail Goodwin of Brookline, Mass., received the Adolf Homburger Law Alumni Association Award as the graduating senior whose academic achievements in civil procedure and 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. She also received The David Kochery Award as the graduating senior who has taken an active part in the student community through service and involvement in one or more student organizations, and who has performed exceptionally well in courses in civil procedure and remedies.

Goodwin also received The Linda S. Reynolds Award presented to a graduating senior who has demonstrated an exceptional commitment to equal justice for the poor.

• John Christian Godsoe of Pawling received the Laidlaw Law Alumni Association Award given to the student who has demonstrated the most outstanding performance in the area of commercial law

• Jay Marcus Tiftickjian of Williamsville received the Moot Evidence Award for the best performance in the area of evidence

• Adam Jarrod Fumarola of Homer received The Judge William J. Regan Award presented to the member of the graduating class who has demonstrated the greatest proficiency in estates and surrogate law, and who is motivated by strong concerns for public service and public welfare

• Daniel Wells Morse of Buffalo received the New York State Bar Association Law Student Ethics Award recognizing 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

• MK Gaedeke Roland of Snyder received the Carlos C. Alden Award as the senior making the greatest contribution to the Buffalo Law Review. Roland also received the Law Faculty Award recognizing graduating students who have made outstanding contributions to the law school community

• James Navarro, III of Amherst received the Kenneth A. Gomez Memorial Award presented to the law student who contributes to goals of equality and justice for all minorities

• Stephanie Ann Williams-Torres of Buffalo received The Minority Bar Association of Western New York Award recognizing a member of the graduating class who has exemplified high standards of the profession through scholastic achievement and leadership, and demonstrated a significant commitment to effectuating changes within the legal system to address the needs of the minority community

• Maureen Elizabeth Flynn of Buffalo received The National Association of Women Lawyers Award given to the outstanding law graduate who has shown superior academic achievement and has contributed to the advancement of women in society

• Irene Chiu of Amherst received the UB Law Alumni Association GOLD Group Award recognizing a 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. She also received the Law Faculty Award.

Receiving The Robert J. Connelly Trial Technique Award that recognizes the best performance record in the course in trial technique were:

• James Miles Appler, III of Milton

• Karyn Elizabeth Connolly of Buffalo and Dana Adam Lundberg of Frewsburg, who also were elected to The Order of Barristers.

• Courtney Ann Goldstein of Rochester

• Anthony Leroy Pendergrass of the Bronx

• Margot Penfold Schoenborn of Buffalo

• Leslie Elizabeth Swift of Buffalo

Receiving Law Faculty Awards, which are presented to graduating seniors who have made outstanding contributions to the Law School community, were:

• Kevin Hsi of Wappingers Falls

• Michele Mulroy Kraynik of Le Roy

• Patrick Joseph Long of Getzville

• Jennifer Joy Snyder of Buffalo

Elected to The Order of Barristers, a national oralists honors 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, were:

• Megan Mary Herstek of Niagara Falls

• Mary Ann Holden of Elmira

• Brian Scott McGrath of Lowville

• Michelle Lee McKee of Depew

• Rajni A. Narasi of East Amherst

• Kelly Jean Phillips of Tonawanda

• Sonal M. Rana of East Amherst