UB Law Students Honored at Commencement

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Fifty-seven students at the University at Buffalo Law School received awards during the school's 113th commencement ceremony held on May 11.

Student award winners were:

o Patrick G. Radel of Williamsville, received the Law School's top award, 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. Radel also received the Judge Matthew J. Jasen Appellate Practice Award for course work and Moot Court-competition participation that showed outstanding achievement in appellate advocacy.

o Erin E. Popovich-Fontana of Grand Island and Ryan A. McPherson of East Aurora shared the John N. Bennett Achievement Award for the member of the graduating class who demonstrated the highest scholastic achievement. Popovich-Fontana 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.

o Rashondra M. Jackson of Amherst received the Dale S. Margulis Award recognizing members of the graduating class who contributed the most to the law school and the community. Jackson also 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.

o Emily A. Vella of Holland received the Birzon Prize in Clinical Legal Studies for excellence in the clinical and trial advocacy program.

o Christopher A. Schenk of Kenmore received the American Bankruptcy Institute Medal for Excellence in Bankruptcy for demonstrating excellence in the study of bankruptcy law.

o Christopher E. Copeland of Gainesville, George Hajduczok of Lancaster and Thomas E. Popek of Orchard Park received the American Bar Association and the Bureau of National Affairs Award for Excellence in the Study of Intellectual Property Law presented to honor superior academic performance and encourage student interest in the field of intellectual property law.

o Joanna Dickinson of Buffalo, James S. Skloda of Cicero and Andrew J. Blanton of Rochester received American Bar Association and the Bureau of National Affairs Award for Excellence in the Study of Labor and Employment Law presented to honor superior academic performance and encourage student interest in the field of labor and employment law. Dickinson also received the Robert Connelly Trial Technique Award recognizing the best performance record in the course in trial technique.

o Michael P. Joy of North Tonawanda 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. Joy also received the Moot Evidence Award for the best performance in the area of evidence and the Harry A. Rachlin Prize in Property 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.

o Laura Ann Kelley of North Tonawanda and Kim Koski Taylor of West Henrietta received the Maurice Frey Award recognizing the members of the graduating class whose academic performance in the area of family law is most exceptional. Taylor also received the Robert Connelly Trial Technique Award recognizing the best performance record in the course in trial technique.

o Deanna L. DeVries of Amherst received the Edith and David Goldstein Award for outstanding performance in courses involving debtor-creditor and bankruptcy law.

o Marina Belaya of Williamsville and James C. Thoman of Glenwood received the Thomas E. Headrick "Trees and Forest" Award given to the student of corporate finance who most clearly recognizes that a corporate practitioner needs both to understand the transaction fully and to get the details precisely correct.

o Sandra Friedfertig of Williamsville and Joshua L. Farrell of Buffalo received the Adolph Homburger Law Alumni Association Award as the graduating seniors 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. Farrell also received a Law Faculty Award, presented to graduating seniors who have made outstanding contributions to the Law School community.

o Paul J. Brodnicki II of Buffalo 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. Brodnicki also was elected to The Order of Barristers, a national oralists honor society whose members include students who have shown dedication and excelled in the art of oral advocacy and service to the Moot Court Board.

o David P. Case of Palmyra received the Laidlaw Law Alumni Association Award given to the student who has demonstrated the most outstanding performance in the area of commercial law. Case also received the Robert Connelly Trial Technique Award recognizing the best performance record in the course in trial technique.

o Julie J. Olenn of Buffalo received the Judge William J. Regan Award presented to the members of the graduating class who have demonstrated the greatest proficiency in estate and surrogate law, and who are motivated by strong concerns for public service and public welfare. Olenn also received the Carlos C. Alden Award as the senior making the greatest contribution to the Buffalo Law Review and the Justice Philip Halpern Award for excellence in writing for the Buffalo Law Review.

o April J. Orlowski (Class of 2003) of North Tonawanda received the New York State Bar Association 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.

o Karen B. Feger of Buffalo and Yolanda Asamoah-Wade of Rochester received the Justice M. Dolores Denman Award. Presented by the Western New York Chapter of the Women's Bar Association, the award provides a scholarship to offset the costs of daycare and other child-rearing expenses during the bar study period.

o Anne R. Babcock of Buffalo received the Linda S. Reynolds Award presented to a graduating senior who has demonstrated an exceptional commitment to equal justice for the poor.

o Danita C. Mendez of Buffalo and Richard S. Ortiz-laPorte of Queens Village received the Kenneth A. Gomez Memorial Award presented to the law students who contribute to goals of equality and justice for all minorities.

o Dennis L. Fish of Amherst received the Activist's Gavel Award for democratic and liberal ideals

o Kathryn J. Land of Amherst 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. Land also received the Robert J. Connelly Trial Technique Award recognizing the best performance record in the course in trial technique.

o Nicole C. Lee of Buffalo 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. Lee also received a Law Faculty Award, presented to graduating seniors who have made outstanding contributions to the Law School community.

o The Student Bar Association and the Domestic Violence Task Force received the New York State Bar Association/Law Student Bar Association Achievement Award that recognizes activities that constitute a positive contribution through a bar association to the aims of the legal professional and the extension of justice to the people of the State of New York and/or the people of the United States.

Elected to The Order of Barristers, a national oralists honor society whose members include students who have shown dedication and excelled in the art of oral advocacy and service to the Moot Court Board were:

o Todd A. Gold of Commack

o Megan A. Griffin of Plattsburgh

o Natalie A. Grigg of Lockport

o Paige M. Junker of Amherst

o Stephen W. Kelkenberg of Buffalo

o Jennifer M. Noto of Mount Morris

o Karen E. Peterson of Kenmore

o Melanie M. Wojcik of Orchard Park

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

o Brian M. Chella of Buffalo

o Lorisa D'Angelo of Rochester

o Perry M. Duckles of Penfield

o Hillary K. Green of Buffalo. Green also was elected to The Order of Barristers, a national oralists honor society whose members include students who have shown dedication and excelled in the art of oral advocacy and service to the Moot Court Board.

o Gregory Grizopolous of Amherst

o Sean D. Lair (Class of 2003) of Brockport

o James P. Mulhern of Kenmore

o Jon A. Nichols of Amherst

o Destin C. Santacrose of Norwich

o Christopher G. Todd of Amherst

o Cynthia L. Warren of Williamsville

o Jennifer N. Weidner of Victor

o Daniel N. Willkens of Buffalo

o Julie Atti (Class of 2003) of Buffalo

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

o Mark M. Popiel of Niagara Falls, Ont.

o Kareen V. Zeitounzian of Pittsford

o Joseph E. Schneider of Buffalo