UB Law School Students Receive Awards at Commencement

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- The first Albert R. Mugel Award recognizing proficiency in future interests and estate-planning law was presented to Jennifer Marie Valvo McCann of Buffalo during at the University at Buffalo Law School's recent commencement ceremony.

The new award is named in memory of Albert R. Mugel, J.D. '41, one of the founders of the Buffalo-based law firm of Jaeckle Fleischmann & Mugel LLP. He taught future interests and estate planning at the Law School as an adjunct professor for more than 50 years.

According to Dean R. Nils Olsen, a total of 50 students received awards and honors during the Law School's commencement ceremony. Eight students were multiple-award winners. They are:

• Lisa Danish, of Tonawanda, the Max Koren Award for scholastic achievement, leadership and dedication to the ideals of the law; the Dale S. Margulis Award for having contributed the most to the Law School and the community; the Judge Matthew J. Jasen Appellate Practice Award for outstanding achievement in appellate advocacy; a Law Faculty Award recognizing outstanding contributions to the Law School community, and election into The Order of Barristers, a national honor society comprised of students who have excelled in the art of oral advocacy and service to the Moot Court Board

• Aidana K. Nurgaliyeva of Amherst, the American Bankruptcy Institute Medal for excellence in the study of bankruptcy law; the Adolf Homburger Law Alumni Association Award for academic achievements in civil procedure and compassion for people, and the National Association of Women Lawyers Award for academic achievement and contributions to the advancement of women in society

• Christopher Michael Pannozzo of Buffalo, the Professor Louis Del Cotto Award for excellence in the study of taxation; the Edith and David Goldstein Award for outstanding performance in debtor-creditor and bankruptcy law, and a Robert J. Connelly Trial Technique Award

• Shruti Amin, of Vestal, a Law Faculty Award recognizing outstanding contributions to the Law School community, and, along with the ADR Committee, the New York State Bar Association / Law Student Bar Association Achievement Award. The award recognizes activities that constitute a positive contribution through the New York State Bar Association, the American Bar Association or a local or

topical 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 of America

• Ronald Castorina, Jr., of Staten Island, a Robert J. Connelly Trial Technique Award and election into The Order of Barristers, a national honor society comprised of students who have excelled in the art of oral advocacy and service to the Moot Court Board

• Amy Paulson Herstek of Amherst, the Laidlaw Law Alumni Association Award for the best performance in commercial law and the Harry A. Rachlin Prize in Real Property Law and Real Estate Transactions Award for excellence in the areas of real property law, housing, housing finance and real estate transactions

• Shaleeya B. Link of Rochester, the Justice M. Dolores Denman Award presented to graduating seniors who are custodial parents and the Minority Bar Association of Western New York Award for scholastic achievement and leadership, as well as for significant commitment to effectuating changes within the legal system that address the needs of the minority community

• Laura Allen Miskell of Lockport, the American Bar Association and the Bureau of National Affairs Award for excellence in labor and employment law, and the New York State Bar Association Law Student Bar Association Ethics Award for exemplifying legal professional responsibility or legal ethics

Other students receiving awards during commencement and their awards are:

• Jesse Brian Baldwin of Buffalo, the Judge William J. Regan Award for proficiency in estates and surrogate's law, as well as having a strong concern for public service and public welfare

• Laurie Alane Batterson, of Savannah, N.Y., election into The Order of Barristers, a national honor society comprised of students who have excelled in the art of oral advocacy and service to the Moot Court Board

• Sarah Elizabeth Bouvier of Bristol, Vt., a Robert J. Connelly Trial Technique Award

• Lucille Ann Dadd of Attica, a Robert J. Connelly Trial Technique Award

• Esther Garvey Eagan of Buffalo, a Robert J. Connelly Trial Technique Award

• Michael Kreag Ferullo of Buffalo, a Robert J. Connelly Trial Technique Award

• Sarah Anne Filocamo of Williamsville, election into The Order of Barristers, a national honor society comprised of students who have excelled in the art of oral advocacy and service to the Moot Court Board

• Jennifer Ann Garcia of Edinburg, Texas, the Kenneth A. Gomez Memorial Award for striving for equality and justice for all minorities

• Bethany J. Gilbert of Springville, the American Bar Association and the Bureau of National Affairs Award for superior academic performance in the field of health law

• Gabriel McCabe Gilman of Port Jervis, the UB Law Alumni Association GOLD Group Award for outstanding leadership skills in advancing the mission of the Law School and enhancing its reputation for excellence in legal education

• Kevin Matthew Grossman of Corem, election into The Order of Barristers, a national honor society comprised of students who have excelled in the art of oral advocacy and service to the Moot Court Board

• Jeremy Brett Honig, Plainview, N.J., election into The Order of Barristers, a national honor society comprised of students who have excelled in the art of oral advocacy and service to the Moot Court Board

• Katie Lauren Houghton of Buffalo, a Robert J. Connelly Trial Technique Award

• Hope Rachel Jay of Buffalo, the Justice M. Dolores Denman Award presented to graduating seniors who are custodial parents

• Ashley Wales Johnson of Wellsville, the American Bar Association and the Bureau of National Affairs Award for excellence in intellectual property law

• Henry George Jones of Tonawanda, the Birzon Prize in Clinical Legal Studies for excellence in the Law School's clinical and trial advocacy program

• Casie Lynn Judge of Rochester, the Linda S. Reynolds Award for demonstrating an exceptional commitment to equal justice for the poor

• Kassandra Angelina King of Brooklyn, the David Kochery Award for service and involvement in one or more student organizations and exceptional performance in procedures and remedies

• Pamela J. Kirkwood of Wellsville, the Milton Kaplan Law and Social Development Award for exceptional commitment to the study of law and social development in an American, comparative or international context

• Colleen Katherine Mattrey of Cheektowaga, the Justice M. Dolores Denman Award, presented to graduating seniors who are custodial parents

• Stephen Patrick McAndrew of Buffalo, the John N. Bennett Achievement Award for the highest scholastic achievement in the graduating class

• Michael Hunt McCormick of Concord, N.H., the Moot Evidence Award for the best performance in the area of evidence

• Charles A. Messina of Tonawanda, election into The Order of Barristers, a national honor society comprised of students who have excelled in the art of oral advocacy and service to the Moot Court Board

• Benjamin D. Moskel of Amherst, the Edith and David Goldstein Award for outstanding performance in debtor-creditor and bankruptcy law

• Jeremy David Newman of Amherst, election into The Order of Barristers, a national honor society comprised of students who have excelled in the art of oral advocacy and service to the Moot Court Board

• Josephine S. Noble of Buffalo, the Justice M. Dolores Denman Award, presented to graduating seniors who are custodial parents

• Michael J. Pastrick of West Seneca, the Charles Dautch Award for excellence in real property law

• Chantrice Victoria Payne of Buffalo, a Law Faculty Award recognizing outstanding contributions to the Law School community

• Johnna Lynn Pike of Buffalo, the Women Lawyers of Western New York Award for exceptional academic and Law School activities in the areas of children's rights and/or family violence  

• Richard Stephen Poveromo of Buffalo, the Tom Headrick "Trees and Forest" Award for a student of corporate finance who most clearly recognizes that a corporate practitioner needs both to understand the transaction fully and to get the details correct

• Manuel Antonio Prado of the Bronx, the Kenneth A. Gomez Memorial Award for striving for equality and justice for all minorities

• Jeremy David Schwartz of Victor, election into The Order of Barristers, a national honor society comprised of students who have excelled in the art of oral advocacy and service to the Moot Court Board

• Paul Bernard Shipper of Hartsdale, election into The Order of Barristers, a national honor society comprised of students who have excelled in the art of oral advocacy and service to the Moot Court Board

• Casey French Spencer of Corning, election into The Order of Barristers, a national honor society comprised of students who have excelled in the art of oral advocacy and service to the Moot Court Board

• Janelle Marie Tandle of Geneva, the Maurice Frey Award for outstanding academic performance in family law

• David B. Teigman of Pittsford, the Carlos C. Alden Award for making the greatest contribution to the Buffalo Law Review

• Eric Brian Tennen of Miami, Fla., a Law Faculty Award recognizing outstanding contributions to the Law School community

• Jocelyn Esther Torres of Amherst, the American Bar Association and the Bureau of National Affairs Award for excellence in labor and employment law

• Tatiana Vostok of Williamsville, election into The Order of Barristers, a national honor society comprised of students who have excelled in the art of oral advocacy and service to the Moot Court Board

• Jessica S. Wiltse of Kenmore, the Justice Philip Halpern Award for excellence in writing on the Buffalo Law Review

• Alyson Catherine Wutz of Orchard Park, a Robert J. Connelly Trial Technique Award

The University at Buffalo is a premier research-intensive public university, the largest and most comprehensive campus in the State University of New York. UB's more than 27,000 students pursue their academic interests through more than 300 undergraduate, graduate and professional degree programs. The university offers the only degrees in law, pharmacy and architecture in the SUNY system, and is the home of the only comprehensive public school of engineering in New York State.