MILLER CENTER AWARDS BANQUET RECOGNIZES PENN STATE DICKINSON LAW STUDENTS’ PUBLIC INTEREST AND PRO BONO WORK
April 2025 — The first annual Miller Center Awards Banquet celebrated Penn State Dickinson Law students’ incredible accomplishments and recognized an alumnus who has donated countless hours to pro bono work.
More than a dozen Carlisle students received awards for their public service and pro bono work during the banquet, held on April 10 at the Carlisle Country Club.
Additionally, Llewellyn Searing ’25 was named Public Interest Student of the Year, while Jamesha Caldwell ’25 earned Pro Bono Student of the Year.
Assistant Professor of Law Lucy Johnston-Walsh, the interim director of the Miller Center for Public Interest Law & Advocacy during director Gary Gildin’s sabbatical, told students, faculty, and staff members gathered for the banquet that the event was Gildin’s idea.
“He had a vision to create this awards night to celebrate public interest and pro bono work. That is what we are doing tonight, and it is wonderful to gather here to recognize these accomplishments,” said Johnston-Walsh. “I have had the good fortune of reading about the work that you have done, and I am completely in awe of what you students have achieved during your time at the Law School.”
To receive the Public Interest Advocate Certificate, students had to complete at least 60 hours of uncompensated legal work on behalf of a public interest organization during their time at Penn State Dickinson Law. To earn the Pro Bono Advocate Certificate, students had to complete at least 60 hours of free, supervised legal assistance to underserved or vulnerable members of the local community during their time at Penn State Dickinson Law.
Seventeen students were recognized, with three (Caldwell, Alejandra Edwards, and Steffanie Craig) receiving both certificates.
Before the final two awards were presented, James P. DeAngelo ’91 delivered the evening’s keynote address. Since joining McNees Wallace & Nurick LLC in 1992, DeAngelo has donated many hours of service, leading his firm’s pro bono efforts for more than two decades. DeAngelo has served in leadership positions at many organizations committed to access to justice, including MidPenn Legal Services, the Community Justice Project, and the Dauphin County Bar Association Public Service Committee.
He reminded the students in the audience the opportunity to practice law also comes with certain obligations. “Some of those are pretty obvious, such as the right to practice law as best you can and following the rules of professional conduct, but some obligations are maybe not as obvious. These include supporting organizations that improve the law and improve our justice system and supporting organizations that provide legal services to the poor and disadvantaged,” said DeAngelo.
After his address, which received a standing ovation, Johnston-Walsh handed out the evening’s final two honors. Walsh noted that Searing, the Public Interest Student of the Year, had completed hundreds of hours of public interest work for organizations including the Pardon Project, Community Justice Project, Medical-Legal Partnership Clinic, and Pennsylvania Immigration Resource Center. Searing is studying in Erie this semester and was not available to receive her award in person.
Johnston-Walsh presented Caldwell with the Pro Bono Student of the Year award, detailing her hundreds of hours of work as a student organizer for the Pardon Project, working in a local prison and for an expungement clinic, and helping with law-based education. She also assisted the Cumberland County Bar Association with training attorneys to aid the Pardon Project.
Public Interest Student of the Year
Llewellyn Searing
Pro Bono Student of the Year
Jamesha Caldwell
Public Interest Advocate Certificates
Jake Toth ’25
Leonard Sandler ’24
Luke Gorman ’25
Casey Grohowski ’25
Kelly Barravecchio ’25
Ethan Kincaid ’25
Jamesha Caldwell ’25
Isaac Praseedom ’25
Sara Klinge ’25
Alejandra Edwards ’25
Molly Callihan ’25
Joshua Hanson ’25
Llewellyn Searing ’25
Elsie Furhman ’25
Uyen Nguyen ’25
Steffanie Craig ’25
Payton Pittman ’25
Pro Bono Advocate Certificates
Alejandra Edwards ’25
Jamesha Caldwell ’25
Steffanie Craig ’25
The first annual Miller Center Awards Banquet took place on April 10 at the Carlisle Country Club. Here are some scenes from the night.
