PENN STATE DICKINSON LAW HONORS STUDENT ACHIEVEMENTS WITH YEAR-END AWARDS
May 2025 — Penn State Dickinson Law recently recognized outstanding student achievement during the 2024-25 academic year, honoring students at the Carlisle and University Park locations with awards for their academic accomplishments and community service. You can find a complete list of the honorees below.
On May 9, the Law School’s Carlisle location held a ceremony honoring the awardees, with friends and family packing the 200-seat Apfelbaum Family Courtroom and Auditorium. The event opened with welcoming remarks from Penn State Dickinson Law Dean and Donald J. Farage Professor of Law Danielle M. Conway. She introduced student speaker Noah C. Yeagley ’25, who was chosen by his classmates to deliver the address as the recipient of the Lee Popp Award, given to a student who exemplifies excellence in service, extracurricular activities, and devotion to the class.
“One of the most important lessons that law school has taught me is how fortunate we are to be able to study the law and become lawyers and that it is so important to give back,” said Yeagley. “While getting good grades is great, for me, it was the hands-on experience and community involvement that were the most transformational.”
A.J. Fink ’26, president-elect of the Student Bar Association, and several Penn State Dickinson Law professors from the Carlisle location then handed out the awards. The Black Law Students Association earned student organization of the year.
Additionally, students recognized three faculty and staff members at Carlisle. Honorable Meghan A. Adams received Part-Time Faculty Member of the Year, Ros Lister received Support Staff Member of the Year, and Practitioner in Residence Brent E. Newton received Faculty Member of the Year.
The honorees from both locations are listed below.
PENN STATE DICKINSON LAW CARLISLE AWARDS
The American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers Eric D. Turner Award — Given by the Pennsylvania Chapter of the Academy to the third-year student who best exemplifies the positive attributes of a matrimonial lawyer.
• May Hennessy
The Thomas A. Beckley Prize for Legal Writing — Given to the student author of the best writing submitted to the Dickinson Law Review.
• Ana Maria Matovic
The Carter Prize Award — Given to a third-year student with the highest combined grades in the Environmental Law curriculum.
• Andriana Vega
The Clinical Legal Education Association Outstanding Student Award — Given to the third-year student who has demonstrated excellence in a clinical course and has made positive contributions to the clinical community.
• KC Read-Fisher
The Commonwealth Court Historical Society Judge Alexander F. Barbieri Award for Excellence in Administrative Law — Given to a third-year student who has excelled in Administrative Law and has demonstrated an interest in pursuing a career in Administrative Law.
• Nicholas James Nizinski
The Dickinson Law Vision and Leadership Award — Recognizes students who advance the vision of the Dean, engage current and prospective students in the life and culture of Penn State Dickinson Law, foster a sense of community and support, and contribute to the learning and growth of students in and out of the classroom.
• Ethan Kincaid
The George F. Douglas Jr. Memorial Prize — Given to the student with the highest grade in the Advocacy I course.
• Luke Gorman
The Joseph Leyburn Kramer Award — Given to the third-year student who has demonstrated academic excellence, strict ethical standards, fidelity and loyalty to other students and the profession, and involvement in extracurricular activities.
• Ethan Kincaid
The Conrad A. and Rocco C. Falvello Memorial Award — Given to a student who made significant academic progress during their 1L year.
• John Harker Mangum
The Robert J. and Mary Ellen Landy Award — Given by the Landy children in honor of their parents, Robert J. ’52 and Mary Ellen, to the student who has demonstrated excellence in the areas of ethics and professional responsibility, and overall devotion to the highest ideals of the legal profession.
• Romario R. Ricketts
The D. Arthur Magaziner Human Services Award — Given to the third-year student who has demonstrated good character, sound academic performance, high ethical standards, fidelity to the highest goals of the profession, and commitment to human service.
• Uyen Nguyen
The Edward N. Polisher Endowed Award: Federal Estate Tax Curriculum — Given to a third-year student for high academic achievement in the Tax Law curriculum.
• Chandler Burton Penn
The Montgomery and MacRae Award for Nontraditional Students — Given to the student who is considered both nontraditional and whose background contributes to the diversity of the Penn State Dickinson Law student body. This student also has demonstrated excellence in Wills, Trusts, and Estates, and Administrative Law.
• Elsie Naana-Ama Furhman
The Lee Popp Award — Given to the student selected by the third-year class who exemplifies excellence in service, extracurricular activities, and devotion to the class.
• Noah C. Yeagley
The National Association of Women Lawyers Recognition Award — Given by the National Association of Women Lawyers for academic achievement and advancement of women in the legal profession.
• Llewellyn A. Searing
The Monroe E. Trout Legal Medicine Award — Given to a third- year student who has earned the highest grades in courses relating to the study of law and medicine or law and health care.
• Casey Grohowski
The Harry E. Kalodner Memorial Award — Given to a third-year student with the highest combined grades in Criminal Law and Criminal Procedure.
• John Harker Mangum
The Professor Louis Del Duca Memorial Award in Business Law — Given to a third-year student who excels academically, especially in courses related to Business Law, and who intends to practice law in Pennsylvania.
• Megan E. Smith-Beaty
The Frank & Dorothy J. Sinon Scholarship — Given to a third- year student who has demonstrated excellence in the study of Tax Law.
• Timothy G. Azizkhan
Laura Davis Jones Award for Excellence in Bankruptcy Law — Given to a third-year student with the highest combined grade in Bankruptcy Law curriculum.
• Benjamin Moyer
John B. Hannum Federal Practice Award — Given to the student who has achieved the highest grade in the Federal Practice course.
• Romario R. Ricketts
M. Fletcher Gornall & Elsie O. Gornall Scholarship — Given to support an outstanding student with shown evidence of a propensity to provide meaningful service to the community.
• Alex Roth
The M. Vashti Burr Memorial Award — Given to a deserving student for academic achievement.
• Ana Maria Matovic
Katz Scholars — Katz Scholars are recipients of the Katz Foundation Scholarship made possible by the generosity of the late Lewis Katz ’66. Mr. Katz was a great champion of education and Penn State Dickinson Law and his legacy lives on through the Katz Scholar awards.
• May Hennessy
• Ethan Kincaid
• Uyen Nguyen
• James V. Scaglione
The Irving Yaverbaum Accounting Prize — Given to the student who has received the highest grade in a financial accounting course.
• Chandler Burton Penn
George I. Bloom Scholarship Endowed Fund — Given to support an outstanding student who is a Pennsylvania resident and aspires to serve as an attorney in government.
• Noah C. Yeagley
Adele and Leonard Blumberg Scholarship — Given to a student who demonstrates potency for superior achievement as a legal scholar and member of the legal profession.
• Bethany Allison Carter
Jack M. Mumford Memorial Health Law Scholarship — Given to a third-year student in good academic standing with an interest and proficiency in health law.
• Jamelia Danielle Graham
Editor-in-Chief — On behalf of Dickinson Law Review members, this award commemorates dedication and leadership.
• Ana Maria Matovic
HONORARY SOCIETIES
Membership in the Order of Barristers, a national honorary organization, is conferred upon students who have exhibited excellence in the art of courtroom advocacy.
Order of Barristers
• Maxwell Allanson-Dundon
• Ruth N. Atomate
• Molly Callihan
• Camille Darius
• J. Patrick Moll
• Uyen Nguyen
• KC Read-Fisher
• Kergina Singleton
PUBLIC INTEREST AND PRO BONO ADVOCATES
Miller Center Public Interest Advocate of the Year
• Llewellyn A. Searing
Miller Center Pro Bono Advocate of the Year
• Jamesha Caldwell
Miller Center Recognitions — Given to dedicated pro bono or public interest advocates who have completed at least 60 hours of unpaid legal work to support individuals who lack full access to justice. This service includes assisting vulnerable or underserved communities through clinics and other initiatives.
• Kelly Barravecchio
• Molly Callihan
• Steffanie Craig
• Alejandra Edwards
• Elsie Naana-Ama Furhman
• Luke Gorman
• Casey Grohowski
• Joshua Hanson
• Ethan Kincaid
• Sara Klinge
• Uyen Nguyen
• Payton Pittman
• Isaac Praseedom
• Jake Toth
STUDENT BAR ASSOCIATION STUDENT AWARDS
Carlisle Community Engagement Award — Awarded to a graduating student with a commitment to the broader community and the Carlisle area who exemplifies stellar performance and service through volunteer work and community engagement.
• Caitlin Marie Godsey
Campus Community Engagement Award — Awarded to the student with a commitment to volunteering and involvement on campus. Someone who exemplifies stellar performance and service through volunteer work and campus community engagement.
• KC Read-Fisher
Kinship Award — Awarded to graduating students who have exemplified the values of Penn State Dickinson Law during their time here by creating a welcoming and collaborative environment for all students in the graduating class.
• Maxwell Allanson-Dundon
• Sofi Phillips
Student Mentor Award — Awarded to a graduating 3L who has demonstrated exceptional dedication to mentoring fellow students, whether as a Teaching Assistant, tutor or a student organization leader/mentor, leaving a lasting impact through guidance, support, and inspiration.
• KC Read-Fisher
Class Bridge Award — Awarded to a graduating 3L who goes above and beyond to unite students across each grade, fostering connection and a strong sense of community within the school.
• Ethan Kincaid
Pillar of Preparedness Award — Awarded to a graduating 3L who exemplifies dedication to academic excellence through meticulous preparation. This student sets the standard for diligence, discipline, and readiness for class.
• Alyssa K. Boob
LL.M. Award — Awarded to graduating LL.M. students whose work and contributions most connect with their class and the Penn State Dickinson Law community.
• Ama Oduma Annan
• Muhammad Raziullah Rabbani
Penn State Dickinson Law University Park Awards
The American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers Eric D. Turner Award — Given by the Pennsylvania Chapter of the Academy to the third-year student who best exemplifies the positive attributes of a matrimonial lawyer.
• Tavia A. Vitkauskas
The American Law Institute Continuing Legal Education Scholastic and Leadership Award — Given to the third-year student who best represents a combination of scholarship and leadership
• Gurtej Singh Grewal
The National Association of Women Lawyers Outstanding Law Student — Given by the National Association of Women Lawyers for academic achievement and advancement of women in the legal profession.
• Staci Melissa Minott
The International Academy of Trial Lawyers Student Advocacy Award — Awarded to the graduating student who demonstrates outstanding ability in trial advocacy.
• Chloe M. Saine
The Penn State Dickinson Law Writing Prize — Awarded to the graduating student author of the best comment selected for publication in the Penn State Law Review.
• Katie Jean
The Penn State Dickinson Law Pro Bono Public Service Award — Awarded to the graduating student who has demonstrated good character, sound academic performance, highest ethical standards, fidelity to the highest goals of the profession, and commitment to human service.
• Eboni Barbour
The Penn State Dickinson Law Diversity Award — Awarded to the student who has best exemplified Penn State Law’s commitment to promoting a diverse and inclusive learning community.
• Oluwafunmi Atinuke Lawal
The Penn State Dickinson Law Leadership Award — Awarded to a graduating student for outstanding leadership as a member of the Student Bar Association or other law school student organization.
• Samuel Allcorn
The Dickinson Law Vision and Leadership Award — Recognizes students who advance the vision of the Dean, engage current and prospective students in the life and culture of Penn State Dickinson Law, foster a sense of community and support, and contribute to the learning and growth of students in and out of the classroom.
• Temidoyin Olusa
The Pennsylvania Bar Association Business Law Section Louis Del Duca Award — Honors a graduating student who demonstrates academic excellence, especially in courses related to business law, and intends to practice law in Pennsylvania. The award also recognizes students who have been published in business law or have participated in business law-related seminars or conferences.
• Liam Reilly
The Student Bar Association 1L Mock Trial Competition Award — Team receiving the highest score from the judges in the First-Year Class Competition
• Liam Reilly
• Tavia A. Vitkauskas
Overall Best Advocate Award
• Tavia A. Vitkauskas
Order of Barristers
• Jackson Ellis
• Colin L. Hitt
• Kristin Hommel
• Jillian Kerr
• Staci Melissa Minott
• Terrance J. Parham
• Alexander Senft
• Veronica Lee Woodard
Honorary Barrister
• Ylli Dautaj
Order of the Coif
• Arthur Ashley
• Benne Ashlyn
• Taylor Browning
• Augusto Sergio de Paula Ferreira
• Jeffrey John Bertron Dixon
• Noah David Eastman
• Colin L. Hitt
• Katie Jean
• Katherine Owens
• Olivia Deveda Painchaud
• Noah Christopher Pollio
• Abigail Marie Roos
• Kenson B. Skinner
• Sean Michael Speers
• Tavia A. Vitkauskas
• Drew W. Weglarz
J.D. Teaching Award
• John E. Lopatka, A. Robert Noll Distinguished Professor of Law
Honorees
• Jill C. Engle
• Michael Foreman
• Marie T. Reilly
LL.M. Teaching Award
• Jud Mathews, Associate Dean of Academic Affairs and Professor of Law
Honorees
• Ylli Dautaj
• Samuel C. Thompson Jr.
• Hannah Wiseman