During the Law School's 130th Commencement students were awarded the highest honors for academic achievement and pro bono participation.
Associate Dean Marin R. Scordato and Dean Regina Jefferson presented the John L. Garvey Faculty Award to Jordanne Michelle Miller (Day Division) and Patrick George Elwell (Evening Division).
The John L. Garvey Faculty Award recognizes outstanding academic achievement during the law school course study. Awards are conferred during the Commencement ceremony upon the highest-ranking graduate from each division, day and evening. The faculty named the award to honor Professor Emeritus, John L. Garvey. It recognizes his 49 years of dedicated service to the Columbus School of Law as teacher, dean, scholar, and colleague.
Assistant Dean Katie Crowley introduced Michael F. Curtin '65, who presented the Michael F. Curtin Pro Bono Award to Brittany N. McNurlin (Day Division) and Katherine Ignaffo Heise (Evening Division).
Michael F. Curtin Pro Bono Award recognizes a law student from each division, day and evening, who has honored the highest ideals of the Columbus School of Law by voluntary pro bono service to others. The award is named in tribute to alumnus Michael F. Curtin, 1965, in recognition of his more than 40 years of leadership and selfless dedication to the Law School and the legal profession. The range of his pro bono work and his significant portion of his professional life that he has devoted to the causes of justice, compassion, and opportunity for all have set a new standard for what it means to serve others.
"Over the course of Brittany's law school career, she has dedicated an extraordinary amount of time to a diverse range of pro bono projects. She participated in legal clinics, internships, expungement fairs, outreach to the homeless, and a racial profiling study. She conducted research related to clemency, veteran's benefits, mental health of prisoners, and state public records laws. She helped detained immigrants, returning citizens, homeless DC residents, landlords, tenants, Veterans, small business owners, survivors of sex trafficking, low-income individuals needing assistance with their taxes, and more. Brittany was also a leader within the Law School. As Presidentof SPIL and as a member of the Pro Bono Advisory Board, Brittany always encouraged her classmates to give back. In recognition of her efforts, it is my pleasure to present Brittany McNurlin with the 2019 Michael F. Curtin Pro Bono Award for the Day-Division," Curtin said.
"In the midst of a demanding evening student, work, and family schedule, Katherine made time for pro bono. She conducted legal research projects related to asylum, civil forfeiture, employment discrimination, and veterans' benefits. She also volunteered with the Veterans Consortium Pro Bono Program's Legal Clinic, where she interviewed veterans and triaged cases related to a variety of issuesthat impact veterans. As a member of the Pro Bono Advisory Board, Katherine also was an ambassador of pro bono to her fellow students, particularly to her fellow evening students. In recognition of her efforts, it is my pleasure to present Katherine Heise with the 2019 Michael F. Curtin Pro Bono Award for the Evening-Division," Curtin said.