2023 Award Recipients

THE CLASS OF 1911 PRIZE is awarded for the best essay submitted by a student in the graduating J.D. class on a legal subject that is designated annually by the Dean.  The topic for this year’s essay posed questions about the impacts of climate policy on our communities and asked submissions to address those policies on marginalized communities and populations. 

SOFIA JOHNSON

THE ABRAHAM ABRAMOVSKY AWARD is presented to a member of the graduating J.D. class in recognition of their outstanding performance in Trial Advocacy.

THOMAS RUKAJ

THE JOSEPH R. CROWLEY AWARD is presented to the graduating J.D. student who has shown academic achievement and concern for others, as demonstrated by participation in volunteer activities. It is presented in memory of the associate dean and professor of law who served on the faculty from 1957 to 1985.

ASHLEY QAMAR

THE MARY DALY PRIZE in legal ethics is awarded to the graduating J.D. student who publishes the most significant writing relating to lawyers’ professional responsibility and/or the legal profession. It was established by the directors of the Stein Center for Law and Ethics in memory of their beloved colleague Mary Daly, who directed the Stein Center in the 1980s and ’90s. 

PETER C. ANGELICA

THE DEAN’S SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARD is given to a student in the graduating J.D. class who has made a singular and distinctive contribution to the Law School community. 

CAITLYN FONTANA

THE FEINGOLD FAMILY PRIZE recognizes a commitment to public service by a graduating J.D. student not only throughout their Fordham Law career but a broader commitment beyond law school through their choice of employment following graduation.  

ALEEZAH MERALI

THE GRADUATE STUDENT COMMUNITY PRIZE is awarded to the graduating LLM or MSL student who made a singular and distinctive contribution to the law school community of the Fordham Law graduate student community.  

SEYED MOHAMMAD HOSSEINI

THE KIMBERLY GREER SINGER AWARD is awarded to a member of the National Moot Court Competition team who possesses outstanding oral advocacy and legal writing skills, as well as demonstrated an interest in teaching or mentoring students.

MIKAELLA EVARISTO

THE EUGENE J. KEEFE AWARD is presented to the person or organization that has made the most important contribution to the Fordham community. It is presented by the Student Bar Association in memory of a beloved faculty member who served at Fordham from 1926 to 1968.

WILL LANIER

THE WALTER B. KENNEDY AWARD is presented to a member of the Fordham Law Review in recognition of extraordinary service that exemplifies the commitment to legal excellence of Professor Walter B. Kennedy, who served as the Law Review’s moderator from 1935 to 1945.

LUIS DEL ROSARIO 
AND 
ANASTASIA LACINA

THE DONALD MAGNETTI AWARD is presented to a member of the graduating J.D. class in recognition of their outstanding public commitment and contribution to those beyond the Law School community. 

ANNE BRODSKY

THE LAWRENCE J. McKAY PRIZE is awarded to the graduating J.D. students who represented the Law School in the National Moot Court Competition.

GRACE BRENNAN
KALEB UNDERWOOD
AND 
MIKAELLA EVARISTO

THE KEITH C. MILLER MEMORIAL AWARD is presented to a member of the graduating J.D. class who has demonstrated unselfish dedication to the Fordham Moot Court program. It is named in memory of Keith Miller, who was the managing editor of the Moot Court Board in 1986–87.

TARIQUE ZACHARIAH

THE ADELE MONACO MEMORIAL AWARD is presented to a member of the graduating J.D. class in the evening division who has made a positive impact on the lives of evening division students through the demonstration of compassion, courage, determination, and commitment to public service.

JULIA TEDESCO

THE ANN MOYNIHAN AWARD is presented to a member of the graduating J.D. class in recognition of their outstanding performance in the Law School’s Clinical Program.

GINA KIM
LAUREN SCHADT 
AND 
BANÉ TOURE 

THE MONSIGNOR JAMES J. MURRAY PRIZE FOR ACHIEVEMENT IN PUBLIC SERVICE is given to a graduating Fordham Law School J.D. student who is committed to a career in public service. The prize was established through a generous gift from James J. Houlihan, GABELLI ’74, Christie L. Houlihan, Law ’11, and the Houlihan family. Just as Monsignor Murray exemplified the Fordham Law motto, “In the service of others,” it is the hope of the Houlihan family that the recipients of this prize will commit their professional lives to public service.

ELIZABETH (LIZ) GUDGEL

THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF WOMEN LAWYERS OUTSTANDING LAW STUDENT AWARD is presented to the outstanding J.D. graduate who has demonstrated academic achievement, contributed to the advancement of women in society, promoted issues and concerns of women in the legal profession, and earned the respect of the Law School community. 

KATHARINE KEANE

THE PARCHOMOVSKY-SIEGELMAN STUDENT GRADUATION PRIZE is awarded to the graduating student who produced the best work of scholarship published in one of Fordham Law School’s journals. 

JAMEL GROSS-CASSEL

THE ROBERT ARAM RENZULLI PRIZE IN CRIMINAL LAW is presented to the graduating J.D. student who has excelled in the area of criminal law during their three years at Fordham Law School and who intends to engage in public service criminal law work upon graduating. The prize is supported by the Renzulli Charitable Trust and Kevin and Jeanine O’Brien.

FERNANDO RAMOS

THE JORENE FRANKL ROBBIE ’79 MEMORIAL LEGAL RESEARCH PRIZE is presented to a graduating student who has demonstrated excellence in the Advanced Legal Research program.

ALEC KRAMER