The following prizes and awards were presented at the 2008 Commencement ceremony:

First Scholarship Prize – Susan L. Greene

Brooklyn Law School offers a prize to the member of the graduating class who has attained the highest average in examinations and general excellence of scholarship.

Second Scholarship Prize – Blake T. Denton

Brooklyn Law School offers a prize to the member of the graduating class who has attained the second highest average in examinations and general excellence of scholarship.

Donald W. Matheson Memorial Prize – Leo Benjamin Kittay

The late George W. Matheson, Class of 1917, established an annual prize in memory of his brother, Donald W. Matheson, Class of 1914. This prize is conferred upon the member of the graduating class who in character, scholarship, and attainment, evinces the highest degree of legal capacity.

Stanley W. Nathanson Prize – Shannon M. Haley

Offered in memory of Stanley W. Nathanson, Class of 1962, to the member of the graduating class selected on the basis of special proficiency in the study of law, personality, and traits of character which warrant the belief that he or she will bring honor and credit to the legal profession.

William Payson Richardson Memorial Prize – Sara M. Saylor

This award is given, under the terms of the will of the late Mrs. William Payson Richardson, to an outstanding student chosen by the faculty of the Law School.

Regina Crea Memorial Prize – Brian Anthony Barbour

A prize has been established by the Law School faculty and administration, in memory of the beloved wife of Professor Joseph Crea, to be awarded to the member of the graduating class who, in the judgment of the faculty, has rendered the most devoted and disinterested service to the Law School during his or her school career.

Arthur Gluckman Memorial Prize – Sara C. Schuman

A prize has been established by the classmates of Arthur Gluckman, Class of 1982, whose untimely and tragic death cut short his promising legal career. The award is given to the graduating senior who, in the judgment of the faculty, most exemplifies Arthur’s qualities of honor, brilliance, integrity, and concern for people.

Dean Jerome Prince Prize – Stephanie Morgan Birnbaum, Philip Robin Cleary, Deanna DeFrancesco, Adam Daniel Feimer, Rachel Gayle Kravitz

A prize, established by the late Dean Emeritus Jerome Prince, to be given to the members of the graduating class who achieve the highest grade in the course in Evidence.

Jeffrey E. Rockwell Memorial Prize – Shannon M. Haley, Peter J. Scoolidge

A prize, established by the faculty and staff of Brooklyn Law School, in memory of Professor Jeffrey E. Rockwell,whose promising career as a teacher was tragically ended by his untimely death. It is given to the students who have achieved the highest grade in the course in International Law.

Judge Nathan R. Sobel Prize – Bradley A. Benedict, Garrett Mark Ross, Sara M. Saylor, Charles Sanford Smith, Sarah D. Trimming

This prize, given in the name of Judge Nathan R. Sobel, Class of 1927,was established in memory of Joe Weinstein. It is given to the students who achieve the highest grade in the course in Criminal Law.

Cornelius T. Wickersham, Jr. Prize – Margaret Laura Hanson, Max O. McCann, Sara C. Schuman, Timothy Stapleton

This award is presented by the Federal Bar Council, in memory of a distinguished lawyer and former United States Attorney, to the graduating seniors who achieve the highest grade in the course in Constitutional Law.

Henrietta and Stuard Hirschman Memorial Prize – Stacey Lynn Falkoff, Jared B. Goldberger, Susan L. Greene, Jonathan Philip Panek, Nicholas Schretzman

The Law School offers a prize in the memory of Henrietta and Stuard Hirschman. This prize is awarded to the members of the graduating class who achieve the highest grade in the Real Property course.

Alexander and Emily Mehr Memorial Prize – Stephen James Barrett, Sara J. Daugherty, Talia B. Koss, Rachel Kane Moston, Shawn P. Thomas, Caren H. Wean

This is a prize established in memory of a student, Alexander Mehr, Class of 1970, to be given to the members of the graduating class who have been chosen as the outstanding student advocates in law school Moot Court competitions.

Moot Court Honor Society Award – Jane E. Andersen, Megan Hope Mann, Caren H. Wean

A prize is awarded to the members of the graduating class who contributed most to the success of the Moot Court program.

Judge Kenneth B. Keating Memorial Prize – Erin E. Dowgin

This prize was established by two of his former law clerks in memory of Judge Kenneth B. Keating,whose life was devoted to public service. During his tenure as an Associate Judge of the New York Court of Appeals, he made a major contribution to the development of conflict of laws jurisprudence, and this prize is awarded to the member of the graduating class whose exceptional achievement in that field warrants recognition.

Minnie Rotenberg Prize – Brian Laurence Ellexson, Jennifer A. Kernkamp

This is a prize established in memory of Minnie Rotenberg to be given to the students who achieve the highest grade in the course in Antitrust Law.

Robert A. Morse Memorial Prize – Stacey Lynn Falkoff, Joshua Demarest Gold, Oksana Lashko, Erin Hayes Rump, Jason Eric Zakai

This prize was established in memory of Robert A. Morse, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York from 1971 to 1973, a devoted public servant and friend of Brooklyn Law School. It is awarded to the graduating students with the highest grade in the course in Criminal Procedure I.

Samuel Kirschenbaum Prize – Jamie Beth Chapman, Sara M. Saylor, Rebecca L. Worden

A prize is given in honor of Samuel Kirschenbaum, Class of 1942, by his son, Kenneth, Class of 1974, to the members of the graduating class who achieve the highest grade in the course in Real Estate Practice.

Oxford University Press Law Division Award – Shannon M. Haley, Erica Tracy Kagan

Oxford University Press Law Division offers up to two awards to the students who have contributed the most to the Brooklyn Journal of International Law.

Brooklyn Law Review Prize – Bradley A. Benedict, Bettina M. Chin, Oksana Lashko, Terry G. Sanders

A prize is awarded by the faculty to the students on the Brooklyn Law Review who, in the opinion of the faculty, have done the most to further the success and performance of the Review.

Brooklyn Journal of International Law Writing Award – Kesav Murthy Wable

An award is given to the student on the Brooklyn Journal of International Law whose writing, in the opinion of the faculty, has done the most to further the success and performance of the Journal.

Journal of Law and Policy Prize – Nicholas Marco Reiter, Nicole K. Roodhuyzen

A prize is awarded by the faculty to the students on the Journal of Law and Policy who, in the opinion of the faculty, have done the most to further the success and performance of the Journal.

Brooklyn Journal of Corporate, Financial & Commercial Law Prize – Margaret Laura Hanson, Kristine K. Huggins

A prize is awarded by the faculty to the students on the Brooklyn Journal of Corporate, Financial & Commercial Law who, in the opinion of the faculty, have done the most to further the success and performance of the Journal.

Samuel W. Rover and Lewis Rover Award – Kimberly J. Hertz

A prize is awarded to the graduating student who in scholarship and proficiency achieves the greatest scholastic distinction in a course relating to Medicine and the Law.

Student Bar Association Prize – Joseph Goljan, Brian Richard Simeone

A prize is offered to the students who, by extracurricular activities, have contributed most to the betterment of student relations.

Stephen Jay Penzick Memorial Award – Theresa Elizabeth Sullivan

An award established by the family of Stephen Jay Penzick, Class of 1971, is offered to the graduating student who achieves the highest grade in the course in Administrative Law.

Meyer Bernstein Memorial Prize – Jamie Minchin Gill, Bryan A. Levine, Laura Marie Reiter

A prize in memory of Professor Meyer Bernstein is awarded by his family to the members of the graduating class who achieve the highest grade in the course in Federal Income Taxation.

Max M. Lome Memorial Prize – David J. B. Schnakenberg

A prize has been established in memory of Max M. Lome, Class of 1923, to the student who has obtained the highest grade in the course in Urban Law.

Rose L. Hoffer Prize – Alexa J. Loo, Nicholas Schretzman

A prize established by Rose L. Hoffer, Class of 1954, is given to the members of the graduating class who achieve excellence in Torts.

Philip Hoffer Prize – Joshua Demarest Gold, Oksana Lashko

A prize established by Philip Hoffer, Class of 1933, is given to the members of the graduating class who achieve excellence in Torts.

Richard Elliott Blyn Memorial Prize – Susan L. Greene, Shannon M. Haley

Kathy, Hilda and Arthur Blyn have established a prize in memory of Richard Elliott Blyn, to be awarded to the members of the graduating class who achieve the highest grade in the course in Civil Liberties.

Edith C. Blum Foundation Prize – John Huang

A prize has been established by this foundation to honor a graduating student who has shown exceptional achievement in the area of taxation.

Donald D. Greenstein Prize – Ian Gabriel Nanos

A prize has been established in memory of Donald D. Greenstein, Class of 1957, by his wife, Ruth M. Greenstein, and his children, Marci E. Greenstein, Esq., Janet Riger and Brian Greenstein, to be awarded to the member of the graduating class who has demonstrated excellence in the field of employee pension or labor law.

Judge Leonard P. Moore Memorial Prize – Rachel Kane Moston

A prize in memory of Judge Leonard P. Moore, distinguished jurist and former President of the Board of Trustees of Brooklyn Law School, established by one of his former law clerks, Vivian Shevitz, Class of 1977, to be awarded to the graduating student who receives the highest grade in the Criminal Procedure II course.

Professor Philip K. Yonge Memorial Prize – Valerie Aranov, Arielle Lynn Frost, Elizabeth F. Johnson, Seth J. Pruss, Clement K. Yee, Kevin Zuzolo

A prize has been established by the members of the faculty, administration, staff, students, and friends of Philip K. Yonge to be awarded to the students who, in the judgment of the faculty, have shown exceptional achievement in Commercial Law or Bankruptcy.

Greenfield, Eisenberg, Stein and Senior Law Firm Prize – Erin E. Dowgin, Tracy C. Gardner, Jared B. Goldberger, Ian Gabriel Nanos, Seth J. Pruss

This prize was established by a distinguished trusts and estates firm, many of whose members are alumni of the Law School. It is awarded to the students who achieve the highest grade in the course in Trusts and Estates.

Bruce David Swerdloff Memorial Award – Kim Li

An award established in memory of Bruce David Swerdloff, Class of 1980, to be offered to the member of the graduating class with the highest grade in the course in Corporate Taxation.

Judge Doris A. Thompson And Judge Edward Thompson Award For Excellence In Trial Advocacy – Jennifer Lynn Fisher, Megan Hope Mann, Allison E. McKenzie, Timothy C. Parlatore, Nicholas Marco Reiter, Jannine Louise Rowser

This award is given to students selected by the faculty who have demonstrated a commitment to the development of their personal skills as trial advocates as evidenced by participation in various trial advocacy activities at the Law School, including but not limited to the National Trial Team, the American Trial Lawyers Association Competition Team, and/or participation in other administrative activities in support of the Law School’s trial advocacy programs.

Carole Mehlman Gould Prize – Cynthia Nagendra, Zona J. Sharfman

A prize has been established by an alumna of the Law School to honor the graduating students who, in the judgment of the faculty, have made the greatest contributions to women’s rights while in law school.

Phyllis Mehler Seavey and Robert W. Seavey Scholarship Prize – April Lynn Charleston, Seth J. Pruss

A prize established by Phyllis Mehler Seavey and Robert W. Seavey, both of the Class of 1952, to be awarded to the graduating students who have attained the highest grade average in the Land Finance course, if offered, during the previous year, and if the Land Finance course has not been offered during the previous year, then to those graduating students who have the highest average in the Urban Law courses provided that they have taken two or more such courses.

Judge Doris A. Thompson and Judge Edward Thompson Award for Excellence in Professional Skills – Jonathan Gomez-Trochez, Mary A. Mendenhall, Nicole Olympia Prenoveau

This award honors no more than three students who, while participating in a law school clinical program, have demonstrated an understanding of the lawyering process,made significant progress in the development of professional skills, and, in representing a client, contributed to the achievement of justice while evincing the highest degree of professional and personal integrity and responsibility.

Robert Lewis Prize – Britt N. Burner

This prize has been established by a devoted alumnus, Robert Lewis, Class of 1950, a distinguished labor law practitioner, to be awarded to the member of the graduating class who has achieved excellence in a course in Labor Law.

Edward Thomas Christenson, Jr. Memorial Prize – Nicholas Marco Reiter

A prize has been established by classmates and colleagues of Edward Christenson, Class of 1987,whose promising and bright legal career was tragically ended by his untimely death. The prize is awarded to the graduating student who exemplifies Eddie’s dedication and commitment to legal scholarship and public service by accepting, as did he, a judicial clerkship.

Samuel Witte Prize in Literature and the Law – Elizabeth A. Broderick

This prize has been established by the family of Samuel Witte, Class of 1920, who during his long career in the practice of law, stretching over six decades, pursued an active interest in literature and its relationship to the law. This prize is offered to the graduating student who has best applied literature to his or her legal studies.

Brooklyn Women’s Bar Association Prize – Anna C. Burns

This prize, established by the Brooklyn Women’s Bar Association, is awarded to a graduating woman student who has demonstrated legal scholarship and leadership qualities during her law school career.

Edward Byrne Memorial Prize – Tina S. Bhatt

This prize honors the memory of Edward Byrne, a member of the New York City Police Department slain in the performance of his duties. Edward Byrne was the son of Matthew Byrne, Class of 1969. It is awarded to the graduating student who has demonstrated academic excellence in the area of criminal procedure and who, in the judgment of the faculty, exemplifies high moral character and personal integrity.

Professor Samuel Hoffman Memorial Prize – Stephanie Morgan Birnbaum, Eugene A. Drozdetski, Kerry E. Fox, Susan L. Greene

This prize, established in memory of Professor Samuel Hoffman, Class of 1948, by his family, friends and colleagues, is awarded to the students who have achieved excellence in the study of corporate law. Professor Hoffman was a distinguished scholar and dedicated teacher who educated generations of Brooklyn Law School students. During his career, he played a central role in drafting both New York’s Estates Powers and Trusts Law and the Business Corporation Law.

Charles and Jane Ortner Prize for Achievement in Entertainment Law – Ryan A. Varnum

This prize, established in honor of Charles B. Ortner, Class of 1971, and his wife Jane, by friends and colleagues as a tribute to Mr. Ortner’s accomplishments and distinguished career in entertainment law, is awarded to a graduating student for exceptional achievement and contribution in the field of entertainment law.

Judge Barry Hurowitz Memorial Award – Victoria Abigail Thomson Levin

This award was established as a memorial to Judge Barry Hurowitz by his family, friends, and the legal community. During his eighteen years on the bench, thirteen of which were served as an Acting Justice of the Supreme Court of the State of New York,many Brooklyn Law School students interned in his chambers in conjunction with their clinical law studies. Judge Hurowitz stressed to his interns the importance of professionalism, morality, personal commitment and integrity in the practice of law and in life. He took a personal interest in their progress and proudly followed their professional achievements over the years. This award recognizes the outstanding overall performance by a judicial intern in the Supreme Court of the State of New York.

Academic Progress Prize – Traci M. Strickland

The faculty offers a prize to the member of the graduating class who has made the most substantial academic progress during his or her law studies.

Jack Weprin Real Estate Prize – Allison E. McKenzie

A prize established in memory of distinguished real estate lawyer Jack Weprin, Class of 1955, by the Jack Weprin Foundation, awarded annually to a student who has excelled in the area of real estate law.

American Bankruptcy Institute Medal for Excellence in Bankruptcy Studies – Eugene A. Drozdetski

This medal is awarded to a graduating student selected for having demonstrated excellence in the study of bankruptcy.

Kathy Plaszner Belson ’72 And Michael Belson ’67 Prize – Rachel A. Ehrhardt

A prize to be awarded to a student who, while participating in the Prosecutor’s Clinic or in a Criminal Practice Internship in a prosecutor’s office, has demonstrated the highest degree of dedication and personal and professional responsibility.

Martin R. Press Prize – Philip Robin Cleary

A prize established in honor of Martin R. Press, Class of 1973, by Kenneth Kirschenbaum, Class of 1974, in recognition of Mr. Press’ outstanding work in the field of taxation, and both of their dedication to the practice of law and Brooklyn Law School, to a graduating student who has demonstrated excellence in the field of taxation.

International Economic Law Prize – Jean C. Wen

A prize established to be awarded to the student who has achieved overall excellence in the study of international economic law.

American Bankruptcy Law Journal Student Prize – Arielle Lynn Frost, Oksana Lashko, Seth J. Pruss, Stacey Cheong Eui Song, Kevin Zuzolo

This prize is awarded by the American Bankruptcy Law Journal to the graduating students who have earned the highest grade in a bankruptcy course.

Judge I. Leo Glasser Prize – Allison Callan Schwartz

A prize in honor of Federal District Judge I. Leo Glasser, Class of 1948, former professor and dean of the Law School, is awarded to the member of the graduating class who has evinced a strong commitment to public interest law.

Leonard Taubenblatt Award for Ethics – Bradley A. Benedict

An award established by Ellen Taubenblatt Harmon and Mark A. Harmon, Classes of 1979 and 1978, daughter and son-in-law of Leonard Taubenblatt, Class of 1950, to honor a member of the graduating class who, in the opinion of the faculty, has demonstrated exemplary standards of ethics and integrity.

Professor Nancy H. Fink Family Law Award – Jane E. Andersen

This award, created by the faculty on the occasion of the retirement of Professor Nancy H. Fink, Class of 1970, is awarded to a student who has demonstrated commitment to legal issues related to the family, academic excellence, a high degree of personal integrity and dedication to the best values of the legal profession.

Gwen J. Greenberg Prize – Jennifer Lynn Fisher

The Alumni Association established this prize in honor of Gwen Joy Greenberg, the Director of Alumni Relations from 2000 until her untimely death in a tragic accident in 2003. It honors a student who exemplifies Gwen’s qualities of commitment to the Law School and loyalty to its alumni.

Samuel P. and Ellen Sporn Award – Max O. McCann

Established on the occasion of his 50th Law School Class Reunion by Samuel Sporn, Class of 1953, and his wife Ellen Sporn, to be awarded to the graduate, who has helped Brooklyn Law School during his or her tenure as a student, to assist the student with the repayment of loans.

Professor Roberta S. Karmel Prize – Stephanie Morgan Birnbaum, Jill Kaden Grant, Peter Seth Kessler

A prize established in honor of Professor Roberta S. Karmel by her husband, David Harrison, to be awarded to the students achieving the highest grade in the course in Securities Regulation.

Professor John A. Ronayne Memorial Prize – Josie Erin Beets

A prize established by colleagues and friends in memory of Professor John A. Ronayne, a kind, loyal and dedicated member of the Brooklyn Law School community. It is awarded to a student who, while in law school, demonstrated a strong commitment to public service and who has expressed a desire to continue that commitment upon graduation.