The following prizes and awards will be presented at the 2009 Commencement ceremony:

First Scholarship Prize – Meghan M. Overgaard

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 – Jonathan P. Perrelle

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 – Todd Donnelly Batson

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 – Hayley Janna Moore

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 – Brian Joseph Morris

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 – Ashley Elizabeth Kelly

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 – Bethany M. Jones

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 – Tricia Lindsay Barbera, Victoria Cheng, Christian Meyer Curtis, Matthew Stuart Livits, Peter Thomas Mazzone

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 – Katharine Elizabeth Sinclair Bodde

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 student who has achieved the highest grade in the course in International Law.

Judge Nathan R. Sobel Prize – Timothy J. Clark, Barri A. Frankfurter, Orly Gez, Jared S. Goodman, Jessica Ilean Maroz, Meghan M. Overgaard, Ida Phair

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 – Doran Gabrielle Arik, Mara Dalton Byrne, Douglas J. Guerrin, Meghan M. Overgaard

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 – Bethany M. Jones, Brian Joseph Morris, Meghan M. Overgaard, Christopher J. Roman

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 – Jason O. Braiman, Alexander C. Drylewski, Robert B. Koonin, Jessica Ilean Maroz, Hayley Janna Moore, Sara Alicia Moser-Cohen, Naree Sinthusek

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 – Peter A. Hanink, Marissa N. Lefland, Christina Tzelee Tung, Hope Starr Yates

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 – Christian Meyer Curtis

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 – Jesse I. Rubinstein

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

Robert A. Morse Memorial Prize – John M. Buhta, Louis B. Imbroto, Benjamin Reid Joelson, Joseph Gaetano Petruccelli

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 – Jennifer Lauren Shapiro

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

Oxford University Press Law Division Award – Laura Scully, Victoria J. Siesta

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 – Anita Nabha, Laurie Nicole Stempler

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.

The Scholarly Journal Writing Award – Jared S. Goodman, Anna A. Kornikova, Andrew R. Kirkpatrick, Brian Joseph Morris

An award for excellence in writing given by the faculty to one student on each scholarly journal.

Journal of Law and Policy Prize – Doran Gabrielle Arik, Seth Benjamin Cohen

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 – Andrew R. Kirkpatrick, Paul M. Schwartz

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 – Jaime Gant Dittus, Shannon R. Moore-Langston

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

Student Bar Association Prize – Kamal A. Jobe

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

Stephen Jay Penzick Memorial Award – Meghan M. Overgaard, Hema V. Shenoi

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

Meyer Bernstein Memorial Prize – Todd Donnelly Batson, Michael Paul Gippetti, Shao-Fei Moy

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 – M. J. Williams

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 – Lisa Applebaum, Hayley Janna Moore

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 – Brian Joseph Morris, Andrew Charles Spillane

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 – Leila L. Hull, Lauren D. Macioce

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 – Vanessa C. Kaczmarek

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 – Erica M. Kornstein

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.

Professor Philip K. Yonge Memorial Prize – John M. Buhta, Stacey L. Corr, Orly Gez, Lauren Sara Schlussel, Leonard Salvatore Spinelli, Hafeez Adeniyi Taiwo

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 – Marina Volshansky

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 student who achieves the highest grade in the course in Trusts and Estates.

Bruce David Swerdloff Memorial Award – Vanessa C. Kaczmarek

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 – Chloé D. Caraballo, Pooja Kothari, Terehas A. Nelson, Elan J. Schefflein

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.

Evelyn Reid Memorial Prize – Kahlil G. Winslow

A prize in memory of Evelyn Reid by Barbara Gluck Reid, Class of 1989, and Ira A. Reid, Class of 1987. Evelyn Reid lived in peace and faced death with a grace and courage that inspired all who knew her. The prize is awarded to the graduating senior who, in the opinion of the faculty and administration, has demonstrated courage and fortitude in overcoming unusual adversity and hardship in the pursuit of a law school degree.

Carole Mehlman Gould Prize – Katherine J. Nicolais

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

Phyllis Mehler Seavey and Robert W. Seavey Scholarship Prize – Aaron James Oberg, Martha Frieda Reichert

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 – Whitney S. Hilton, Raquel Liberman, Will Alton Page

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 – Michael C. German, Matthew James Schreck

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

Edward Thomas Christenson, Jr. Memorial Prize – Maya Krigman, Aran Thomas McNerney

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 students who exemplify 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 – Ashley Elizabeth Kelly

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 – Melissa A. Brennan

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 – Robert Corbett

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 – Brian Joshua Hecht, Kyu-ah Julia Kang, Meghan M. Overgaard, Andrew Eric Schwartz

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 – Alexander A. Kalkines, Matthew Paul Moore

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 graduating students for exceptional achievement and contribution in the field of entertainment law.

Judge Barry Hurowitz Memorial Award – Richard Paul Freud

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 – Avery Nathaniel Maron

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 – Nicholas M. David

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 – Brian Joshua Hecht

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 – Howard Laurence Feldberg

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 – Michael S. Coravos

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 – Katherine J. Nicolais

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 – Katrina V. Pape, Michael J. Pesa-Fallon, Andrew John Rubsam, Ashley Beth Slobodkin

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 – Leila L. Hull

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 – Anna A. Kornikova

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 – Aleksandra Fridman

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 – M. J. Williams

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 – John M. Buhta, Daniella Sharon Golshani

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 graduates, who have helped Brooklyn Law School during their tenure as students, to assist the students with the repayment of loans.

Professor Roberta S. Karmel Prize – Todd Donnelly Batson, Andrew Eric Schwartz

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 – Katharine Elizabeth Sinclair Bodde, Sundrop Carter

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 the students who, while in law school, demonstrated a strong commitment to public service and who have expressed a desire to continue that commitment upon graduation.