A star-studded line-up kicked off Cardozo’s 41th Commencement Exercises. Graduates received J.D. and LL.M. degrees at Lincoln Center’s David Geffen Hall on May 28.
Ira Dizengoff ’92, Chair of Cardozo’s Board of Overseers, welcomed graduates and their families by reminding them that “we are what we repeatedly do.”
Dean Melanie Leslie ’91 echoed this message as she recounted a story from a recent alum who stood up against corruption. She urged graduates to do the right thing, even if they are the only ones. “You are ready to be ethical leaders,” Leslie said. “I am sure of it.”
Claire McCaskill, former senator from Missouri, gave the commencement address. “I hope you love the law as much as I do,” she said, as she urged students to find “a job that makes you jump out of bed in the morning.”
Another recognizable name took the stage as Sir Paul McCartney was awarded the International Advocate for Peace Award from the Cardozo Journal of Conflict Resolution. “I’m especially proud to receive this award from Cardozo,” McCartney said, adding that all of his songs “come from the same place: a love for humanity.”
Graduates Rachel Zilberfarb and Ishara Quick, LL.M. and J.D. respectively, delivered the remarks for their classes. Quick mentioned her challenges as first in her family to attend law school and inspired the audience to follow their dreams. “The cautious don’t live at all,” she said.
Watch Senator Claire McCaskill's keynote address
Watch Sir Paul McCartney's speech
AWARD RECIPIENTS (FACULTY AND ADMINISTRATION)
Award for Extraordinary Leadership- Dean Monroe Price
Award for Distinguished Service- Professor Arthur Jacobson
Monrad Paulsen Award- Dean David Martinidez
AWARD RECIPIENTS (CLASS OF 2019)
Cardozo Service and Achievement Awards
Nicholas P. Anselmi
Rachel E. Behar
Michael Celler
Nicole Duke
Jared V. Grubow
Nicholas Gliagias
Medea Matiashvili
Maitreyee Mopalwar
Alexandra N. Nieto
Aashini Shrivastav
Julia Spivak
Benjamin H. Winters
Rachel Zilberfarb
Professor John Appel Award
Elana A. Bengualid
Eduardo J. Quiroga
Distinguished Performance in the LL.M. Program
Melody L. Andre
Chanel L. Briggins
Dmytro Petrov
Best Written Work Not for Publication in a Journal
Nicole Duke
Best Written Work for Civil Advocacy
Jessica M. Kulig
Best Written Work for Criminal Justice
Lauren A. Rose
Best Written Work for Publication
Alexandra N. Nieto
Jacob Burns Medals
Mehack Ali
Ahdieh Alipour Herisi
Sari Michelle Bronner
Geroline A. Castillo
Jordan N. Coyne
Gabriella Garner
Emily R. Lundgren
Natalia I. Mata
Alexandra S. Mitton
Jennifer R. Pierce
Ian J. Postman
Adam E. Rubin
Ava L. Schein
Nicole R. Schill
Eva M. Thomas
Kathleen L. Wahl
Angela M. Wanslow
Dih-Lin Wong
Mike Downing Memorial Coaching Award
Ethan Smith
Beatrice Cohen Award
Ruth V. Fruchter
James Lewis Award
Ezra Sakkal
Telford Taylor Award
Keegan J. Stephan
Intellectual Property Award
Chanel L. Briggins
Nathaniel Kosslyn
Federal Bar Council
Cornelius W. Wickersham Award
Alexander J. Schnapp
Jacob Burns Ethics Center in the Practice of Law Award
Agnes K. Baik
Stanley H. Beckerman Public Interest Award
Natalia I. Mata
Jonathan A. Weiss Award for Public Interest Law
Melissa Olivo
Archie A. Gorfinkel Award
Ricky A. Shah
Ilana B. Kornfeld
E. Nathaniel Gates Award
Lindsey E. Rubinstein
Steven Eric Tanenbaum Leadership Award
Abigail K. Pearlman
National Association of Women Lawyers Award for Outstanding Graduate
Khadija Foda
Louis Henkin Award
Mordechay Sorek
ALI-ABA Scholarship and Leadership Award
Briana P. Sheridan
Andrew S. Zucker Award
Jaynah Josselyn Ross-Mendoza
Dr. Samuel Belkin Award
Deluwara Ahmed
Felix Frankfurter Award
Shelley Attadgie