Excellence, dedication, and stellar were just a few of the words used to describe the outstanding students who were recognized at this year’s Commencement Awards Ceremony. The awards ceremony, which takes place before the Commencement Ceremony, highlights students' hard work inside and outside of the classroom.
“Today, we recognize not only academic achievements but also the many ways that students have shined outside of the classroom,” said Dean Melanie Leslie. “Each award represents countless hours of effort, unwavering commitment and the relentless pursuit of excellence.”
Dean Leslie delivered welcome remarks at the ceremony before Associate Dean Jenn Kim, Professor Alma Magaña, Professor Kathryn Miller, Professor Rebekah Diller, Vice Dean Felix Wu, and Dean Leslie presented the students with the awards.
Photo Gallery (coming soon)
See the full list of award recipients below
Class of 2024 Commencement Awards
Class of 2024 Award Winners
Cardozo Service and Achievement Awards
Jeremy Lamstein
Kathryn Siegmund
Abigail Strange
Leandra Ipina
Abriyanna Finley
Rachel Barkley
Professor John Appel Award
For exemplary service to the student body
Gowri Cheepurupalli
Monrad Paulsen Award
For a non-student – Devoted service to the continued vitality of the ideals and purposes of legal education
Professor Stew Sterk
Dean's Distinguished Service Award
Mike Stone
Distinguished Performance in the LL.M. Program
Naomi Muijinga Malumba
Danielle Haziza
Meryem Sennoussi
Best Written Work Not for Publication in a Journal
Samantha Velez
Saul Thorkelson
Best Written Work for Civil Advocacy
Sotir Zhupa
Best Written Work for Criminal Justice
Tara Ansari
Best Written Work for Publication
Timothy Gentles
Richard H. Weisberg Award
Best paper in one three topics: Law & Literature, First Amendment Law, or Holocaust & Atrocity Prevention
Sarit Perl
Jacob Burns Medals
Moot Court Co-EIC: Nicole Fabian Peña
Moot Court Co-EIC: Sophie Winnick
EIC, Cardozo Law Review: Ryen Lim
EIC, Alternative Dispute Resolution Honor Society: Diana Miller
EIC, Cardozo Arts and Entertainment Journal: Carly Rothstein
EIC, International & Comparative Law Review: Ahren Lahvis
EIC, Cardozo Journal of Equal Rights and Social Justice: Maleah Bradley
EIC, Cardozo Journal of Conflict Resolution: Daniel Kim
Other Accomplishments: David Fleschner, Cara Hernandez, Chris Chuang, Yonatan Raskin, Olivia Corn, Jessica Ho Madison Dougherty, Sophie Foster, Kieran Graulich, William Fox, Emily Bernstein, James Stitt, and Konnie Dominguez
Mike Downing Memorial Coaching Award
Awarded to a Moot Court Honor Society Head Coach with sincere passion for and commitment to their MCHS team
Tatiana Sterling
Beatrice Cohen Award
Excellence in Jewish Studies
Shiya Ehrenreich
James Lewis Award
Outstanding achievement in the field of Tax
Wendy Li
Telford Taylor Award
For outstanding achievement in the fields of constitutional law (or) human rights
Jillian Leavey
Intellectual Property Award
Excellence in intellectual property (JD, LLM)
Olivia Huey (JD)
Carly Rothstein (JD)
Moira Connolly (LLM)
Federal Bar Council Cornelius W. Wickersham Award
To the highest ranking student in the field of Constitutional Law
Emma Kabuto
The Jacob Burns Center for Ethics in the Practice of Law Award
For the demonstrated commitment through scholarship, activity, and interest in advancing professionalism and access to justice
Keisy Germosen
IAPP Westin Scholar Award
For excellence in data and privacy law
Ethan Libo
Stanley H. Beckerman Public Interest Award
For outstanding commitment to assisting less fortunate persons in need of legal assistance by virtue of excellent performance in a clinic, exceptional personal qualities, and career choice
Francis Grail-Bingham
Rebecca Dugini
Jonathan A. Weiss Award for Public Interest Law
Demonstrated a commitment to public interest law during the student's law school career or after graduation
Noa Gutow-Ellis
Keisha Leising
Archie A. Gorfinkel Award
For a promising and accomplished graduate going into the field of criminal law
Simone Lonas
Rebecca Halff
E. Nathaniel Gates Award
For outstanding academic work or public advocacy that contributes to the achievement of equal justice
Zoe Sheppard
Steven Eric Tanenbaum Leadership Award
For exemplary service to the Cardozo Community
Gabriela Amaral
Esther Song
National Association of Women Lawyers Award
For a student who has shown academic achievement, motivation, tenacity and drive and shows promise to contribute to the advancement of women in society
Sydney Clarke
Louis Henkin Award
For demonstrating academic achievement and superior scholarship in the LLM program
Kelly Malinsky
ALI-ABA Scholarship and Leadership Award
In recognition for being the graduates in this law school who best represent a combination of scholarship and leadership, the qualities embodied by the ALI-ABA parent organizations, the American Law Institute and the American Bar Association
Grace Huang
Andrew S. Zucker Award
For academic excellence, commitment to the law school's future success, community activism, and dedication to the legal profession
Melanie Gold
Dr. Samuel Belkin Award
For exceptional contributions to the continued growth and development of the law school
Muna Yimam
Felix Frankfurter Award
For outstanding academic achievement, maturity, responsibility, diligence, and judgement
Alison Aimers