Making the School Year Count

Students, faculty, staff feted at awards ceremony By Ahmanielle Hall photos by Steve Cohn There have been 145 days this school year and students, faculty and staff have been making them count. Whether it was exemplary teaching, assisting fellow students, excellence in the classroom or just making someone’s day a little brighter at USC Gould, the annual awards program recognized the achievements of faculty, staff and graduating students.

This year's awardees were celebrated by Dean Rasmussen (center) and the USC Gould community.

At the ceremony’s outset, students recognized faculty members and staff who had a positive impact on their school year. Assistant Director of Student Services Debra Barnett was awarded Outstanding Staff Member of the Year.  The Student Bar Association (SBA) then chose Professor Thomas Griffith as the Professor of the Year. Students who nominated Griffith said, “he made criminal procedure come alive,” and that he is “hands-down the best professor at [the law school].” The SBA also recognized Professor Donald Scotten as the Adjunct Faculty Member of the year. “I’m proud, appreciative;” Scotten said. “It’s a joint venture between the teachers and the students.” Dean Rasmussen presented the William A. Rutter Distinguished Teaching Award, named for the legendary educator and USC Gould alumnus. “I’m not exaggerating when I say that Bill educated more law students and lawyers than anyone in America,” Rasmussen said. “Bill was so committed to exemplary teaching that he established the Rutter Teaching Award not only here at his alma mater, but also at Berkeley, UCLA and UC Davis.” Rutter’s son Paul spoke at the event. “My father believed being a teacher went beyond being a great scholar,” he said. “It required compassion and the desire to help students understand the importance of what they were learning. This year’s Rutter Award recipient was Professor Rebecca Brown. “I am a person who has had my fair share of good fortune,” Brown said. “But this honor is the most meaningful because teaching is at the heart of everything I care about.” Brown teaches Constitutional Law, and she took the opportunity to share a few words about how students could best view the law and apply it to their lives. “Reflect with vigor and objectivity the things you hold dear,” she said. “That will make you better lawyers.” Dean Rasmussen continued the ceremony by recognizing this year’s Shattuck Award recipients. These six students were recognized for demonstrating the greatest potential for becoming members of the bar and making great contributions to the legal community. Awardee Neal Gauger ’13 co-founded the Government Law Organization, which allowed USC Gould to offer more options for students interested in pursuing government work. He was also recognized for being what Dean Rasmussen called an “active and enthusiastic” member of the Moot Court Board and Mediation Clinic. “It’s an honor and challenge to be given an award,” Gauger said. “It says that the school believes I have high potential and it’s an investment and a challenge to live up to what is expected of me.” Jasmyn Jones ’13 was recognized for her work with the USC Public Interest Law Foundation (PILF) auction, which has raised thousands of dollars for students pursuing public interest work over the summer. The next Shattuck Award recipient, Amy Shayne ’13, was recognized for her dedication to OUTLaw and strengthening relationships between straight and LGBT law students. Jackson Trugman ’13 chaired the board of the Hale Moot Court Honors Program this year and was recognized also for his work in the Post-Conviction Justice Project. If students ever received a discounted Metro transportation card, they have Ryan Estes ’13 to thank. Estes, who was also a Shattuck Award recipient, negotiated the contract that made the discount cards possible. Dean Rasmussen said he was “every bit a man-about-campus” and Estes made that known, accepting his award adorned in a coat with tails and wielding a cane. Michael Angelo Santos ’13 was a member of the Faculty Diversity Initiative and has worked with the Iraqi Refugee Assistance Project as a legal director and case manager. He also received the Shattuck Award. The Miller-Johnson Equal Justice Prize is awarded to the student who is committed to civil and social justice. Ali Al-Sarraf ’13 was awarded this prize for his establishment of the USC chapter of the Iraqi Refugee Assistance Project. He was also this year’s vice-president of the Student Bar Association (SBA). Megan Hopkins ’13 was awarded the Mason C. Brown Award for her hundreds of hours spent advocating for others. The award was established to recognize a third-year law student who demonstrates a commitment to public interest endeavors and talent for trial work. One of Hopkins’ nominations read, “She represents the reason that the Mason C. Brown Award was created.” Graduate and international students from the law school’s LL.M. program were awarded for their involvement and achievement while at USC Gould as well. Simon Abbott ’13 received his bachelor’s degree in English in Calgary, Canada, in 2010 and his Bachelor of Laws degree in London in 2012. He said he has enjoyed his time at the school with his peers. “It’s been a pleasure to be amongst such talented, intelligent and young professionals,” Abbott said. “I feel blessed to be here and equally blessed to receive this award.” Duke Larry ’13 has been an associate member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators UK and a member of the Nigerian Institute of Management. He is part of National Service in Nigeria; he has served as corp liaison and a legal aid officer. He was admitted to the Nigerian Bar in 2011 and currently reviews judgments of the Superior Courts and publishes specialized law reports in commercial law. The third international awardee, Zhiwei Liu ’13, was admitted to the Chinese Bar in 2011 during his third year at university and published a paper in a national periodical in China by his senior year. He plans to take the New York Bar exam after graduation.