USC Law’s finest were honored during the annual awards ceremony on April 5. Dean Matthew L. Spitzer presented awards to 10 students, including a new award given to two students in the Graduate and International Programs. Student Bar Association President Cameron Kalunian presented the SBA Outstanding Faculty and Staff Awards. The winners are:
The Edward and Eleanor Shattuck Awards are given to students who have demonstrated the greatest potential for becoming outstanding members of the Bar and whose actions have improved the general quality of life at USC Law.
Ofer Bleiweiss (pictured right)
Credited with single-handedly helping dozens, if not hundreds, of first-year students make it to their second year at USC Law. Said one student nominee: “He was an excellent guide for us when we did not know our way.”
David German
A Ph.D. candidate with the USC School of Philosophy, he also found time to amass a remarkable 567 volunteer hours and mentor fellow students. One nomination read: “Students speak of his unfailing support, of his guidance, of his wisdom, his sensitivity, his humor and his unfailing ability to inspire by example and by a soft word.”
Cameron Kalunian (pictured right)
SBA President and respected student leader throughout his time at USC Law. Organized first-ever Community Week, reached out to incoming students and assisted with the Katrina Legal Aid Project.
Luke Sisak
Organized 40 USC Law students’ participation in the Katrina Legal Aid Project and is a member of the Hale Moot Court Executive Board and USC Law Faculty Selection Committee. As one nominator said: “His hard work has made a real difference.”
Sam Yebri
Organized the first National Jewish Law Student Conference to be hosted by USC Law. The event was well-attended and attracted prestigious participants. Recently named a Jeremiah Fellow by the Progressive Jewish Alliance.
Oscar Medellin (pictured right)
Member and co-chair of La Raza. Established student-led campaign that raised $25,000 for scholarships for Latino law students. Served as a career mentor for elementary students and USC undergraduates.
The Miller-Johnson Equal Justice Prize recognizes the student who shows the greatest commitment to the causes of civil and social justice.
Eric Schultheis 
(pictured right)
Worked in public interest with the Western Center on Law and Poverty and strove to increase social justice awareness within the law school itself. As one nominator said: “He has encouraged, and sometimes pushed, his classmates to consider the impact their actions and inactions may have on the disenfranchised and under-represented — and on equal justice in our community.”
The Mason C. Brown Award recognizes a student who demonstrates a commitment to public interest endeavors and a particular talent for trial work.
Shasta Smith
Spent two years working with the Post-Conviction Justice Project, where, as one nominator put it, “her clients were lucky to have such a forceful, smart and no-nonsense advocate.” Taught basic legal literacy skills to high school students as a member of the Street Law program.
The Graduate and International Programs Award recognizes students who have demonstrated outstanding dedication, involvement and significant contribution to the law school community.
Loida Alvarez (pictured right)
Known for her tireless efforts to unify her LL.M. classmates. According to one nomination: “We all have seen her dedication, involvement and motivation throughout the year, and admire her leadership skills and hard work.”
Verna Szu-Yu Chen
Strove to improve the LL.M. program for international students and strengthen the relationship between LL.M. and J.D. students. “As our [LL.M.] class representative,” said one nominator, “she has made various efforts throughout the year for all of us.”
The Faculty and Staff Awards honor a faculty member, adjunct professor and staff member for their service to students.
Ron Garet, Carolyn Craig Franklin Chair in Law and Religion (pictured right, with family)
One student nomination summed it up best, describing him as "the embodiment of everything one would want in a law professor: intelligent, compassionate and, most importantly, able to challenge his students to achieve their best."
Brian Raphael, Assistant Director of the Law Library and Adjunct Assistant Professor of Law
Law firms and judges across the country have this professor to thank for all the productive research done by USC students and alumni. In addition to serving as an adjunct professor, he helped oversee the recent multimillion dollar update of the USC Law Library.
Kyle Jones, Registrar
Without him, professors would not be assigned classes and students would not receive grades. He does an incredible job at the unenviable task of tracking down professors for grades, responding and listening to student concerns, and generally making the law school function.
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