Law Graduation Awards

As part of a long-standing tradition, the University of Arkansas School of Law presents 22 graduate awards and one faculty award at a ceremony held as part of May’s graduation festivities. The awards were endowed, or are funded by, benefactors with important ties to the School of Law and each was created honor members of the law school community who have excelled in a particular area of endeavor. The descriptions below indicate the past recipient(s) of that award.

Outstanding Academic Achievement Award - 1st in Class

2023 - Danielle O'Shields Essary

High Academic Achievement Award - 2nd in Class

2023 - Sarah Smith

Academic Achievement Award - 3rd in Class

2023 - Bailey Geller

American Law Institute CLE Scholarship & Leadership Award

Awarded to the student who best represents a combination of scholarship and leadership, the qualities represented by the American Law Institute. This award is provided through the American Law Institute Continuing Legal Education Group, which has been a provider of continuing legal education to lawyers across the country since 1947.

2023 - Bailey Geller
2022 - Taylor Spillers
2021 - Courtney Baltz
2020 - Isabel Thoma
2019 – Skye Austin
2018 – Andrew Lawson
2017 – Anna Regnier
2016 – Amy Boler
2014 – Katherine McDonald
2014 – Bethany Whitfield
2014 – Samuel Waddell
2014 – Preston Tull Eldridge
2014 – Lauren Clark
2013 – Robin Wright
2012 – Meredith Hoberock
2011 – Ryan Culpepper
2010 – Leah Ward
2009 – Timothy Steadman
2008 – Jera Rae Houghtaling
2007 – Cameron McCree

Bard Rogan Natural Resources Award

Awarded for excellence in the study of oil and gas law, public lands law, water law, and other geothermal regulation.

2023 - Alex Millsap
2022 - Martin Arroyo Jr.
2021 - Marissa Fennell
2020 - Mitchell Dowden
2019 – Patrick Hickey
2018 – Forrest Stobaugh
2017 – Jon Cigainero
2016 – Maria Korzendorfer
2015 – Sara Swearengin
2014 – Katherine McDonald
2013 – LaToya Alexander
2012 – Thomas Hesselbein
2011 – Justin Kavalir
2010 – Clark Donat
2009 – Traci Graham
2008 – Timothy Evans
2007 – Mark Booher
2006 – Eric Pendergrass

Bogle-Sharp Award

Awarded to the student voted by their peers as most likely to succeed in the practice of law. Established in memory of Arkansas Bar Association President William Wilson Sharp and Arkansas Lieutenant Governor G. Otis Bogle, law partners in Brinkley.

2023 - Danielle O'Shields Essary
2022 - Tyler Mlakar
2021 - Julian Sharp
2020 - Katie Hicks
2019 – Maggie Rushing
2018 – Pete Brunson
2017 – Mary Elise Holman
2016 – Jacob Lively
2015 – Brinkley Cook-Campbell
2014 – Donavon Sawyer
2013 – Katherine Church
2012 – Max Deitchler
2011 – Jackie Cronkhite
2010 – Clark Donat
2009 – William Buckley III
2008 – Asia Diggs
2007 – Cameron McCree
2006 – Everett Clarke Tucker

Clinical Legal Education Association Outstanding Clinical Student

Awarded for excellence in clinical fieldwork.

2023 - Jacob Foor, Baley McClellan, & Stephany Quintero
2022 - Hannah Malone & Dalton Cook
2021 - Alexis Bibbs
2020 - Nicholas Linn
2019 – Skye Austin
2018 – Kristen Castro
2017 – Adrian Frank
2016 – Josh Eide
2015 – Miguel Mariscal
2015 – Lilia Pacheco
2014 – Bethany Whitfield
2013 – Katie Eaves
2012 – Nancy Hall

Craig Sterne Memorial Award – Estate Planning and Taxation

Awarded for outstanding work in the studies of estate planning and taxation.

2023 - Danielle O'Shields Essary
2022 - Nicholas Hays
2021 - Courtney Baltz
2020 - Jared Needham
2019 – Kameron Richards
2018 – Andrew Lawson
2017 – Anna Regnier
2017 – Kristen Webster
2016 – Will Mullen
2015 – Edmond McGehee
2014 – Nicholas Irmen
2013 – Louis Laski
2012 – Isabelle Taylor
2011 – Adam Bodeker
2010 – Holli Heiles
2009 – Emerson McNair
2008 – Thomas Watson
2007 – Kassandra Bentley
2006 – Michael Childers

Robert F. Fussell Community Engagement Award

2023 - Sydney Weiskopf

James H. McKenzie Award Professional Responsibility & Ethics

Awarded for outstanding performance in the area of professional responsibility and ethics.

2023 - Bennett Waddell
2022 - Lacy Ashworth
2021 - David Lee
2020 - Taylor Farr
2019 – Aaron Cochran
2018 – Andrew Lawson
2018 – Ricky Nolen
2018 – John Phillips
2017 – Mary Elise Holman
2016 – Dalton Person
2015 – Jessica Pruitt
2014 – Ariel Flood
2014 – Josh Edwards
2014 – Laura Pearn
2013 – Jervonne Newsome
2012 – J.R. Garrett
2011 – Jackie Cronkhite
2010 – Joshua Hite
2009 – John Hall
2008 – Talley Parker
2007 – Justin Jones
2006 – L. Keith Harvey

Joe C. Barrett Commercial Law Award

This award is provided through the Arkansas Bar Foundation and was endowed through a testamentary gift made by Joe C. Barrett (LL.B. ’53). Barrett practiced Law in Jonesboro and was senior partner in Barrett, Wheatley, Smith and Deacon.

2023 - John Boyter
2022 - Taylor Wilbourn
2020 - Jorge Rodriguez
2019 – Nicholas Lovejoy
2018 – Andrew Lawson
2017 – Ronald Johnson
2016 – Joseph Allen
2015 – Graham Talley
2014 – Katherine McDonald
2013 – Dustin Doty
2012 – Jarica Hudspeth
2011 – Tyler Humphries
2010 – William Clark
2009 – Rebecca Worsham
2008 – Richard Hebar
2007 – Alberta Davis
2007 – Kao Lee
2006 – Michael Childers
2006 – Alisha Williams

Lewis E. Epley, Jr. Faculty Award for Excellence in Teaching

Awarded annually to the faculty member voted professor of the year by the graduation class. This award is endowed by Lewis Epley, Jr. (LL.B. ’61).

2023 - Alex Nunn
2022 - Alex Nunn
2020 - Alex Nunn
2019 – Steve Clowney
2018 – Steve Clowney
2017 – Steve Clowney
2016 – Will Foster
2015 – Laurent Sacharoff
2014 – Dustin Buehler
2014 – Carlton Bailey
2013 – Dustin Buehler
2012 – Dustin Buehler
2012 – Mary Beth Matthews
2011 – Brian Gallini
2011 – Ned Snow
2010 – Howard Brill
2009 – Ned Snow
2008 – Ned Snow
2006 – Richard B. Atkinson

M. Jeff Starling Award – Labor & Employment

M. Jeff Starling award is funded through the Arkansas Bar Foundation in honor of M. Jeff Starling. Starling, who died in 1990, was a prominent labor lawyer in Pine bluff, where he specialized in labor elections and negotiations. He was a member and past president of the Labor Law Section of the Arkansas Bar Association.

2023 - Sydney McConnell
2022 - Brett Whitley
2021 - Dawson Floyd
2020 - Renee Schuldt
2019 – Andrew Dixon
2018 – Jennifer Hosp
2017 – Kyle Kennedy
2016 – Daveante Jones
2016 – Jordan Cooper
2015 – Laura Peterson
2015 – Cory Bridges
2014 – Bethany Whitfield
2013 – Molly Magee
2012 – Kathleen Bly
2011 – Margaret Katherine Carver
2010 – Kristi Hunter
2009 – Grace Keegan Johnson
2008 – Hope Lauresha Jackson
2007 – Elizabeth Rowe
2006 – Anthony Lewis

Medico Legal Prize

Awarded for outstanding work in medical legal studies.

2023 - Hannah Lange & Laura Purvis
2022 - Caroline Brown
2021 - Britannie Gragg
2020 - Maria Baez de Hicks
2019 – Ashleigh Giovannini
2018 – Kristen Castro
2017 – Rollin Ty Barnes
2016 – Dorothy Goodwin
2015 – Jordan Broyles
2014 – Charsie Gordon
2014 – Kylie Wiley
2013 – Evan Stallings
2012 – Robert Patton
2011 – Ryan Culpepper
2010 – Eric Bell
2009 – Adam Mansfield Lentz
2008 – Leann Box
2007 – Robyn Ryan
2006 – Lindsay Edwards

Outstanding Contribution to the Law School Community Award

Awarded for outstanding positive contributions and service to the School of Law community.

2023 - James Woodward
2022 - Madison Miller
2021 - Alexis "Lexi" Acello
2020 - Tony Jones
2019 – Christina Lusk
2018 – Brittany Ford
2017 – Emily O’Neal
2016 – Miriam Elizabeth Ramirez
2015 – Mary Buckley
2014 – Bethany Whitfield
2013 – Katie Bushkuhl
2012 – Jennifer Corbin
2011 – Haley Heath
2010 – Jack Buckley
2010 – Joe Bussell
2009 – Phillip Brick, Jr.
2008 – Ryan Ray
2007 – K.C. Tucker
2006 – Calysta Johnson

Erron & Libby Smith Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Law School Publications

2023 - Bailey Geller
2022 - Taylor Spillers
2020 - Katie Hicks
2019 – McKenzie Raub
2018 – Clay Sapp
2017 – Anna Regnier
2016 – Cristen Handley
2015 – Graham Talley
2014 – Samuel Waddell
2013 – Katherine Church
2012 – Kathryn Smith
2011 – Haley Heath
2010 – Samantha Leflar
2009 – Catherine Odom
2008 – Suzanne Clark
2007 – Jamie Goss Dempsey
2006 – Everett Clarke Tucker

Pro Bono Awards

Awarded to students beginning in 2019 for excellence in pro bono service.

Pro Bono Gold Award

Awarded to students who have completed 100 hours or more of pro bono service.

2023 - Elizabeth Green, Imogen Ryan, Josie Bates, Kristina Ranney Wallace, Marquela McClellan, Pierce Teeuwen, Savannah Luna, and Sydney Weiskopf
2022 - Ashley James
2021 - Alexis "Lexi" Acello, Kara Butler, Laura Edmonson, Mara Hayn, Sarah Koch, Anna Tanselli, Rebekah Verhoek
2020 - Evangeline Bacon, Maria Baez de Hicks, Maisie Manuel, Morgan Woelke
2019 – Katie Rose Martin, Kelley Boyd

Pro Bono Silver Award

Awarded to students who have completed 50 hours or more of pro bono service.

2023 - Abigail Meharg, Christopher Brown, Jacob Dubose, and Maria Cueva
2022 - Martin Arroyo Jr., Caleb Epperson, Mason Gates, Jonathan Jenkins, Colton Langford, Hannah Malone, Zachary Rivera, Katie Sparrow, Brett Whitley
2021 - Alicia Canfield, Derick Dillard, Badria Mryyan, Jordan Sharp, Chafer Stanley
2020 - Tony Jones, Grace Lee, Sabrina Worsham, Jaden Atkins
2019 – Raelynn Hillhouse
2019 – Ashleigh Giovannini
2019 – Christina Lusk
2019 – Kameron Richards

Community Engagement Award

2019 – Katie Rose Martin

Legal Aid of Arkansas Pro Bono Student of the Year

Recipient selected by the Legal Aid of Arkansas.

2023 - Pierce Teeuwen
2022 - Colton Langford
2021 - Jonathan Jenkins
2019 – Kelley Boyd

Robert F. Fussell Pro Bono Award

Awarded to the student who gives the most hours to pro bono service, exemplifying Judge Fussell’s distinguished career in public service and his dedication to pro bono work.

2023 - Imogen Ryan
2022 - Ashley James
2021 - Kara Butler
2020 - Evangeline Bacon
2019 – Kelley Boyd
2018 – Celina Walker
2017 – Celina Walker
2016 – Marco Lavalle
2015 – Alice Havner
2014 – Chad Kelly
2013 – Michael Truong
2012 – Laura Johnson
2011 – Kambira Jones
2010 – Sarah Hudson
2009 – Tiffany Brown
2008 – Susan Scott
2007 – Derick Allison

T.C. and Rosemary Carlson Memorial Award – Constitutional Law

Awarded to the graduate who demonstrates excellence in study of constitutional law. This award is provided through the friends and family of T.C. Carlson. Carlson was a University of Arkansas administrator from 1915-58, serving as registrar, vice president of finance and treasurer. After retiring from the university, he went back to school and received a law degree at age 70 (1963). Friends and family contributed the funds to endow the award.

2023 - Jonathan Hutter
2022 - Martin Arroyo Jr.
2021 - Julian Sharp
2020 - Shannon Stroud
2019 – Raelynn Hillhouse
2018 – Ricky Nolen
2017 – Alex Nguyen
2016 – Dorothy Goodwin
2015 – Jessica Pruitt
2014 – Preston Tull Eldridge
2013 – Jervonne Newsome
2012 – Joshua Mostyn
2012 – Joshua Mostyn
2011 – Jackie Cronkhite
2010 – Michael Thompson
2009 – Timothy Steadman
2008 – Robert Younger
2007 – Caleb Patterson
2006 – William Bassett Harris, Jr.

W.J. Arnold Memorial Award for Most Promising Trial Lawyer

Awarded to graduates who demonstrate the most potential for becoming trial lawyers with emphasis on performance in moot court competitions. This award is funded by the Independence County Bar Association of Batesville as a memorial to W.J. “Bill” Arnold.

2023 - Jace Motley
2022 - Hannah Malone
2021 - Hayden Wyatt
2020 - Hannah Andrews
2019 – Erin Keil
2018 – Jessica Boykin
2018 – Brittany Ford
2017 – Corey Anderson
2016 – Spencer Sims Bowling
2015 – Blake Montgomery
2015 – Tyler Squires
2014 – Jonathan Brown
2013 – Christopher Bryant
2012 – Adam Montessi
2011 – Haley Heath
2010 – Leah Ward
2008 – Matthew Panach
2007 – David McDaniel
2006 – Stephanie DeClerk

W.B. Putman American Inn of Court Pupil Award

Awarded to graduates who demonstrate professional excellence in the American Inn of Court Program. The number of awardees changes from year to year depending on participation and distinction. The W.B. Putman Inn of Court is the local chapter of the American Inns of Court, an organization founded to promote civility in the profession. Every year the local Inn sponsors a group of 3L students as “pupils” in the Inn. The students attend the monthly meetings (during the academic Year) and assist with pupilage groups who organize and present a Continuing Legal Education program at each meeting. At the end of the year, the Inn designates students for Pupil Awards.

2023 - Abigail Barr, Bailey Geller, Danielle O'Shields Essary, Edgar Hernandez, Elizabeth Green, Maria Cueva, Nicholas Ciggelakis, Rose McGarrity, Sydney Weiskopf
2019 – Ethan Ellis
2019 – Patrick Hickey
2019 – McKenzie Raub
2018 – Jessica Boykin
2018 – Luke Brasuell
2018 – Rachel Carney
2018 – Haley Ethridge
2018 – Brittany Ford
2018 – Jennifer Hosp
2018 – Beth Kanopsic
2018 – Zach Musgraves
2018 – Drew Myers
2018 – Jack Phillips
2017 – Corey Anderson
2017 – Taylor Bish
2017 – Misty Grady
2017 – Caroline Kennedy
2016 – Erin Callan
2016 – Abbey Clark
2016 – David James
2016 – Caleb Lang
2016 – Nick Mote
2015 – Courtney Cassidy
2015 – Jadyn Cleveland
2015 – Sarah Jewell
2015 – Christian Lehmberg
2015 – Edmond McGehee
2015 – Jordan Phillips
2014 – Nicholas Irmen
2014 – Whitney Matney
2014 – Daniel Sbanotto
2014 – Katie Lee Skains
2014 – Chancey Combs
2013 – Scot Allison
2013 – Robyn Brown
2013 – Katie Bushkuhl
2013 – Elizabeth Cook
2013 – Katie Eaves
2013 – Kelsey Fohner
2013 – Tiffany Hord-Morris
2013 – Cortney Price
2013 – Suzanne Solomon
2013 – Brooke South
2013 – Anna Williams
2012 – Jennifer Corbin
2012 – Jenae Tyler
2012 – Joshua Mostyn
2012 – Fred Davis
2011 – Jennifer Carleton
2011 – Jennifer Cole
2011 – Amanda Jarvis
2011 – R. Scott Johnson
2011 – Martin Nieto
2010 – Kimberly Mueller
2010 – Ezinne Arisukwu
2009 – Emerson McNair
2009 – Lensa Odima
2008 – M. Christina Northern
2008 – Justin Rains
2007 – Tina Adcock
2006 – Ross Noland
2006 – David Reading

Historical Awards

American Bankruptcy Institute – Medal of Excellence

Awarded to the top student in bankruptcy studies. This award was provided through the American Bankruptcy Institute.

2021 - Alexis Bibbs
2020 - Taylor Ellis
2019 – Marshall Jones
2018 – Nicholas Lovejoy
2017 – JR Baxter
2016 – Josh Eide
2015 – Ralph Tyler Montrone
2014 – Emily Goins
2013 – Matthew Mitchell
2012 – Erin Hawkes
2011 – Brandon Tittle
2010 – Drew Sadler
2009 – Taylor White
2008 – Blake Pennington
2007 – Jesse Reyes
2006 – Michael Scott Hall

Bassett Law Firm Trial Advocacy Prize

Awarded for exceptional achievement in trial advocacy competitions.

2020 - Courtney Brooks
2019 – Alyssa Watkins
2018 – Leland Ferguson
2018 – Bryan Foster
2017 – Brett Roberts
2017 – Bailey Knapp
2016 – Joe Woodward
2015 – Britta Stamps
2015 – Brinkley Cook-Campbell
2014 – Brittany Pettingill
2013 – Bryant Crooks
2012 – Diony Monestime
2011 – Glenn Cason
2011 – Lauren Baber
2010 – Buckley Bridges
2010 – Betsy Turner
2009 – Kevin Vogeltanz
2008 – Jonathan Davis
2007 – Amanda Cox
2007 – Britt Johnson
2006 – Everett Clarke Tucker

Davis, Clark, Butt, Carithers & Taylor PLC Appellate advocacy Prize

Awarded for exceptional achievement in appellate advocacy.

2019 – Jessica Guarino
2018 – Asia Cruz
2017 – JR Baxter
2017 – Kyle Kennedy
2016 – Cristen Handley
2016 – David James
2015 – Whitney Doolittle
2015 – Lauren Summerhill
2014 – Mallory Langston
2014 – Daniel Yim
2014 – Valerie Morato
2013 – Bryan Fisher
2012 – Jacquelyn Harrison
2011 – Holly Lar
2010 – Ashley Driver
2010 – Taylor Mattson
2010 – Allison Waldrip
2009 – Anna Betts
2008 – Ryan Ray
2007 – Ashley Hudson
2007 – Nathan Smith
2006 – Ali Brady