First Lap Award ￨Vincent Miraglia Award￨ Extra Mile Awards ￨ Marathon Awards ￨ Melissa Hamann Awards ￨ Mary E. Card Award ￨ Faculty & Staff Awards￨Faculty Marshal and Graduation Speakers  |  Cardinal Hickey Award ￨ Columbus Awards ￨ Joan Vorrasi Memorial Award

On April 19 Catholic Law held both the Columbus Awards Night and Aficionado Night. The Catholic Law community eagerly gathered for the longstanding spring tradition of honoring students, faculty, and staff for their service to the law school community. The evening featured class skits, as well as awards presented for pro bono service, professional excellence, and service to the Law School (which were awarded to students, faculty, and staff). The festivities began with a reception in the Louise H. Keelty and James K. Keelty, Jr. Atrium, followed by the awards ceremony in the Rev. William J. Byron S.J. Auditorium. The evening was smoothly guided by Hosts Sofia Guirguis (1L) and Jessica Merino (2L), with special support by Julie Orlando's '23 son, Julian Castro, and an accordion musical performance by Professor Kevin Walsh.

Following the Awards ceremony, attendees took part in Aficionado Night hosted by the Evening Law Students Association. The event was held at Catholic Law's Knights of Columbus Courtyard and allowed students, faculty, and staff to continue the celebration and reflect on the closing of another academic year. 

The 2024 Columbus Award Night categories and winners are listed below.

2024 Faculty Marshal and Graduation Student Speakers 

Class Celebration: Julie Orlando
Commencement: Casey Magersupp

Faculty Marshal: Professor Antonio Perez

First Lap Awards
For dedicated service to the law school community during the first year of law study

Albert Anaim 
Chloe Czapla 
Nathan Frank
Sofia Guirguis
Logan Holmes 
Zachary Kohn 
Katherine Mars 
Brandon McKee 
Zachary Novak 
Valentina Perez 
Andrea Quinan 
Damien Usita 
Sarah Webster 

Vincent Miraglia Award for Outstanding Service to the Student Bar Association

Judith Crews
Yusuf Khan

Extra Mile Awards
For outstanding service to the law school community

Taylor Abshire
Grace Best 
Julia Bockman 
Catherine Cook 
Kalkidan Ezra 
Ryan Ferebee 
Keelin Ferris 
Kali Fields 
Michelangelo Furnari 
Sarah Halko 
Robert Hill 
Connor Kehoe 
Charlie Lefebvre 
Joseph Lopes 
Casey Magersupp 
Lalla Maiga 
Elizabeth McMullen 
Jessica Merino 
McKenzie Mixon 
Sydnee Morin 
Jocelyn Near 
Sarah Persico 
Annie Pierce 
Julie Reed 
Leah Rodenberry 
Christopher Rodriguez-Molina 
Jasmine Rountree 
Gerald Sharpe 
Jennifer Shepard 
Taylor Skala 
Peyton Smetana 
Sarah Smith 
Cynthia Turcios 
Alex Van Cleef
Lawrence Wilson 
Samantha Winter 
Nikitha Zacharia 

Melissa Hamann Award for Outstanding Community Service by a Student Organization

First Generation Law Student Union

Mary E. Card Award for Outstanding Student Organization of the Year

Black Law Students Association

Faculty and Staff Awards


Administrator of the Year:
Susan Smith Newell 



Staff Member of the Year:
Renee Stack



Most Supportive Professor:
Professor William Kamin 



Outstanding Adjunct Professor:
Lindsey Cloud 


Outstanding Professor for First Year Classes:
Professor Stephen Mortellaro 


Outstanding Professor for Evening Classes:
Professor Chad Squitieri 



Professor of the Year:
Professor Kevin Walsh

Cardinal Hickey Community Service Award

Julie Orlando

Columbus Awards

Yusuf Khan in the Day Division
Judith Crews in the Evening Division

Joan Vorrasi Memorial Award for Best Skit
Awarded to the class year with the best skit

2Ls