Student Awards 2011-2012

The following awards were presented at the UCI Law Awards Celebration
on April 17, 2012.

UCI Law Leadership and Service Awards

These awards, presented by Dean of Student Services Elizabeth Schroeder, were created by students, and the recipients were nominated by and chosen by peer vote.

• Student Leaders of the Year. Awarded to one member of each class who stepped up as a leader in the UCI Law community; a person dedicated to the UCI Law mission and committed to living out that mission through his/her leadership on campus.
  • Class of 2014: Brooke Weitzman
  • Class of 2013: Phillip Syers
  • Class of 2012: Irina Trasovan
• Community Bridge Builder Award (External) - David Rodwin. Awarded to one individual from the student body committed to serving the greater community, beyond the borders of UCI, who made a concerted effort to use his/her skills and talents to build community with our surrounding Orange County neighbors.
• Community Bridge Builder Award (Internal) - Akhil Sheth. Awarded to one individual from the student body committed to strengthening the community within UCI Law School, and made a special effort to maintain the unique, collegial culture we are trying to foster within UCI Law School.
• Trailblazer/Pioneering Spirit Awards. Awarded to one student from each class who has started organizations, pushed for progressive policies, or made a concerted effort to bring something new and exciting to our community.
  • Class of 2014: Lisa Petak
  • Class of 2013: Thomas McClain
  • Class of 2012: Jean Su
• UCI Law Legacy Awards. Awarded to seven members of the Class of 2012 who have gone above and beyond in leaving a special legacy at our law school.
  • Edgar Aguilasocho
  • Denny Chan
  • Alisa Hartz
  • Sam Lam
  • Jean Su
  • Irina Trasovan
  • Jenny Tryck
• Student Group Community Outreach - Orange County Human Rights Association (OCHRA). Awarded to the student group that has excelled at reaching out to the community beyond the borders of UCI.
• Student Group Enhancing Intellectual Community - Asian Pacific American Law Student Association (APALSA). Awarded to the student group that has used its programming to effectively enrich the intellectual community at UCI.
• Student Group - Best Event or Project - Asian Pacific American Law Student Association (APALSA) - Reigniting Community symposium. Awarded to the student group deserving of an award for best event or project.

External Scholarships and Awards

Dean of Development and External Affairs Charles Cannon presented these awards and scholarships made possible by generous supporters of UC Irvine School of Law.

• Orange County Hispanic Bar Association, Wallace (Wally) R. Davis Scholarship - Danila Toscano. The Scholarship Fund provides financial assistance to Orange County Latino students who are presently attending law school and who have demonstrated involvement in the Latino Community. More information.
• The California Bar Foundation 2011 Public Interest Scholarship - Emmanuelle Soichet. The foundation recognizes law students who demonstrate superior academic achievement; a sustained and extensive commitment to public service, often while overcoming serious personal hardships and obstacles; an intent to pursue a career in public interest law; and financial need.
• The California Bar Foundation 2011 Diversity Scholarship - Cinthia Flores. The foundation recognizes incoming first-year law students with financial need who demonstrate a desire to make a positive impact as a community leader.
• Cleo/Thurgood Marshall Legal Education Opportunities Program - Flor Tataje. The Cleo/Thurgood Marshall program supports students from diverse backgrounds pursuing a law degree.
• Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen & Loewy, LLP Scholarship - David Rodwin. The law firm offers the scholarship to a student who demonstrates an interest in the procedures and protocols that facilitate the immigration process.
• Jackson Lewis LLP Scholarship - Adrianna Kourafas. Jackson Lewis LLP, one of the most active employment litigation practices in the United States, established this scholarship to support an entering student with an interest in employment or labor law who has demonstrated professional acumen, academic excellence and has overcome socioeconomic or personal challenges.
• Justice Stephen K. Tamura Foundation - Christine Luu, Cristina Salvato. This scholarship was created in memory of Justice Tamura, the first Asian American appointed to the California Court of Appeal, and is awarded to students who demonstrate academic achievement, commitment to community, leadership and financial need.
• Equal Justice Works Summer Corps. Provides law students with the chance to spend their summer working on a legal project at a qualifying nonprofit public interest organization or public defender office of their choosing. Summer Corps members expand the delivery of critically needed legal assistance in low-income and underserved communities across the country on a broad range of issue areas.
  • Joni Carrasco
  • Selwyn Chu
  • Justin Greely
  • Richard Nguyen
  • Kristina Sapounakis
  • Emmanuelle Soichet
  • Danila Toscano
  • Michael Valdez
  • Michael Wasserman