Commencement Day Awards

Each year at Commencement, the School of Law recognizes graduating JD and LLM students who have excelled in their overall scholarship or community service.

These awards honor student achievements in a wide range of areas, including:

  • Academic excellence in specific areas of study
  • Outstanding advocacy skills
  • Leadership within and beyond the law school
  • Exceptional commitment to the mission of a particular community or student group
2026 Award Recipients Award Descriptions

Congratulations to our 2026 award recipients:

Top Honors

Max Koren Award
Maeve Elizabeth Christ and Robert Paul Cicciari

John N. Bennett Achievement Award
Lennon N. Greco

Dale S. Margulis Award
Linda Sarai Roman Marquez

Bachelor of Arts in Law Achievement Award
Fotini Sophia Thanos

Awards and Prizes

Carlos C. Alden Award
Nicholas A. Foti

Award for Excellence in the Study of Health Law
Tyonna Jada Acoff

Award for Excellence in the Study of Intellectual Property Law
Faith Elizabeth Herlan

Clinical Legal Education Association (CLEA) Outstanding Clinic Student Award
Corrin Mae Raynor

Clinical Legal Education Association (CLEA) Outstanding Externship Student Award
Christopher M. Mostowy

Robert J. Connelly Trial Technique Awards (2025-26)
Samantha Jo Gaglio (2L)
Madison E. Henning (2L)
Ian Scott Klenk (2L)
Edward G. LaDuca (3L)
Jessica E. Murphy (2L)
Jenna Peinkofer (2L)
Samir M. Spencer (2L)
Jadan L. Torcello (2L)
Emmanuel B. Wright (3L)

Robert J. Connelly Trial Technique Awards (2024-25) (Received as 2Ls)
Ethan Andrew Berg
Katherine Anne Huppé
Zachary Peter Miller
Zain Mirza

Professor Louis DelCotto Award
Nicholas A. Foti

Justice M. Dolores Denman Award
Xiaoyi (Yvonne) Zhao

Monique E. Emdin Memorial Award
Asia Alexis Alexander

Maurice Frey Award
Sarah Katherine Moore

William R. Greiner “Committed Humility” Award
Emmanuel B. Wright

Justice Philip Halpern Award
Tyonna Jada Acoff

Professor Thomas E. Headrick “Trees and Forest” Award
Robert Paul Cicciari

Judge Matthew J. Jasen Appellate Practice Award
Steven J. Borodzik Jr.

Milton Kaplan Award in Law and Social Development
Kailyn Marie Lane

James M. Kieffer Trial Excellence Award
Francesca Rose Manzella

David Kochery Award
Asia Alexis Alexander

Dan D. Kohane ’79 Insurance Award
Edward G. LaDuca

The Lavender Gavel Award
Carly Nicole Limina

Professor Virginia Leary Award
Emma Rose Marzec

The Minority Bar Association of Western New York Foundation Award
Tyonna Jada Acoff
Asia Alexis Alexander
Naomi Goni
Khalia J. Muir
Linda Sarai Roman Marquez
Nadine F. Sallaj
Emmanuel B. Wright

The Minority Bar Foundation’s Legal Commencement Award
Linda Sarai Roman Marquez
Khalia J. Muir
Emmanuel B. Wright

Moot Evidence Award
Edward G. LaDuca
Zachary Peter Miller

Albert R. Mugel Award
Lennon N. Greco

Ryan J. Mullins Award
Colin T. O’Neill

The Order of Barristers
Maxwell Andrew Battaglia
Steven J. Borodzik Jr.
Maeve Elizabeth Christ
Sarah Marium Jiva
Francesca Rose Manzella
Gianna Rose Palumbo
Emily Anne Rasulo
Hunter Thomas Siegel
Emmanuel B. Wright
Gavin Clay Zmuda

The Order of the Coif
Maeve Elizabeth Christ
Robert Paul Cicciari
Lauren Elizabeth Daniels
Joseph G. DiVincenzo
William Stewart Eaton
Nicholas A. Foti
Lennon N. Greco
Edward G. LaDuca
Kailyn Marie Lane
Zachary Peter Miller
Hunter Thomas Siegel
Taylor Ann Welsch
Gavin Clay Zmuda

Harry A. Rachlin Prize in Real Property Law and Real Estate Transactions
Connor David Whitney

Judge William J. Regan Award
William Stewart Eaton

UB Law Alumni Association’s GOLD Group Award
Khalia J. Muir

Cornelius W. Wickersham, Jr. Award
Lauren Elizabeth Daniels

Faculty and Staff Awards

Faculty Award
Christine P. Bartholomew
Professor of Law; William J. Magavern Faculty Scholar; Co-Director of the Advocacy Institute; Vice Dean for Student Achievement

Staff Award
Lisa Bauer
Assistant Dean for Career Services