Alumni Awards

The GW Law Alumni Award nominations are now closed. We look forward to awarding the awards at GW Law Reunion in June. Please consider nominating a classmate for an award today by completing the nomination form and submitting it to [email protected].  

The deadline to submit nominations was Friday, December 1, 2023.

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Alumni Awards

The Jacob Burns Award for Extraordinary Service to GW Law 

The George Washington Law Alumni Association established the Jacob Burns Awards for Extraordinary Service to The George Washington University Law School to honor Dr. Jacob Burns, a 1924 law school graduate, noted scholar, leader of enterprises, artist, philanthropist, and humanitarian.  As a tribute to Dr. Burns’ legacy of personal commitment to legal education and loyalty to the law school, the award honors that person who has actively assisted the law school in its academic and civic mission. 

Past Winners

• 2023 - Raymound Banoun, JD '68
• 2022 - Karen & Scott Stempel, JD '82
• 2021 - Michael J. McKeon, JD '96
• 2020 - Earle H. O'Donnell, JD '75
• 2019 - Bobby R. Burchfield, JD ‘79
• 2018 - Corinne Ball, JD '78
• 2017 - Ralph C. Nash, Jr., JD '57
• 2016 - Jerome A. Barron, LLM ‘60
• 2015 - Matthew J. Brief, JD ’80
• 2014 - Weston D. Burnett, JD ’75, LLM ’83
• 2013 - Leslie L. Megyeri, JD ’68
• 2012 - Thomas A. Morrison, LLM ’84
• 2011 - C. Larry O’Rourke, JD ’71"
• 2010 - Douglas E. Davidson, JD ’71
• 2009 - Carol Elder Bruce, JD ’74
• 2008 - Steven A. Tasher, JD ’73
• 2007 - Eric S. Sirulnik, LLM ‘70
• 2006 - Robert V. Stanek, JD ’79
• 2002 - Dean John S. Jenkins, JD ’61
• 2000 - G. Franklin Rothwell, JD ’56
• 1998 - Gary Granoff, JD ’73
• 1997 - Robert B. Hirsch, LLB ’50
• 1996 - Jack C. Goldstein, JD ’68
• 1995 - Jeanette A. Michael, JD ’75
• 1994 - Clifford A. Dougherty, JD ’64
• 1993 - Joseph L. Brand, JD ’63
• 1992 - Anita K. Head
• 1991 - Teresa M. Schwartz, JD ’71

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The J. William Fulbright Distinguished Public Service Award

The George Washington Law Alumni Association created the J. William Fulbright Distinguished Public Service Award to honor an alumnus/alumna who has performed outstanding public service throughout his/her career.  This award is named after Senator J. William Fulbright, a 1934 graduate of the law school who exemplified the ideals of public service throughout his career as an attorney, professor, university president, United States Representative, United States Senator, citizen, and statesman.

Past Winners

• 2023 - Edward Blackmon Jr., JD '73
• 2022 - Lisa Gurwitch, JD '82
• 2021 - Donald Mooers, JD ‘86
• 2020 - Chad T. Sarchio, JD ‘95
• 2019 - Margaret Eastman, JD ‘89
• 2018 - Donald M. Abramson, JD '78
• 2017 - The Honorable Herbert K. Shimabukuro, JD '57
• 2016 - The Honorable Thomas F. Smegal Jr., JD ‘61
• 2015 - The Honorable James C. Cacheris, JD ’60
• 2014 - Senator Harry Reid, JD ‘64
• 2013 - The Honorable Margaret M. Richardson, JD ’68
• 2013 - Ike Sorkin, JD ’68
• 2012 - The Honorable Catherine C. Eagles, JD ’82
• 2011 - James M. Shannon, JD ’75
• 2010 - Carmen Milagros Ortiz, JD ’81
• 2009 - Bill Shore, JD’81
• 2007 - Isiah “Ike” Leggett, LLM ‘76
• 2006 - John W. Snow, JD ’67
• 2002 - Harry Reid, JD ’64
• 2000 - Ruth Burg, JD ’50
• 2000 - Randall Rader, JD ’78
• 1998 - Jim Ramstad, JD ’73
• 1997 - F. Thomas Schornhorst, JD ’63
• 1996 - Daniel R. Glickman, JD ’69
• 1996 - Kathryn Mickle Werdegar, JD ’62
• 1995 - Hank Brown, LLM ’86
• 1994 - Joseph F. Baca, JD ’64
• 1993 - Harry L. Carrico, JD ’42, LLD ’87
• 1992 - Daniel K. Inouye, JD ’52
• 1992 - Anatoly A. Sobchak, Mayor of St. Petersburg, Russia
• 1991 - A. Sherman Christensen, JD ’31 

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The GW Law Stockton Guard Alumni Award

The George Washington Law Alumni Association established the GW Law Stockton Guard Alumni Award to honor an alumnus/alumna who has graduated 40 years ago or more and has led an extraordinary career since their law school graduation and showed dedication and commitment to the betterment of the law school. 

Past Winners

• 2023 - Jonathan Kahan, JD '73
• 2022 - Ira Jaffe, JD '77
• 2020 - The Honorable Bruce S. Mencher, JD ‘60
• 2019 - Michael D. Hausfeld, JD ‘69
• 2018 - Marvin S. C. Dang, JD '78
• 2017 - The Honorable William P. Barr, JD '77
• 2016 - The Honorable Steven M. Goldman, JD ‘76
• 2015 - David Falk, JD ’75
• 2014 - Heather Foley, JD ’69
• 2013 - Don Martens, JD ’63

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The GW Law Distinguished Alumni Award

The George Washington Law Alumni Association created the GW Law Distinguished Alumni Award to honor an alumnus/alumna who graduated more than 15 years but less than 40 years. This alumnus/alumna has led an extraordinary career and showed dedication and commitment to the betterment of the law school.

Past Winners

• 2023 - Mark Chichester, JD'93
• 2022 - Gina Simms, JD '92
• 2021 - Bradford W. Irelan, JD ‘86
• 2020 - Wendy M. Goldberg, JD ‘00
• 2019 - Margarita S. Brose, JD ‘89
• 2018 - Monica E. Monroe, JD '98
• 2017 - Bernard A. Nigro, Jr., JD '86
• 2016 - Anastasia Donovan Kelly, JD ‘81
• 2015 - John Lewis, JD ’90
• 2014 - Jeffrey Kohn, JD ’84
• 2013 - Steven Kobre, JD ’93
• 2012 - Jacob DeLeon, JD ’02 
• 2011 - D. Bruce Sewell, JD '86

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The GW Law Recent Alumni Award

The George Washington Law Alumni Association created The George Washington University Law School Recent Alumni Award to honor an alumnus/alumna who graduated within the past 15 years and has made substantial leadership and service contribution to The George Washington University Law School and the legal profession.

Past Winners

• 2023 - Anika Patterson, JD '13
• 2022 - Michele Blackwell, JD '12
• 2021 - Olajumoke A. Obayanju, JD ‘16
• 2020 - Helen T. Clemens, JD ‘15
• 2019 - Adam E. Moskowitz, JD ‘14
• 2018 - Dara S. Smith, JD '08
• 2017 - Chanell D. Autrey, JD '12
• 2016 - Jonathan M. Willingham, JD '06

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The GW Law Dean’s Medallion

The GW Law Dean’s Medallion is the highest honor to be given by the Dean to the law school’s most distinguished alumni and friends. These honorees have achieved outstanding success in their field and shown the greatest commitment to improving the law school.

Past Winners

• 2018 - Stephen E. Mermelstein, JD ' 72
• 2017 - Weston D. Burnett, JD '75, LLM '83
• 2013 - Thomas Buergenthal, Honorary LLD ’04

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Class Cups & Bowls

The Class Cups and Bowls are awarded to each Reunion's most involved and active classes.

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The Barron Cup

The Barron Cup honors the graduating class section with the highest level of participation in the class gift campaign and the highest five-year pledge.  The award is named for former Dean Jerome A. Barron.

Past Class Winners

• 2022 - No Winner
• 2021 - No Winner
• 2020 - No Winner
• 2019 - The O'Connor Inn of the Class of 2019
• 2018 - The Cardozo Inn of the Class of 2018
• 2017 - No Winner
• 2016 - The Jackson Inn of the Class of 2016
• 2015 -  The Thurgood Marshall Inn of the Class of 2015
• 2014 - Section 15 of the Class of 2014
• 2013 - No Winner
• 2012 - Section 13 of the Class of 2012

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The Dean's Cup

The Dean's Cup is awarded to the class with the highest overall participation rate in the reunion class gift campaign. 

Past Class Winners

• 2022 - Class of 1972
• 2021 - Class of 1961
• 2020 - Class of 1975
• 2019 - Class of 1969
• 2018 - Class of 1968
• 2017 - Class of 1967
• 2016 - Class of 1966 
• 2015 -  Class of 1975
• 2014 -Class of 1964
• 2013 - Class of 1963
• 2012 - Class of 1967

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The Friedenthal Bowl

The Friedenthal Bowl is awarded to the non-Stockton Guard class (graduation fewer than 40 years ago) that raised the most money in its reunion year.

Past Class Winners

• 2022 - Class of 1987
• 2021 - Class of 1986
• 2020 - Class of 1985
• 2019 - Class of 1984
• 2018 - Class of 1983
• 2017 - Class of 1982
• 2016 - Class of 1986 
• 2015 - Class of 1980
• 2014 - Class of 1984
• 2013 - Class of 1983
• 2012 - Class of 1977

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The Lawrence Cup

The Lawrence Cup is awarded to the class with the top attendance rate at the reunion.  The award is named for former Dean Frederick M. Lawrence.

Past Class Winners

• 2022 - Class of 2002
• 2021 - Class of 1986
• 2020 - Class of 1960
• 2019 - Class of 2009
• 2018 - Class of 2008
• 2017 - Class of 2007
• 2016 - Class of 1986 
• 2015 - Class of 1965
• 2014 - Class of 1984
• 2013 - Class of 1963
• 2012 - Class of 2007

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The Stockton Bowl 

Named after former GW Law Dean and GW President Charles Herbert Stockton, the Stockton Bowl is awarded to the Stockton Guard class (graduation more than 40 years ago) that raised the most money in its reunion year.

Past Class Winners

• 2022 - Class of 1982
• 2021 - Class of 1971
• 2020 - Class of 1975
• 2019 - Class of 1979
• 2018 - Class of 1968
• 2017 - Class of 1972
• 2016 - Class of 1976 
• 2015 - Class of 1975
• 2014 - Class of 1969
• 2013 - Class of 1963
• 2012 - Class of 1967