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The Moritz College of Law presents annual alumni awards in the areas of distinguished alumni, outstanding recent alumni, judicial excellence, community service, and public service. Nominations are accepted from fellow alumni and the legal community.  Award nomination deadlines are in late spring and awards are presented in the fall.

In addition to awards given by the College of Law, The Ohio State University also has several alumni awards that are presented to law alumni. These include professional achievement awards, service awards, early career achievement awards, and citizenship awards.

Pictured, from left: Elizabeth Kessler '93, Dean Lincoln Davies, Janay Stevens '13, Magistrate Judge Chelsey Vascura '03, Dr. Robert J. Weiler, Sr., and Angela Plummer '92
Pictured, from left: Elizabeth Kessler '93, Dean Lincoln Davies, Janay Stevens '13, Magistrate Judge Chelsey Vascura '03, Dr. Robert J. Weiler, Sr., and Angela Plummer '92

 

Current Recipients

The Moritz College of Law presents annual alumni awards in the areas of distinguished alumni, outstanding recent alumni, judicial excellence, community service, and public service. Nominations are accepted from fellow alumni and the legal community.  Award nomination deadlines are in late spring and awards are presented in the fall.

In addition to awards given by the College of Law, The Ohio State University also has several alumni awards that are presented to law alumni. These include professional achievement awards, service awards, early career achievement awards, and citizenship awards.

This award recognizes a recent graduate whose accomplishments exemplify outstanding professionalism or loyalty to the College community. 

 

Janay Stevens ‘13 - Partner at Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease LLP

This award honors a graduate or friend of the College who has advocated on behalf of marginalized communities, furthered the goals of diversity, inclusion, equity, and social justice, or as an alum of a diverse population, has trailblazed a path for those diverse professionals who will follow by making a difference through their legal education.

 

Dr. Robert J. Weiler, Sr. - Chairman of the Board at The Robert Weiler Company

This award is presented to alumni who, like Senator Voinovich, has devoted significant time and energy to causes and projects that benefit the greater community and the welfare of humanity. 

 

Angela Plummer ‘92 - Executive Director at Community Refugee & Immigration Services (CRIS)

This award is presented to a current or former judge whose personal integrity and commitment to fairness, freedom, and equality exemplify the highest ideals of the judicial system. 

 

Magistrate Judge Chelsey Vascura ‘03 - Judge at the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio

This award recognizes alumni for their exceptional achievement or outstanding service to the college or community. 

 

Liza Kessler ‘93 - Partner-in-Charge at Jones Day

Previous Recipients

Moritz alumni across the country are working on the front lines of important social issues, breaking new paths in their chosen fields, and giving back to their communities. We shine a spotlight on those who go above and beyond.

Given annually to a Moritz Law graduate for exceptional achievement or outstanding service to the college or community. 
 

  • 2022 – Frank C. Woodside, III, ’69
  • 2021 – Steven Smathers '76
  • 2020 – John T. Mills ’73
  • 2019 – Kara J. Trott ’91
  • 2018 – William P. Blair III ’70
  • 2017 – Michael H. Carpenter ’77
  • 2016 – Frank E. Bazler ’53
  • 2015 – Rep. William M. McCulloch ’25
  • 2014 – Edwin M. Cooperman ’67
  • 2013 – William Isaac ’69
  • 2012 – Erin Moriarty  ’77
  • 2011 – Alec Wightman ’75
  • 2010 – Carl D. Smallwood ’80
  • 2007-08 – Sally Ward Bloomfield ’69
  • 2006 – Frank A. Ray ’73
  • 2005 – W. Ray Persons ’78
  • 2004 – Dan D. Sandman ’73
  • 2003 – John W. Creighton ’57
  • 2002 – Thomas J. Fiscus ’75
  • 2001 – John W. Garland ’74
  • 2000 – Michael E. Flowers ’79
  • 1999 – Jack Grant Day ’38, William B. Saxbe ’48
  • 1998 – Carter C. Kissell ’27
  • 1997 – Joanne Wharton Murphy ’58
  • 1996 – Ronald K. Bennington ’61

Granted to an individual who has graduated from Moritz Law within the past 10 years whose accomplishments exemplify outstanding professionalism or loyalty to the college community. The award is presented by the Moritz College of Law Alumni Society.
 

  • 2022 – Luke A. Fedlam '13
  • 2021 – Kwame Christian '13
  • 2020 – Cat Packer ’15
  • 2019 – Jaiza Page ’10 
  • 2018 – Jessica Clarke ’08
  • 2017 – Laura E. Heim ’08
  • 2016 – Katherine S. Chappelear ’07
  • 2015 – Asim Haque ’06
  • 2014 – Erika Schoenberger ’04
  • 2013 – Kathleen Clyde ’08
  • 2012 – Andrew Weaver ’02, Jessica Weaver ’03
  • 2011 – Hope and Anthony Sharett ’02
  • 2010 – Brandon Lester ’05
  • 2008 – Mónica Ramirez ’03
  • 2007 – Todd Fried ’97
  • 2006 – RonNell Andersen Jones ’00
  • 2005 – Mark D. Wagoner Jr. ’97
  • 2004 – Mark Godsey ’93
  • 2003 – Brian E. Burns ’97
  • 2002 – Bill R. Hedrick ’96
  • 2001 – Kimberly Shumate ’92
  • 2000 – Theodore L. Adams ’91
  • 1999 – Thomas E. Geyer ’90
  • 1998 – Julia Dorrian ’96
  • 1997 – Jeffrey S. Sutton ’90
  • 1996 – Kurtis A. Tunnell ’87

Awarded to a current or former judge who has graduated from the college and whose personal integrity and commitment to fairness, freedom, and equality exemplify the highest ideals of the judicial system. The award is presented by the Moritz College of Law Alumni Society.
 

  • 2022 – The Honorable Kimberly Cocroft, '00
  • 2021 – Elizabeth Gill '87
  • 2020 – Sara Lioi ’87
  • 2019 – Judge Ann Donnelly ’84
  • 2018 – Judith French ’88
  • 2017 – Jeffrey S. Sutton ’90
  • 2016 – Peggy L. Bryant ’76
  • 2015 – John E. Hoffman, Jr. ’83
  • 2014 – Evelyn Stratton ’79
  • 2013 – Richard A. Frye ’73
  • 2012 – Herman J. Weber ’52
  • 2011 – Paul Pfeifer ’66
  • 2010 – Jeffery P. Hopkins ’85
  • 2008-09 – Norah McCann King ’75 and Mark R. Abel ’69
  • 2007 – Robert M. Duncan ’52
  • 2006 – Carla D. Moore ’77
  • 2005 – George C. Smith ’59
  • 2004 – Thomas J. Moyer ’64
  • 2003 – James L. Graham ’62
  • 2002 – William T. Bodoh ’64
  • 2001 – David A. Katz ’57
  • 2000 – William K. Thomas ’35

This award honors a graduate or friend of the college who has advocated on behalf of marginalized communities, furthered the goals of diversity, inclusion, equity, and social justice, or as an alum of a diverse population, has trailblazed a path for those diverse professionals who will follow by making a difference through their legal education.

  • 2022 – Dr. Gregory J. Vincent '87
  • 2021 – Yvette McGee Brown

In 2021, the college merged the George V. Voinovich Public Service Award and Community Service Award into The George V. Voinovich Humanitarian Award. This award is given annually to an alum or friend of the college who has devoted significant time and energy to causes and projects that benefit the greater community and the welfare of humanity.
 

  • 2022 – Kathleen C. McGarvey ’03
  • 2021 – Michael Corey '12

 

In 2021, the college merged the George V. Voinovich Public Service Award and Community Service Award into The George V. Voinovich Humanitarian Award. This award was presented by the Moritz College of Law Alumni Society to an alumni whose public interest career exemplified a commitment to promote and provide access to the legal system. Examples of public interest organizations included, but were not limited to, legal aid, legal services, civil liberties, pro bono representation, or volunteer lawyer projects. 
 

  • 2020 – Larry Langdon ’61
  • 2019 – Brian E. Sandoval ’89
  • 2018 – Michael Finn ’67
  • 2017 – Sherri B. Lazear ’85
  • 2016 – Robert Solomon II ’88
  • 2015 – Carolyn Phillips ’81
  • 2014 – Leslie Varnado ’74
  • 2013 – Dianna Parker ’05
  • 2012 – Thomas Mlakar ’92
  • 2011 – Kelly Schneider ’96
  • 2009-10 – Susan G. Tobin ’81
  • 2007 – Yvette McGee Brown ’85
  • 2006 – James M. Daniels ’78, Frank C. Woodside III ’69
  • 2005 – Gene King ’83
  • 2004 – Ilene Cohn ’85
  • 2003 – Kimberly Skaggs ’93
  • 2002 – Evelyn L. Stratton ’78
  • 2001 – Patricia Y. Hernandez ’92
  • 2000 – Karen Jones Sarjeant ’75

In 2021, the college merged the George V. Voinovich Public Service Award and Community Service Award into The George V. Voinovich Humanitarian Award. The Community Service Award award was presented by the Moritz College of Law Alumni Society to a Moritz Law graduate who volunteered significant and sustained time and expertise to assist a local, state, national, or international humanitarian organization.
 

  • 2020 – Doug Mancino ’74
  • 2019 – Terrence P. Kessler ’75
  • 2018 – Marchelle Moore ’98
  • 2017 – Peter G. Eikenberry ’64
  • 2016 – Robert W. Briggs ’66
  • 2015 – Steve Jemison ’75
  • 2014 – Steve Chappelear ’77
  • 2013 – Mimi Dane ’89
  • 2012 – Gregory J. Vincent ’87 Ph.D.
  • 2011 – Daniel P. McQuade ’67
  • 2010 – Suzanne K. Richards ’74
  • 2007-08 – Duane Isham ’53
  • 2006 – David Braff ’84, Robert Reeder ’84
  • 2005 – Michael M. Briley ’69
  • 2004 – Linda L. Ammons ’87
  • 2003 – Susan E. Brown ’71
  • 2002 – Frederick L. Ransier, III ’74, Kathleen H.Ransier ’74
  • 2001 – R. Kent Wellington, II ’91
  • 2000 – J. Gilbert Reese ’52