Student Pro Bono Award Winners Honored
April 30, 2009
On April 14, the College of Law hosted the Seventh Annual Pro Bono Honors Program awards reception to recognize those law students who volunteered their time to pro bono activities and community service projects. During the 2008–09 academic year, Willamette law students volunteered 2,250 hours to pro bono causes.
Each year, a highlight of the reception is the presentation of the Col. Rupert E. Park Jr. Pro Bono Student of the Year Award, which is given to the third-year student who made the greatest pro bono contribution during law school. The award is named for alumnus Col. “Rudy” Park Jr. LLB’47, who contributed a significant amount of time to pro bono activities throughout his distinguished legal career. Park was a great supporter of Willamette’s pro bono program and, until his death this past February, always attended the awards banquet to present the awards. Associate Dean Peter V. Letsou stood in for Parks and recognized award recipients.
This year, the Col. Rupert E. Park Jr. Pro Bono Student of the Year Award was presented to two third-year students, Angela Wanak and Ruby Herriott. Wanak amassed 524 total volunteer hours during her three years of law school, working as a court appointed special advocate and for the Elizabeth Bowers Zambia Education Fund, Trinity Covenant Church and the Street Law Program. Herriott volunteered 325 pro bono legal hours to the Street Law Program and the Sacramento County Public Defender’s Office.
Also recognized during the awards reception were the members of each law class who volunteered the most pro bono hours during the academic year. Second-year student Mary L. Lang volunteered 236 hours, working at Catholic Charities Immigration Legal Services. First-year student Tiffany Hamilton also was honored for volunteering 18 hours to the Willamette University Public Interest Law Project.
For more information on the Pro Bono Honors Program, contact Career Services.