Alumni Awards
At the annual Law Alumni Celebration of Achievement, Santa Clara Law honors alumni and members of the law school community with the Alumni Special Achievement Award, the Owens Lawyer of the Year Award, the Amicus Award, the Diversity Award and the Rising Star Award.
About the Alumni Special Achievement Award
The Alumni Special Achievement Award was established by Santa Clara University School of Law’s Alumni Association to publicly recognize outstanding achievements of their alumni. Recipients have distinguished themselves in their profession, community, and in service to humanity. The award is based on a variety of factors, including community service, youth activities, career achievement, community educational involvement, professional and community honors, business and professional leadership, and education honors and SCU involvement.
Alumni Special Achievement Award Winners
| 2001 – The Honorable Brien Collins ’70U ’73 JD 2001 – The Honorable Zoe Lofgren ’75 JD ‘99H 2001 – The Honorable Edward Panelli ’53U ’55 JD ’86H 2001 – Mr. Arturo Jaramillo ’75 JD 2002 – Mr. Ronald Malone ’71 JD 2002 – Mr. Leon Panetta ’60U ’63 JD ’88H 2002 – Mr. Charles Paul ’75 JD 2002 – Ms. Rolanda Pierre-Dixon ’80 JD 2003 – Ms. Mary Alexander ’82 JD ’03H 2003 – The Honorable Robert Durham ’72 JD 2003 – Mr. Tom Dunlap ’79 JD 2003 – Mr. Albert Ruffo ’31U ’36 JD 2004 – The Honorable Phyllis Hamilton ’76 JD ’08H 2004 – The Honorable Eugene Hyman ’77 JD 2004 – Major General Thomas J. Romig, US Army, retired ’80 JD 2004 – Gordon T. Yamate ’80 JD 2005 – Professor Kyong-Whan “Kenny” Ahn ’85 JD 2005 – The Honorable Eileen Kato ’80 JD 2005 – The Honorable Eugene Premo ’57U ’62 JD 2005 – Mr. Richard Watters ’73 JD 2006 – Mr. John C. Cruden ’74 JD |
2006 – Ms. Naomi Young ’74 JD |
About the Owens Lawyer of the Year
The Edwin J. Owens Lawyer of the Year, an award given to a distinguished member of the law school community who is devoted to the highest ideals of the profession and has made significant contributions to the University, the community, and the law. First awarded in 1966, the Owens award is named for Edwin J. Owens, a longtime dean of the law school who was later a superior court judge.
Owens Lawyer of the Year Honorees
| 1966 – The Honorable Edwin J. Owens 1967 – Mr. Harold R. McKinnon ’15 JD 1968 – Mr. Albert J. Ruffo ’31U ’36 JD 1969 – The Honorable John D. Foley 1970 – Mr. Leon Panetta ’60U ’63 JD ’88H 1971 – Mr. Austen D. Warburton ’41 JD 1972 – Mr. Michael di Leonardo ’50 JD 1972 – The Honorable Wayne M. Kanemoto ’42 JD 1973 – Mr. Richard A. McCormick ’36U ’38 JD 1974 – Mr. Louis P. Bergna ’44U ’48 JD 1975 – Mr. George A. Strong ’55 JD ’93H Associate Dean 1976 – Mr. Anthony T. Oliver Jr. ’51U ’53 JD 1977 – The Honorable James A. Wright ’43U ’49 JD 1978 – The Honorable Noel E. Manoukian ’64L 1979 – The Honorable Peter L. Anello ’40U ’48 JD 1980 – The Honorable Jerome A. Smith ’65 JD 1981 – The Honorable Marcel B. Poche 1982 – Justice Edward Panelli ’53U ’55 JD ’86H 1983 – Mr. Alan A. Parker ’64 JD 1984 – Mr. William E. Glennon ’66 JD 1985 – Mr. George J. Alexander, Dean Law School 1970-1985 1986 – Mr. Theodore J. Biagini ’62U ’64 JD 1987 – The Honorable Brien Collins ’70U ’73 JD 1988 – The Honorable Philip H. Pennypacker ’72L 1989 – Ms. Mary B. Emery ’63 Associate Dean 1990 – Dr. Richard L. Rykoff Acting Dean ’85 – ’86 1991 – The Honorable Eugene Premo ’57U ’62 JD 1992 – Ms. Catherine Sprinkles ’73 JD |
1993 – Mr. Michael A. Espy ’78 JD 1994 – The Honorable Risë R. Pichon ’73U ’76 JD 1995 – The Honorable Zoe Lofgren ’75 JD ’99H 1996 – Mr. Frederick M. Gonzalez ’71U ’73B ’77 JD 1997 – Professor Gerald F. Uelmen Dean Law School 1986-1994 1998 – Ms. Georgia E. Bacil ’79 JD 1999 – Ms. Joan R. Gallo ’75 JD 2000 – The Honorable Jesus Valencia ’82 JD 2001 – Mr. Daniel J. Kelly ’69 JD 2002 – The Honorable Mary J. Levinger ’73 JD 2003 – The Honorable John S. McInerny ’49U ’54 JD 2004 – Mr. John R. Williams ’65 JD 2005 – Professor Mack A. Player Dean Law School 1994-2003 2006 – Mr. William B. Clayton Jr. ’71 U ’74 JD 2007 – The Honorable Raymond J. Davilla, Jr. ’62U ’72 JD 2008 – Fr. Paul J. Goda, S.J. 2009 – Mr. Ronald J. Malone ’71 JD 2010 – Mr. Gordon Yamate ’80 JD 2013 – Professor Robert W. Peterson 2014 – The Honorable James C. Emerson ’73 JD 2015 – Professor Cynthia A. Mertens 2016 – The Honorable Phyllis J. Hamilton JD ’76 2017 – Donald J. Polden 2018 – Philip L. Gregory JD/MBA ’80 2019 – Mike Gencarella JD ’97 2020 – Professor Emeritus Kenneth Manaster |
About the Santa Clara Law Amicus Award
The Santa Clara Law Amicus Award was established in 2009 to recognize a non-alumnus who has demonstrated the highest level of leadership in the legal profession and the community, while significantly advancing the mission and reputation of Santa Clara Law.
Amicus Award Honorees
2009 – Mr. Larry W. Sonsini ’04H
2010 – The Honorable Ronald Whyte
2013 – Mr. Edwin H. Taylor (1939-2012)
2014 – Mr. Joseph W. Cotchett
2015 – The Honorable Socrates P. Manoukian
2016 – Katharine Alexander
2017 – John Ottoboni BA ’69
2018 – The Honorable Edward J. Davila
2019 – Michael E. Engh, S.J.
2020 – Paul Gentzkow
About the Diversity Award
The Santa Clara Law Diversity Award honors an outstanding alumnus or law community member for his or her work in the area of diversity and inclusion. The honor recognizes an individual with a demonstrated long-term commitment to promoting diversity in the profession as well as outstanding personal leadership or groundbreaking achievements in the diversity space.
Diversity Award Honoree
2016 – Allonn E. Levy JD ’96
About the Rising Star Award
The Rising Star Award began in 2013 to recognize a Santa Clara Law graduate who has distinguished him/herself after less than ten years in practice and has demonstrated impact in the community through their service and commitment to the law.
Rising Star Honoree
2013 – Mr. David J. Tsai ’06 JD
2014 – Ms. Karin Frenza Cogbill ’06 JD
2015 – Kevin J. Albanese BS ’96, JD ’08
2016 – Christopher Boscia JD ’08
2017 – Jennifer Leung JD ’08
2018 – Karen M. Schulz JD ’10
2019 – Rachel Fischbein JD ’12
2020 – Nicole Shanahan JD ’14