2025

SANTA CLARA, Calif., May 24, 2025— Sometimes a law degree leads to a law practice, and sometimes it opens the gate to careers in life-changing fields like startups, nonprofits,  or fundraising. 

New graduates need to be open to all such  “non-traditional” fields, advised Howard Charney MBA ’73, J.D. ’77, Hon. ’18 who addressed the 219 graduates of Santa Clara University School of Law May 24 in the University’s Leavey Center. 

“You went to law school to learn the law, how it's practiced, and to get a license. And my colleagues, they taught you that,” Charney said. “But I would submit to you that if you were taught something far more universal, far more valuable: They have taught you to think in a different way. They have taught you how to tease apart a complex set of human interactions and utilize logic and practice, so the body politic can come up with a solution. They have done this under an umbrella of equity, fairness, and justice,” he added. 

The Class of 2025 of Santa Clara Law included eight students who received their LL.M. degree and four who received a joint J.D./MBA degree.  The 207 graduates receiving their J.D. included those who received certificates in public interest and social justice (15 graduates); international law (4); high-tech (31); sports law (15); and privacy law (4). Nineteen graduates received Tech Edge J.D. certificates. 

“We all need what you are now prepared to offer,” Santa Clara University President Julie Sullivan told the graduates. At a time when the rule of law is challenged, she said the graduates will be “leaders who are prepared to champion a legal system that is fair, predictable, and just, and that strives to ensure the rights of all individuals regardless of their background and circumstances.”

Law school Dean Michael J. Kaufman sent the Class of 2025 off with a different reminder of their time at Santa Clara. “As you go forth from this place, may you remember that there's no real success without kindness; no prosperity without integrity; no accomplishment without accompaniment; no hopefulness without togetherness; no justice without mercy; no learning without love; and no reason without faith,” he said. 

Charney is a former Cisco senior vice president who co-founded 3Com and Grand Junction Networks. He is the foundational donor and co-namesake of the law school’s Howard S. and Alida S. Charney Hall of Law, which opened in 2018. He is active helping students at Santa Clara Law, holding regular “Howard’s Hour” consultations with students interested in entrepreneurship and related legal topics. 

• Morgan Fuller Kolsrud received the Mabie Award for the Outstanding Graduate, Santa Clara Law’s highest academic honor given by the law school.  It is given to the graduating student who best represents exceptional  “qualities of scholarship, community leadership, and a sense of professional responsibility.” 
• Alexa LeBlanc received the John B. Bates Jr., Dispute Resolution Award,  given in recognition of dispute-resolution-related coursework, publications, performance, and service.
• Dee Santrach received the Art Gemmell Prize, for best paper on International Arbitration/Conflict Resolution.
• Simone Wolberg received the Justice Edward A. Panelli Leadership Award, named after the esteemed alumni who passed away in July 2024.  This award recognizes a graduating student who has exemplified Justice Panelli’s legacy of cura personalis, care for the whole person, and a steadfast dedication to selfless service. 
• Ajit Bhullar received the Student Bar Leadership Award, this award honors a graduating student whose leadership has had a lasting impact on the law school community. Through dedicated service, initiative, and collaboration, the recipient has strengthened student life, advanced equity and inclusion, and exemplified the values of integrity, professionalism, and community engagement. Their legacy reflects a deep commitment to making the law school a better place for the next generation. 
• Eight graduates received the Deans’ Outstanding Student Leadership Award, which is given to graduating students who have exemplified Santa Clara Law’s mission of leadership and hard work on behalf of their classmates, their clients, and their communities, and also have led by their example of kindness, respect, ethics, and professionalism. Recipients were Trixia Buscagan; Hannah Chang; Alexis Eliopoulos; AnnMarie Howell; Jackson Ladgenski; Gavin Partington; Rhea Sheth; Ulises Solis. 

• Shana Piotrowski received the Westin Scholar Award
• Simran Kaur and Jenna Tobin received the High Tech Leadership Award
• Trixia Buscagan was the Jan Jancin Award Nominee and received the Most Outstanding High Tech Graduate 

• Three students received the Justice John Paul Stevens Public Interest Fellowships; recipients were John Luke Farah, International Institute of the Bay Area; Elliot Kevane, Federal Defender, Sacramento; Caitlin Strickland, Habeas Corpus Resource Center
• Caylee Scott and Morgan Fuller Kolsrud received the Herman Edith Wildman Social Justice Law Award. Morgan Scott received the 2025 Honorable Mention.
• Melissa Chen received the Hoge Fenton Public Interest Fellowship for her work at the Santa Clara County Public Defender’s Office.
• Max Smith received the Jachimowicz Law Group Public Interest Fellowship for his work at the Santa Clara County Public Defender’s Office
• Samuel Pumarejo received the Dean Kaufman Public Interest Fellowship for his work at the Texas Attorney General’s Office
• Sixteen students received the Richard P. and Madé S. Berg Public Interest and Social Justice Summer Grants: Morgan Botello, Legal Assistance Center; Sabrina Buzos, Santa Clara Superior Court; Ryan Carrasco, Orange County Public Defender; Vita Castenada-Morgan, United Farmworkers; Dylan Cowan, Santa Clara Superior Court; Heshan Cui, San Francisco City Attorney’s Office; Colleen Gill, Sierra Community House; Hannah Glass, Family Violence Prevention Center; Maria Jones-Zamora, Center for Race, Poverty, and the Environment; Asha Kadakia, Santa Clara County Counsel; Wilfried Kramer, Coalition of American-Islamic Relations; Divya Menon, South Asian American Justice Collaboration; Ellie Mueller, Equal Rights Advocates; Katherine Ramjit, Santa Clara County Public Defender; Shelby Sartor, Santa Clara County Public Defender; and Wilson Skjerven, U.S. District Court, Northern District of California
• Ten students received the Pro Bono Recognition Awards; recipients were Danielle Bongulto (3L/4L, Bronze); Thomas Dunbar (2L, Silver); Morgan Fuller Kolsrud (Gold); Yegar Kazarin (3L/4L, Bronze); Jack Ladgenski (Silver); Jennifer Moller (2L, Silver); Adam Reid (2L, Silver); Meesha Reiisieh (2L, Silver); Caitlin Strickland (2L, Silver); and Alessandria Yoldas (2L, Silver)
• Morgan Fuller Kolsrud received the Pro Bono Graduating Student of the Year, for logging 307.5 total pro bono hours
• Jennifer Moller received the Pro Bono Student of the Year, for logging 80.56 pro bono hours this year

Watch the full ceremony recording, and browse photo albums from the 2025 celebration and festivities here. 

About Santa Clara University School of Law
Santa Clara University School of Law, one of the nation’s most diverse law schools, is dedicated to educating lawyers who lead with a commitment to excellence, ethics, and social justice. Santa Clara Law offers students an academically rigorous program including certificates in high tech law, international law, privacy law, public interest and social justice law, and numerous graduate and joint degree options. Located in the heart of Silicon Valley, Santa Clara Law is nationally distinguished for its faculty engagement, preparation for practice, and top-ranked programs in intellectual property.

Media Contact
Deborah Lohse | SCU Media Communications | dlohse@scu.edu | 408-768-6898