<p>Widener Law&rsquo;s Harrisburg Campus recently hosted its annual Commencement Awards Ceremony to honor outstanding students. Vice Dean John L. Gedid gave the welcome address, and Dean Linda Ammons remarked, &ldquo;We take great pride in celebrating, awarding, and rewarding those students who have excelled.&rdquo;<br /><br />Dean Ammons presented the Valedictorian Award to Michelle Groleau for achieving the highest grade point average in the graduating class. A graduate of The Ohio State University, Michelle received a Widener Merit Scholarship each year that she has been at Widener. She also earned eight Certificates of Achievement, has been on the Dean&rsquo;s List every semester, and was recently inducted into Phi Kappa Phi.<br /><br />The Dean&rsquo;s award, given to a student who demonstrated outstanding legal aptitude, exemplary service, significant leadership skills, and the potential to become an outstanding member of the legal community, went to Nicole E. Carter. The 2007-2008 Executive Managing Editor of the Widener Law Journal, Nicole graduated from Clemson University. A Student Mentor, Academic Support Fellow, and a recipient of the 2006-2007 President&rsquo;s Award, she has been on the Dean&rsquo;s List every semester and earned four Certificates of Achievement. Nicole also served as the student site chair for the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program, represented low-income clients for the Harrisburg Civil Law Clinic, and wrote a blog for the Admissions Office. After graduation, she will work as associate in the corporate finance practice group of Buchanan Ingersoll &amp; Rooney&rsquo;s Harrisburg office.<br /><br />Dean Ammons presented the President&rsquo;s Award to second year student Diana C. Esposito. The President&rsquo;s Award is presented to a student who in the opinion of the President of Widener University possesses high potential for meaningful contributions to the law school, the community, and the profession. A graduate of The College of William and Mary, Diana has been on the Dean&rsquo;s List every semester that she has been at Widener, and she has earned Certificates of Achievement for Legal Methods I and Administrative Law. An Academic Support Fellow for Property Law, she currently works as a research assistant for Professor Christopher Robinette and has accepted a summer internship with the U.S. Attorney&rsquo;s Office in Harrisburg.<br /><br />Addressing the parents of the award recipients, Dean of Students Ann Fruth said, &ldquo;We are extremely proud of your graduates. These students have excelled and we are happy to have family members here to help us celebrate.&rdquo; A full list of the evening&rsquo;s award winners follows.<br /><br /><strong>Award Recipients</strong><br /><br /><strong>Scholarship Awards</strong><br /><em>Alfred Avins Memorial Scholarship:</em> Michelle Groleau<br /><em>George C. Blissman Memorial Scholarship:</em> Jeni Pilgrim<br /><em>Honorable James C. Crumlish Scholarship:</em> Brianna Davidson<br /><em>Edmund Dobrowolski Memorial Scholarship:</em> Anthony Hoover<br /><em>Embracing Global Women Scholarship:</em> Clarissa Freeman<br /><em>Howard and Nancy Finkelman Scholarship:</em> Rebecca Waldemar<br /><em>Friends of Widener University School of Law Scholarship:</em> Michael Mitchell<br /><em>Pamela K. Karpouzis Memorial Scholarship:</em> Melissa Galarza<br /><em>Charles P. Mirarchi, Sr. Memorial Scholarship:</em> Adam Santucci<br /><em>Bruce M. &amp; Elizabeth M. Monroe Endowed Scholarship:</em> Leanne Miller<br /><em>Pennsylvania Bar Foundation Minority Scholarship:</em> Fateen Bullock<br /><em>Pennsylvania Bar Foundation Scholarship:</em> Abby Trovinger<br /><em>Dean Anthony J. Santoro Scholarship:</em> Brian Gregg<br /><em>William I. Schaffer Memorial Scholarship:</em> Bonnie Hershberger<br /><em>Bernard S. Wildstein Memorial Scholarship:</em> Renae Kluk-Kiehl<br /><br /><strong>Commencement Awards</strong><br /><em>ALI-ABA Scholarship &amp; Leadership Award:</em> Brian Cagle<br /><em>American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers Eric D. Turner Award: </em>Michelle Groleau<br /><em>American Bankruptcy Institute Medal of Excellence:</em> John Toresco<br /><em>James S. Bowman American Inns of Court Award:</em> Leanne Miller<br /><em>The Widener Law Public Service and Advocacy Award:</em> Gaetano D&rsquo;Andrea<br /><em>International Academy of Trial Lawyers Student Advocacy Award:</em> Chase Defelice<br /><em>Legal Research and Writing Award:</em> Michelle Groleau, Colleen Reilly, and Rebecca Waldemar<br /><em>John A. Fillion Memorial Award:</em> Bonnie Hershberger<br /><em>Most Promising Civil Litigator Award:</em> Clarke Madden and Gina Simonelli<br /><em>Outstanding Clinical Advocacy Award:</em> Alicia Petersen<br /><em>Elizabeth G. Simcox Pro Bono Service Award:</em> John Toresco<br /><em>Moot Court Honor Society Outstanding Executive Board Member: </em>Michael Simon<br /><em>Trial Advocacy Honor Society Outstanding Executive Board Member:</em> Gaetano D&rsquo;Andrea<br /><em>Widener Law Journal Award for Distinguished Legal Scholarship:</em> Elizabeth Schwartz<br /><em>Dean Anthony J. Santoro Outstanding Service Award:</em> Kymberly Leyva<br /><em>Widener University School of Law Outstanding Service Awards: </em>Robert C. Altenberg, Chelsea Carter, Jonathan Wilkes Chatham, Chase Defelice, Clarissa Freeman, Meghan Goddard, Michelle Groleau, Amy Quimby, Elizabeth Schwartz, John Toresco, and Melissa Vega.<br /><em>Outstanding Law &amp; Government Student Award:</em> Matthew R. Krupp<br /><em>Distinguished Service Award:</em> Steve Kwon</p>