KU News Release

Outstanding students recognized at law school hooding ceremony

LAWRENCE — The University of Kansas School of Law honored graduates at a hooding ceremony May 18.

During the ceremony, four students were recognized for distinguishing themselves in the areas of scholarship, leadership and service to the law school and community at large.

Justin Elkouri received the Justice Lloyd Kagey Leadership Award. Elkouri was editor-in-chief of the Kansas Journal of Law and Public Policy and participated in the school’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program.

The Robert F. Bennett Award went to Sara Zafar, a founding member of the Multicultural Student Leadership Council and the Muslim Law Students Association. The award is given to a graduate whose undergraduate degree is from a Kansas university or college and who has demonstrated leadership qualities through public service. Zafar was president of Women in Law and communications director of the International Law Society.

Stephanie Sowers received the Walter Hiersteiner Outstanding Service Award. Sowers, a Rice scholar, was a note and comment editor of the Kansas Law Review and treasurer of Women in Law and the Student Bar Association. She was student director of the Paul E. Wilson Defender Project during her third year of law school.

The Samuel Mellinger Scholarship, Leadership and Service Award went to Adam Davis, who was selected by the faculty to carry the law school banner during the university’s commencement ceremony. Davis was executive note and comment editor of the Kansas Law Review and participated in the law school’s moot court competition. He was a member of the KU Law Moot Court Council and was active in the Catholic Law Students organization. Davis also volunteered in the tax preparation program.

Following the ceremony, Dean Gail Agrawal announced four additional awards. Sara Stieben received the Law Class of 1949 Leadership Award. She was a Student Ambassador and vice president of her first- and second-year law school classes. Stieben was a trial advocacy tutor and sat for two years on the Curriculum Innovation Committee.

The Janean Meigs Memorial Award in Law went to Ambereen Shaffie, a founding member and former president of the Muslim Law Students Association. She also belonged to the Black Law Students Association and the International Law Society. Shaffie was an executive board member of the National Muslim Law Students Association and a founding board member of the Kansas City Worker Justice Center.

Zach Lerner and Jonathan Grossman each received the Faculty Award for Outstanding Academic Achievement. Lerner was an articles editor for the Kansas Law Review, volunteered in the tax preparation program and was a member of the Phi Beta Delta Honor Society. Grossman was symposium editor for the Kansas Law Review, a member of the Intellectual Property Law Students Association and a research assistant for Andrew Torrance, associate professor of law.

Student award winners are listed below by hometown, previous degrees earned, parents’ names, high school and award.

DOUGLAS COUNTY
From Lawrence 66046 and from Lake Quivira and New York, N.Y.
Adam Davis, bachelor’s degree from the University of North Carolina; son of Jackie Davis of New York, N.Y., and Mike and Faye Davis of Lake Quivira; Lawrence High School; Samuel Mellinger Scholarship, Leadership and Service Award.

HARVEY COUNTY
From Hesston 67062
Stephanie Sowers, bachelor’s degree from Bethel College; daughter of Floyd and Bonnie Sowers; Hesston High School; Walter Hiersteiner Outstanding Service Award.

JOHNSON COUNTY
From Lake Quivira 66217 and from Lawrence and New York, N.Y.
Adam Davis. See DOUGLAS COUNTY

From Leawood 66209
Jonathan Grossman, bachelor’s degree from Northwestern University; son of Harvey and Alice Grossman; Blue Valley North High School; Faculty Award for Outstanding Academic Achievement.

From Overland Park 66224
Ambereen Shaffie, bachelor’s degree from KU; daughter of Mohammed Shaffie and Sheba Khalid; Blue Valley High School; Janean Meigs Memorial Award in Law.

SEDGWICK COUNTY
From Wichita 67206
Justin Elkouri, bachelor’s degree from KU; son of David and Debbi Elkouri; Wichita Collegiate School; Justice Lloyd Kagey Leadership Award.

From Wichita 67226
Sara Zafar, bachelor’s degree from KU; daughter of Haris and Mueeza Zafar; Wichita Collegiate School; Robert F. Bennett Award.

COLORADO
From Fort Collins 80524
Sara Stieben, bachelor’s degree from Colorado State University; daughter of Greg Stieben and Karen Stieben; Fort Collins High School; Law Class of 1949 Leadership Award.

NEW MEXICO
From Corrales 87048
Zach Lerner, bachelor’s degree from the University of Pennsylvania; son of Arnie and Ann Lerner; Sandia Preparatory School; Faculty Award for Outstanding Academic Achievement.

NEW YORK
From New York 10023 and from Lake Quivira and Lawrence, Kan.
Adam Davis. See DOUGLAS COUNTY

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