Distinguished Alumni Award
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Nominate a USD Law Alumnus/a for the 2023 Distinguished Alumni Award (nominations close April 1, 2023).
About the Award
Sponsored by the University of San Diego School of Law Alumni Association Board of Directors, the Distinguished Alumni Award is the school's highest honor bestowed upon alumni.
The award is presented to law school alumni who have distinguished themselves in the legal field or other chosen profession at an exemplary level and who embody the high ethical standards and commitment to community service USD School of Law seeks to instill in its graduates.
Each spring, a nominating committee considers candidates for the award and a recipient or recipients are selected by the committee and then approved by the Law Alumni Association Board of Directors. To submit information on a prospective candidate, please email the Office of Alumni Relations or call (619) 260-4692.
In the fall of the same year, the award or awards are presented at a ceremonial luncheon honoring the recipient or recipients.
Since its inception in 1977, 89 law school alumni have received the Distinguished Alumni Award.
2022 Award Recipients
Past Award Recipients
| Year | Recipient |
|---|---|
| 2021 | Hon. Richard T. Fields '87 (LLM) (Watch bio video) Karen P. Hewitt '89 (JD) (Watch bio video)
|
| 2020 | Steven J. Cologne '84 (JD) (Watch bio video) Kimberly M. Koro '86 (JD) (Watch bio video)
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| 2019 | Larry A. Burns '79 (JD) (Watch bio video) David S. Casey Jr. '74 (JD) (Watch bio video) |
| 2018 | Carolyn M. Caietti '82 (BA), '86 (JD) (Watch bio video) Knut S. Johnson '86 (JD) (Watch bio video) |
| 2017 | Angela Bartosik '93 (JD) (Watch bio video) Ronson J. Shamoun '98 (BA), '02 (JD), '03 (LLM) (Watch bio video) |
| 2016 | Hon. Irma Poole Asberry '79 (Watch bio video) Robert S. Brewer '75 (Watch bio video) |
| 2015 | Hon. Louisa S Porter, '77 (Watch bio video) Michael J. Weaver, '73 (Watch bio video) |
| 2014 | John L. Morrell, '84 (Watch bio video) Todd F. Stevens, '88 (Watch bio video) |
| 2013 | Hon. Lorna A. Alksne '92 (Watch bio video) Patrick W. Martin '92 (Watch bio video) |
| 2012 | Hon. Robert J. Trentacosta, '79 (Watch bio video) A. John Murphy, '75 (Watch bio video) |
| 2011 | Stephen P. Doyle, '84 (Watch bio video) Hon. J. Richard Haden (ret.), '74 (Watch bio video) |
| 2010 | Julie D'Angelo Fellmeth, '83 (Watch bio video) Michael T. Williams, '82 (Watch bio video) |
| 2009 | Vickie E. Turner, '82 (Watch bio video) Hon. Michael D. Wellington, '71 (Watch bio video) |
| 2008 | Hon. Richard M. Aronson, '75 (Watch bio video) Dennis J. Doucette, '86 (Watch bio video) Lynne R. Lasry, '79 (Watch bio video) |
| 2007 | Hon. Patricia D. Benke, '74 Jack Wm. Hodges, '75 Michael J. Rider, '83 |
| 2006 | G. Edward Arledge, '73 Thompson Fetter, '67 |
| 2005 | James C. Krause, '75 Michael E. Shames, '83 |
| 2004 | Alan K. Brubaker, '76 |
| 2003 | Theodore J. Boutrous Jr., '87 Hon. Peter W. Bowie, '71 |
| 2002 | John R. ("Jack") McGrory, '81 Gary W. Schons, '76 |
| 2001 | Hon. Michael J. Streit, '75 Hon. Thomas J. Whelan, '65 |
| 2000 |
Abby B. Silverman, '79 |
| 1999 | Patricia A. McQuater, '78 |
| 1998 | Hon. Frederic L. Link, '68 Michael T. Thorsnes, '68 |
| 1997 | R. Craig Clark, '87 (JD) Kathleen G. McGuinness, '77 |
| 1996 | Hon. Federico Castro, '71 |
| 1995 | Hon. Steven R. Denton, '75 |
| 1994 | Mary E. Harvey, '59* |
| 1993 | Hon. Richard D. Huffman (Honorary Degree) Brian E. Michaels, '68 |
| 1992 | Hon. David B. Moon Jr., '67 |
| 1991 | Hon. H. Lawrence Garrett III, '72 |
| 1990 | Josiah L. Neeper (Honorary Degree) Virginia C. Nelson, '79 |
| 1989 | Hon. H. Wesley Pratt, '79 |
| 1988 | Sheldon Krantz, Former Dean and Professor of Law |
| 1987 | Award not presented this year |
| 1986 | Hon. G. Dennis Adams, '65 |
| 1985 | Craig D. Higgs, '69 |
| 1984 | Hon. Gilbert Nares, '67 Peter K. Nunez, '70 |
| 1983 | Hon. Robert C. Baxley, '64 Hon. Joseph O. Littlejohn, '72 Maj. Gen. Edward J. Philbin, '65 |
| 1982 | Robert F. Adelizzi, '63 Thomas H. Ault, '72 Hon. Victor E. Ramirez, '73 |
| 1981 | Sister Sally M. Furay, '72 Hon. Napoleon A. Jones Jr., '71 Alex L. Landon, '71 |
| 1980 | Nancy H. Ely-Raphel, '68 Hon. Susan P. Finlay, '72 Gerald L. McMahon, '64 |
| 1979 | Hon. Robert J. Cooney, '58 Lynn A. Schenk, '70 Sen. Robert J. Wilson, '68 |
| 1978 | Hon. Herbert Katz, '62 Hon. Judith N. Keep, '70 James A. Longtin, '62 Delroy M. Richardson, '69 Thomas E. Sharkey, '59 |
| 1977 | Hon. Carlos A. Cazares, '66 Gerald L. McMahon, '64 Hon. Sheridan E. Reed, '70 Jane S. Wiegand, '71 D. Dwight Worden, '74 |