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July 6 - 12, 2003 |
Students Recognized for Top Honors At John Marshall Commencement
Brendan Shiller received several scholarships and prizes as the top student in the June 2003 graduating class at The John Marshall Law School.
Special honors were also bestowed on Nahrin Sapper Marino who ranked first in the evening division; David G. Kairis who ranked first in the evening division after the first year, and Keara K. Roethke who had the most improved academic record.
Shiller received the John N. Jewitt Scholarship for the highest rank in the studies of the first year; the Arba N. Waterman Scholarship for the highest rank in the second year; and the Edward T. Lee Scholarship for the highest rank in the third year. He also received the Graduate School Scholarship as the highest ranking day division student; the West Publishing Company Prize for the highest grade point average in the day division after the first year; and the Lexis/Nexis Prize for the highest standing in the last year.
Shiller was a Dean's Scholar at John Marshall, a member of the Order of John Marshall honorary society, and recipient of the Fred F. Herzog Scholarship. During the spring 2003 semester, he was a member of the John Marshall team at the Georgia State Trial Competition.
Shiller received a bachelor's degree in journalism from Howard University in Washington, D.C., in 1996. He returned to Chicago and accepted an editor's position with StreetWise newspaper. He later worked on Rep. Bobby Rush's mayoral campaign, and for Metropolitan Tenants Organization before coming to John Marshall.
Marino received the Graduate School Scholarship as the
highest-ranking student in the evening division. A graduate of Niles North High
School in Skokie, she
received a bachelor's degree in biological sciences from
Illinois State University in 1997. At John Marshall she was the recipient of
the 2002 Allen Schwartz Scholarship, and was on the Dean's List.
Roethke received the Dean's Prize for making the most improvement
over her academic year. A native of Milwaukee, she received a bachelor's degree
in
criminology and law studies from Marquette University in
2000. She also was a Dean's Scholar at John Marshall.
Kairis received the West Publishing honors for his academic record his first year. A graduate of Northwestern University, Kairis received the Fred Herzog Scholarship and was a Dean's Scholar. He was inducted into the Order of John Marshall honorary society, and also was on the Dean's List. He was a member of the John Marshall Law Review and was a 2002 summer associate at Schiff Hardin & Waite.
Dean Robert Gilbert Johnston congratulates Ann Melichar, daughter of Ernie Melichar in the Development Office, as she receives her diploma. Ann has been involved in several activities at the law school, including helping organize the first Culture Fest in 2001, and this year's successful Center and Eastern European Students Reception.
Jessica L. Nugent, Gary K. Wachtel (center) and Brian M. Holt (right), top students writing for The John Marshall Law School Ethics Case Notes and Comments program established by Professor Frank Morrissey, received the Francis D. and Corinne S. Morrissey Award.
Professor Ralph Ruebner is the proud dad after presenting his daughter, Rachel, with her degree. Rachel was a member of the ATLA Mock Trial competition team.
Special recognition and the "Ambassador of the Year" award were given to (from left) Matthew J. Kissling, Jonathon R. Treat and Michael J. Pfister for the work with the Admission Office and the school. They served as tour guides, assisted at open houses and were student advisors to first-year students.
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Herrera Selected for $25,000 Sprague Scholarship
John Marshall Law School graduate Jacqueline Herrera (third from right) is the 2003 recipient of the Lucy Sprague Public Service Scholarship. Herrera was selected for the $25,000 scholarship based on her academic record and work in public service. Congratulating Herrera at the scholarship presentation are (from left) John Marshall Associate Dean John Corkery; Herrera's brother and mother, Alfonso Herrera and Belinda Aguirre of Waukegan; and the late Lucy Sprague's mother and brother, Mrs. Lee Sprague and Alexander Sprague.
Jacqueline Herrera, an immigrant from El Salvador who wants to help other Hispanics as they assimilate into the American culture, is the 2003 winner of the Lucy Sprague Public Service Scholarship.
Herrera, a January 2003 graduate of The John Marshall Law School, will receive the $25,000 award to help defray her school loans. Herrera was selected for the scholarship based on her academic standing, commitment to helping others and willingness to do public interest law.
"Just as I am my parents `American dream' that they sacrificed for, I have my own American dream to become an advocate for immigrant people and their rights," Herrera said. "Someone was able to help me achieve my dreams. I want to help others achieve theirs." She has taken that first step by earning a law degree and now serving as the immigration program coordinator at Interfaith Refugee & Immigration Ministries in Chicago.
The Sprague Scholarship was established in 1998 in the memory of Lucy Sprague who was a second-year student at The John Marshall Law School when she was murdered in December 1996. Her parents, Lee and the Honorable George R. Sprague, a district court judge in Cambridge, Mass., brother, Alexander, and sister, Cynthia, established the scholarship to assist other students interested, as Lucy was, in a profession in public interest law.
Herrera's parents came to the United States first, leaving their infant daughter, Jackie, with great-grandmother, Paz Najarro. Eight years later, they returned for her and started a new life in Waukegan.
Herrera graduated from Waukegan East High School and enrolled at Northern Illinois University. A summer job at the Lake County Juvenile Detention Center in Waukegan allowed her to interact with juvenile delinquents, monitor teen pregnancy groups and supervise court-ordered service hours. Herrera also found herself translating for Spanish-speaking parents and providing information on court procedures.
"That work got me thinking about working with parents and their immigrant children," Herrera said.
She graduated from NIU in 1995, and shortly afterward Herrera accepted a bilingual education teacher's position. She was a North Chicago schools committee member that re-wrote the bilingual curriculum and developed an Hispanic recognition program. Herrera says she found herself not only teaching, but also mentoring and offering information on community services.
Herrera kept her teaching position and enrolled in the evening program at
The John Marshall Law School. From her first semester, she began working on immigrant concerns, including a summer position at Legal Assistance Foundation of Metropolitan Chicago where she assisted migrant workers. She then completed an internship at Midwest Immigrant & Human Rights Center.
"My knowledge of immigration law expanded significantly while working there. I helped clients file petitions under the Nicaraguan and Central American Act. I participated in the intake process for asylum cases, filing visas and working with unaccompanied immigrant juveniles," she recalled.
During her second year, Herrera was selected as a Public Interest Legal Initiative summer intern at the Chicago Legal Clinic helping with an array of immigration issues, including humanitarian requests, family petitions, naturalization questions, temporary protected status and visa questions. She continued as a volunteer for the clinic.
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Schedule of Events
July 8
- AIDS Foundation Training, Room 1200, 9:00 a.m.
July 9
- Real Estate Advisory Committee, Room 1200B
July 10
- American Academy of Medical Management, 5th Floor, 8:00 a.m.
July 11
- American Academy of Medical Management, 5th Floor, 8:00 a.m.
- Parma Trip Lecture, Room 1101, 5:00 p.m.
July 12
- American Academy of Medical Management, 5th Floor, 8:00 a.m.
- Comprehensive Exam, Room 1103, 8:30 a.m.
- Admissions Recruiting Forum, Washington D.C., 10:00 a.m.
July 13
- American Academy of Medical Management, 5th Floor, 8:00 a.m.
July 14
- American Academy of Medical Management, 5th Floor, 8:00 a.m.
July 15
- American Academy of Medical Management, 5th Floor, 8:00 a.m.
July 16
- American Academy of Medical Management, 5th Floor, 8:00 a.m.
- Comprehensive Exam Review, Room 402, 4:00 p.m.
July 17
- American Academy of Medical Management, 5th Floor, 8:00 a.m.
- AIDS Foundation Program, Room 1200, 8:00 a.m.
July 18
- American Academy of Medical Management, 5th Floor, 8:00 a.m.