News Archive

Students, faculty, and staff gathered in the Inlow Hall atrium for the fourth annual Student Organization Awards ceremony on April 5.

Advisor of the Year was presented to Professor Lahny Silva for her work with the Black Law Students Association. The award was presented by Dean Andy Klein, who said the law school was fortunate to have professors as highly engaged with students as Professor Silva, who was chatting with students about life in general and class assignments in particular throughout the event. “She works to improve the experience of everyone involved,” Dean Klein said.

The Best New Student Organization of the Year award went to the Student Immigration Law Society. The group was organized in Fall 2015, and officially became active in Spring 2016. It is the creation of 1Ls Puruda Kothari, Daniel Randolph, and Sheila Willard, and 2L evening student Cindy Alfaro.

The award for Best Collaboration of the Year went to the Black Law Students Association and the Hispanic Law Society for their fourth annual Diversity Dinner. The event offers an opportunity for students, alumni, and other members of the legal community to gather and network.

Women’s Caucus won the award for Best Service Project of the Year for its annual auction, which this year raised funds for Coburn Place. Students who organized the event presented a check for $20,000 to representatives from Coburn Place during awards event. The organization houses individuals who are homeless due to domestic violence by an intimate partner.

Megan Smith-Pastrana received the award for Outstanding Student Leader of the Year for her work with the Hispanic Law Society and Equal Justice Works. She also was named an Elite 50 graduate student by IUPUI.

The Black Law Students Association was named the Student Organization of the Year. The group was honored for its work with former inmates. Students organized a holiday party complete with gifts for former inmates and their families in November 2015, and a job fair in April 2016.