In partnership with generous donors, faculty support, and alumni contributions, NIU Law celebrated the Class of 2025 through their annual Commencement Awards in May. Congratulations to the well-deserved recipients!
2025 Commencement Awards:
FRANCIS G. MAYS PRIZE is awarded to a member of the graduating class for outstanding achievement in courses that focus on Criminal Law, Criminal Procedure and Evidence.
- AMELIA O’NEAL
HELLENE & EDWARD FIORETTI AWARD is given each year in recognition of outstanding achievement in courses that focus on professional responsibility and ethics.
- HASHEM EL-SHARIF
PAUL R. VELLA CRIMINAL LAW AWARD honors a member of the graduating class who has done outstanding work in the sequence of criminal law courses and who has also completed a summer internship with a State’s Attorney’s office as a 711 licensee.
- BIANCA GAMEZ
BREWSTER PARKER AWARD is presented annually to a member of the graduating class in recognition of outstanding achievement in courses focusing on Property, Real Estate and Land Use Law.
- BIANCA GAMEZ
BRIAN AND TAMRA MCGOUGH PRIZE goes to the member of the graduating class who has done the most outstanding work in the sequence of corporate courses.
- DANIELLE GUERRA
ALEXIS M.K. SIMMONS FAMILY LAW AWARD for the member of the graduating Class of 2025 who has done the most outstanding work in the area of Family Law.
- SHELBY HARRISON
EDWARD F. DIEDRICH AWARD provided by the Cosentino Law Firm is presented to a graduating student whose community service demonstrates a strong interest in protecting the civil rights of the underprivileged members of our community.
- AYANNA SQUIRES
ALUMNI COUNCIL PRIZE is funded by alumni contributions and is awarded annually to the student/s who writes the best essay on commitment to the law.
- NICHOLAS B. MARINO
- ESMERALDA M. REYES
PROFESSOR DANIEL S. REYNOLDS goes to a well-rounded student in the graduating class who is nominated by fellow classmates and exhibits many of the traits for which Professor Reynolds was renowned, including a dedication to professionalism, a commitment to educating others and demonstrated leadership in or outside the College of Law.
- ISALY ORTIZ
CLOVER FAMILY AWARD is given each year to the student who graduates with the highest number of legal volunteer hours during his or her three years at the College of Law.
- CAITLIN RICHMOND
MARLA DICKERSON AWARD is presented to the graduating student who has demonstrated the strongest commitment to public interest law.
- Award Winner: GEOFFREY DIVER
- Honorable Mention: REBECCA PLOTTS
THURGOOD MARSHALL AWARD is given to the graduating student who best epitomize Justice Marshall’s deep understanding and commitment to equal justice under law, his or her dedication to the rule of law in a just society, and his or her use of the law as an instrument of social change.
- TYNIYA THOMPSON
OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO TRIAL ADVOCACY PROGRAMS
- Award Winner: LILAH FLICKINGER
- Award Winner: BIANCA GAMEZ
- Honorable Mention: AVERY TENEYCK
OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO APPELLATE ADVOCACY PROGRAMS
- JOSE GARCIA
OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO SCHOLARLY PUBLICATIONS
- Award Winner: MIKAYLA KELZ
- Honorable Mention: SAMUEL VASILOPOULOS
OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO THE COLLEGE OF LAW COMMUNITY
- WHITNEY WRIGHT
CLINICAL LEGAL EDUCATION ASSOCIATION (CLEA) AWARD recognizes a student displaying excellence in clinical work.
- MATTHEW NYEHOLT
GEORGE M. SHUR AWARD FOR ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE is given to the member of the graduating class with the highest grade point average for the six semesters of study leading to the juris doctor degree.
- HASHEM EL-SHARIF
