COVER STORY
The student awardees with Justice Kennedy, Justice Duarte, Prof. Levenson, teachers, & other dignitaries
curriculum and were selected by their schools according to their own criteria. These included recognizing creativity, excellence in classroom participation or unique contributions. Awards were also presented to the Story of America Essay Contest winners. With the help of James P. Corn, eight Bion M. Gregory Essay Recognition Awards ($250) were presented. Judge Damrell then presented the two Lawyers’ Choice Essay Awards ($1,000) that bear his name. A United States District Judge for more than 10 years before retiring in 2011, Judge Damrell continues to actively participate in OPD and inspire others to join. Justice Duarte presented the Jean McEvoy Memorial Scholarship Award ($1,000). Jean McEvoy was a steadfast participant on the OPD Executive Committee for over a decade. She was a champion for women and social justice, and encouraged women in their professional careers. The final essay winners
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were four Justice Robert K. Puglia Most Original & Inspirational Essay Awards ($1,000). Ann Kanter, Director of OPD’s Modern Masters of America Fine Art Contest, introduced the Fine Art program. This contest offered students the opportunity to express their views on due process issues through artistic expression. Kanter shared how, this year, the program collaborated with California Lawyers for the Arts and the Verge Center for the Arts in Sacramento. There, Judge Damrell and artists Vallene Hardman and Rochelle Sherbert judged the fine art works and media. Seven awards were presented, ranging from the $250 Honorable Mention Award to the coveted $1,000 Platinum Award. The evening concluded with all the award winners taking a group photograph with Justice Kennedy. OPD is a program of the Sacramento Federal Judicial Library and Learning Center Foundation. Its steering com-
SACRAMENTO LAWYER | July/August 2015 | www.sacbar.org
mittee includes federal and state court judges, public and private lawyers, law schools, bar associations, as well as teachers and participating high schools. OPD’s mission is made possible through the vital support of volunteers and generous donations. For more information about OPD, including volunteer opportunities, please go to www.operationprotectanddefend.com.
Editor’s note: Scores of lawyers and judges deserve credit for the work they did to make both the OPD program and the annual dinner possible. Because this program is about the students, however, we publish the names of the award winners and of the oft-unrecognized teachers who participated in this program.