Honors and Recognition FACULTY AWARD OF LEGAL MERIT The Award of Legal Merit recognizes the outstanding contribution of an Idaho law graduate whose career exemplifies the best in the legal profession. The award is determined by a vote of the faculty and is based on an individual’s integrity, competence, service and leadership through work as a legal practitioner, service to the legal profession, service to the community, or service to business/state/national interests.
UNIVERSITY OF IDAHO ALUMNI HALL OF FAME This award was created in 1962 and recognizes alumni who have achieved national or international distinction by their accomplishments and leadership. Consideration is given for distinction in career accomplishments, leadership within career organizations, voluntary leadership efforts in charitable causes, leadership efforts which have improved the cultural, social, political or economic well-being of society and prior recognition and honors.
FACULTY AND STUDENT AWARDS PETER E. HEISER AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN TEACHING PROFESSOR WENDY GERWICK COUTURE
Professor Couture was selected by students from the 2016 graduating class to receive this award. The award recognizes outstanding dedication to students at the University of Idaho College of Law. Professor Couture previously received this award in 2014.
FACULTY AWARD OF LEGAL ACHIEVEMENT
IDAHO
PATRICK JAMES FACKRELL
20 LAW
JUDGE CANDY WAGAHOFF DALE ’82
JOHN FORD ELSAESSER, JR. ‘78
The Honorable Candy Wagahoff Dale began her appointment as United States Magistrate Judge for the District of Idaho on March 31, 2008 and served as Chief Magistrate Judge from October of 2008 through September of 2015. Among her other duties, she is the supervisor of the Prisoner Litigation Unit and Chair of the Local Civil Rules Advisory Committee. She is a member of the Jury Trial Improvement Committee for the Ninth Circuit and the immediate past chair of the Magistrate Judges Executive Board for the Ninth Circuit.
Mr. Elsaesser co-founded the Sandpoint, Idaho law firm of Elsaesser Jarzabek Anderson Elliot & Macdonald. He has developed a nationally-recognized practice in bankruptcy law and has extensive experience in every aspect of insolvency, restructuring and bankruptcy issues. His first major Chapter 11, filed in 1985, was the case of Riley Creek Lumber Co. This company was one of the very few lumber companies to successfully reorganize, and the company has now become Idaho Forest Group, one of the largest lumber producers in the Northwest.
Judge Dale is a judge liaison of the Governing Board of the Idaho Chapter of the Federal Bar Association and a member of the Executive Board of the Idaho Legal History Society. She is an Emeritus member of the American Inn of Courts No. 130, where she previously served as president; and the immediate Past Chair of the Board of Trustees of the College of Idaho. Judge Dale received the 2014 Justice for All award from the Idaho State Bar Diversity section and the 2010 Kate Feltham award from the Idaho Women Lawyers.
Mr. Elsaesser also served as the receiver and trustee operating the Schwietzer ski area for three years in the 1990s. In 1994, he successfully argued a case before the U.S. Supreme Court, resulting in a 9-0 decision written by the late Justice Antonin Scalia. He has served as chair of the Board of Bonner General Health, which operates the largest community health facility in the region. He recently helped found Food For Our Children, which addresses food insecurity issues for children in low-income households in Bonner County. Mr. Elsaesser has been a bankruptcy professor for the College of Law for over 10 years and has coached the bankruptcy moot court team to a national championship in 2001. In 2011, he received the College of Law Faculty Award of Legal Merit.
Presented to the graduating law student with the highest cumulative grade point average, this award honors outstanding dedication and success in the pursuit of academic excellence during legal study at the College of Law.
EMPHASIS AREAS OF STUDY The following graduates have completed courses of study focusing on specific areas of law. Business Law & Entrepreneurship Cody Duane Earl Alexander Phillips Hatter Christopher W. Herzinger Brianne L. Murphy Reid Kermit Peterson Christopher James Schrette Litigation & Alternative Dispute Resolution Kristen Faye Barnhart Alexander Keith Grad Ammon Clark Judy Keith Patrick Scholl
Natural Resources & Environmental Law Ryan Michael Black Patrick Bartholomew Johnson Callie Ann Madsen Brian L. Stephens Lora Marie Todd
PRO BONO SERVICE RECOGNITION Graduates who complete 80+ hours of pro bono service are recognized below with a purple honor cord they wear during the commencement ceremony. Pro Bono Service with Extraordinary Distinction
(120+ hours) Steven Atwell Atkinson Maria C. Caballero Donna McIntyre Case Christine A. Evangelides Dodd Kendra D. Goetz Mikel J. Hautzinger Caitlin Rose Hurlock Theodore H. Jeckering Ammon Clark Judy Ruvim V. Kuznetsov Jamie P. Laliberte Jaime L. Matier
Vanessa Montoya David James Morse Heather Elise Norton Spencer Rammell Beck C. Roan Keith Patrick Scholl Christopher James Schrette Katelyn Michelle Skaggs Dori L. Smith Lora Marie Todd Cecily Vaughn Allison Kathleen Whipps
Pro Bono Service with Distinction
(80+ hours)
Ryan Michael Black Matthew Ellis Draper Jason Gustaves SarahAnne D. Johns Patrick Bartholomew Johnson Justin Don Jones Shawn E. Logan
Danielle Jean Mayberry Molly Elizabeth Mitchell Chad R. Moody Nicholas Tyler O’Bryant Chikezie Ogbuehi Tyler A. Roberts Stephanie Anne Russell
Native American Law Andrew Warlick Betson Patrick Bartholomew Johnson Danielle Jean Mayberry Chikezie Canice Ogbuehi
2016
ALUMNI AWARDS
WINTER 21