Student Leadership Awards
The National LGBT Bar Association Student Leadership Awards are presented to graduating or recently graduated law students who have demonstrated a unique level of commitment to serving the LGBT community throughout their law school careers. They are presented annually at the Law Student Celebration & Caucus event at the Lavender Law Career Fair & Conference.
2010 Student Leadership Award
This year, the National LGBT Bar Association is proud to present C. Hays Burchfield, recent graduate from the University of Mississippi (“Ole Miss”), with the 2010 Student Leadership Award, the organization’s highest honor for law students. Mr. Burchfield is a fearless legal advocate for LGBT rights and has been working tirelessly to bring equality to the LGBT community in the South. In the face of adversity, Burchfield worked aggressively to create an OUTlaw group at Ole Miss. He also assisted the ACLU of Mississippi with legal research surrounding Constance McMillen’s right to attend prom with her girlfriend, Ceara Sturgis’ desire to wear a tuxedo in her yearbook senior picture, and the right of Juin Baizea (a transgender student) to attend public high school wearing “traditionally female attire.” Through his work, Burchfield inspires other students in the community and nationwide. Of receiving the LGBT Bar’s Student Leadership Award, Burchfield says “It is humbling and I would like to share the praise with all those who helped me. This is a good thing for the community, the law school and Mississippi.”
2010 Student Leadership Award Runner-up
The National LGBT Bar Association would also like to recognize Danielle Hawkes, a recent graduate from the University of Utah S.J. Quinney College of Law, as the runner-up for the 2010 Student Leadership Award. Ms. Hawkes’ accomplishments include co-founding a LGBT legal clinic in Salt Lake City, a long term benefit to the community. Hawkes is also notable for her fearless ability to lead challenging conversations in conservative Utah while bringing together people with different beliefs. After the bar exam, Hawkes hopes to work in LGBT law or on other social justice issues near to her heart. Hawkes is a dedicated passionate organizer and will continue to fight for equality in whatever cause she champions.
2010 APPLICATION PROCESS:
ELIGIBILITY:
In order to be eligible for the 2010 Student Leadership Award, a candidate must have graduated or must be graduating from law school between September 2009 and September 2010. This means that December 2009, January, 2010 and May 2010 graduates will all be eligible for this award.
NOMINATIONS:
In order to nominate an eligible candidate for a Student Leadership Award, please submit:
- a 250- to 500-word statement indicating why the nominee deserves recognition for his or her service to the LGBT community throughout law school; and
- the nominee’s resume.
- Deadline: June 4, 2010
Anyone may submit a nomination (professors, previous or current employers, peers, even the nominees themselves). The recipient is expected to be present at the 2010 Lavender Law Career Fair & Conference in Miami Beach to accept his or her Student Leadership Award. The LGBT Bar will provide registration, lodging, and airfare within the 48 contiguous United States for the recipient. The deadline for nominations is June 4, 2010. Finalists will be notified by the end of June. Nominations should be submitted to Student.Leadership@LGBTbar.org.
QUESTIONS:
Please submit questions to Student.Leadership@LGBTbar.org.