Celebrating Success

The Pre-Law Achievers Banquet is a celebration of the graduating seniors, their accomplishments and the year’s strongest performances in oral advocacy. This formal affair is the highlight of the year as students get to come in their finest and participate in themed fanfare. Themes from the past few years include Reach for the Stars, Betting on Your Future and Masquerade Ball. It is here that students receive their honorary Pre-Law graduation cords.

The Pre-Law Achievers Banquet is hosted every spring on the last Friday in April or the first Friday in May.  

Photo Gallery

Keynote Speakers

Kimberly Fitzpatrick photo

2020

Hon. Kimberly Fitzpatrick, Judge 342nd District Court

Christian Nisttahuz thumbnail

2019

Christian Nisttahuz, Norton Rose Fullbright

Penny Willrich thumbnail

2018

Hon. Penny Willrich, Arizona High Court, Ret.

Bryan E Wilson

2017

Bryan E. Wilson, The Texas Law Hawk

D Wayne Watts

2016

D. Wayne Watts, General Counsel AT&T

Jeff Leuschel thumbnail

2015

Jeff Leuschel, McCall, Parkhurst & Horton LLP

Award Recipients

OUTSTANDING SENIOR AWARD

Winner of the Outstanding Senior

  • Evani Babin and Yasmine Johnson (2024)
  • Razuan Elsadig and Meghna Sharda (2023)
  • Mary Hamilton and Kanishia Kelso-Gadison (2022)
  • Nida Shah Garcia and Avani Soni (2021)

OUTSTANDING SENIOR MALE AWARD

 
  • Nicholas EJ McHenry (2019)
  • Richard Lee Miller, Jr. (2018)
  • Wesley James Salazar (2017)
  • Daniel A. Winston Ruiz (2016)
  • Davinder Jassal (2015)

OUTSTANDING SENIOR FEMALE AWARD

OUTSTANDING SENIOR FEMALE AWARD

  • Hailey Moore (2019)
  • Mickaela Alves Rosario (2018)
  • Mehwish Merchant (2017)
  • Olivia Roberts (2016)
  • Angelica Reyes (2015)

MAVERICK SPIRIT OF THE LAW AWARD

Winners of the Maverick Spirit of the Law Award 
  • Hallie Young and Delilah Crosby (2024)
  • Izabella Russell (2023)
  • Anwar Hannun, Feryal Hefnawy and Meghna Sharda (2022)
  • Jocelyn Gaucin and Cassidy Dodge Terrazas (2021)
  • Addis Bedilu and Amber Mills (2020)
  • Melanie Vo (2019)
  • Honest Kapic (2018)
  • Albea Romero (2017)

MOOT COURT AWARD

MOOT COURT AWARD

  • McKenzie Martinez and Emerson Escobar (2024)
  • Abigail Moore and Jiya Willis (2023)
  • Jacqueline Avila and Jiya Willis (2022)
  • Melanie Vo and Madison Moore (2021)
  • Dominique Lange (2020)
  • James Sanders and Lauren Beavers (2019)
  • Jordan Tambara and Mickaela Alves (2018)
  • Ana Gonzalez and Zari Brown (2017)
  • Ian Klein and Tristin Neal (2016)
  • Davinder Jassal and Ramon Hernandez (2015)

MOCK TRIAL AWARD - BEST PROSECUTOR/PLAINTIFF

MOCK TRIAL AWARD - BEST PROSECUTOR

  • Emani Babin (2024)
  • Afrah Rizme (2023)
  • Veronica Morris (2022)
  • Avani Soni (2021)
  • Matthew McCurdy (2020)
  • Hailey Moore (2019)
  • Laura Cook (2018)
  • Jordan Tambara (2017)
  • Aby Lukose (2016)

MOCK TRIAL AWARD - BEST DEFENSE ATTORNEY

  • Izabella Russell (2024)
  • Izabella Russell (2023)
  • Cassidy Terrazas (2022)
  • Vanessa Garcia (2021)
  • Tyrin Pritchett (2020)
  • Matthew McCurdy (2019)
  • Jessica Bebawi (2018)
  • Jessica Bebawi (2017)
  • Daniel Winston Ruiz (2016)

 

MOCK TRIAL AWARD - BEST ACTOR

  • Jacob Story and Mohammed Ghafori (2024)
  • Jacob Story (2022)
  • Luke Durmon (2023)

 

MOCK TRIAL AWARD - BEST ACTRESS

Winner of the Mock Trial Best Actress Award

  • Rachel Salazar (2024)
  • Razuan Elsadig (2023)
  • Dina Hannun (2022)

 

BEST MEDIATOR

  • Bethany Clinton (2018)
  • Tiffany Ann R. Nicasio (2017)

ARBITRATION AWARDS

  • Chris Nguyen, Ana Gonzalez, Wesley Salazar (2017)
  • Ian Klein, Ramon Hernandez, Karina Loya, Ana Gonzalez (2016)

DISTINGUISHED DELEGATE AWARD (MUN)

 
  • Juan Diego Gonzalez-German (2019)
  • Sadia Ahmed, Luleet Wonde, Courtney Marlowe (2018)
  • Sindhuja Krishnamoorthy (2017)
  • Natalie Thomas (2016)

WAYNE WATTS SCHOLARS

  • 2023 Scholars
    • Douglas Dyer
    • Anwar Hannun
    • Peter Olusanya
    • Gaby Reynoso
    • Dylan Torres
    • Ayleanna Westbrooks
  • 2022 Scholars
    • Jaqueline Avila, Beyonce Green, Chasidah Fried
    • Francesca Jaubert, Lizbhet Sanchez
  • 2021 Scholars
    • Beyonce Green, Honest Kapic, Alyssa Roerick
    • Gordon Smith, Jose Torres, Emmalee Valentine
  • 2020 Scholars
    • Akram Abbadi, Joynesha Battle, Addis Bedilu,
    • Jordan Kerry Joiner, William Mohamad, Nida Shah,
    • Jose Torres, Melanie Vo
  • 2019 Scholars
    • Aleaddine Agha, Bethany Clinton, Laura Cook,
    • Gregory Garcia, Marena Hanna, Daniel Lopez, 
    • Hailey Moore, Kelsey Poole, Kayla Wilson, Michal Zamulinski
  • 2018 Scholars
    • Mickaela Alves, Ann Awe, Emily Barnes,
    • Jeri Carraway, Alexis Godina
  • 2017 Scholars
    • Zari Brown, Tiffany Nicasio, Albea Romero,
    • Kaylea Singleton, Tara Smith