Awards Day celebrates student and faculty excellence

Charleston School of Law hosted its annual Awards Day ceremony on Tuesday to celebrate faculty and student success during the 2025-26 academic year.

Dean Jon Marcantel swore in the new Student Bar Association: Molly Frey (President), Claire Beary (Vice President), Drew Dana (Treasurer), and Dyanna Avila-Guerrero (Secretary). 

Professor Jean Steadman was named Professor of the Year. The honor is given to the faculty member who “exudes superlative teaching ability, effectiveness inside the classroom, availability outside the classroom, and participation in student life.”

Professor Dylan Malagrinò was also recognized as the 1L Professor of the Year, an award given to the faculty member who “instills a love of the law into first-year students and is passionate about shaping young legal minds.”

The 2025-26 student organization awards were also announced:

• Phi Delta Phi/Alex Sanders Award: Professor Seth Gordon
• Trial Advocacy Board, Best Advocate Award: Logan Sudholz
• Moot Court Board, Legacy Award: Caroline Holloway
• Professionalism Award: McKenna Moore

Charleston Law’s Mentor Award was given to Ms. Monica Toomer. The honor is presented to the faculty member who demonstrates the “highest level of quality in the mentoring of law students in and out of the classroom.”

SBA Awards

• SBA Senator of the Year Award: Derrick Hinton II
• Adjunct Professor of the Year Award: Professor Leo Brown
• Faculty Mentor Award: Ms. Monica Toomer
• Civility Award: Norberto Ortiz Colon
• 1L Professor of the Year Award: Professor Dylan Malagrinò
• Pro Bono Populi Award: Derrick Hinton II
• Andy Abrams Excellence Award: Professor Dylan Malagrinò
• Professor of the Year Award: Professor Jean Steadman
• Keith J. Williams Award: Daniel Sterbens
• Dean Larry Cunningham Visionary Award: Professor Dylan Malagrinò

Pro Bono Populi

Michelle Condon, Director of Externships, Public Service and Pro Bono, reported that Charleston Law students combined to complete 322,303.56 hours of pro bono service, including 15,839.76 hours from the Class of 2026. 

Sofia Olivia Santoemma received the Pro Bono Hall of Fame honor for recording 500 or more hours of pro bono service (757.5 hrs), followed by Sara Elizabeth Richard (416.1 hrs) and Stephanie Jean Lauw (306.25 hrs).

The Pro Bono Circle of Excellence consists of Charleston Law students who have served between 330 and 499 hours. Four students were recognized for their service, including Madison Julia Blanton, Sara Elizabeth Richard, Stephanie Jean Lauw, and Joshua Zell.

31 Charleston Law students completed more than 100 hours of pro bono service during the 2025-26 academic year: Kiana Nicole Barber, Jessica Taylor Bass, Nadia Isabella Basto, Lauren Elizabeth Beau, Halie Rose Berkowitz, Valentina Nicole Bermejo, Madison Lynn Bernal, Samantha Madison Bunn, Jordyn Belle Costello, Lillian Katherene Cox, Jamison Arlyn Drawdy, Eve Abigail Etchegoyen, Brid Elizabeth Freiberg, Jenna Arlene Giuliani, Matthew John Hawkins, Hannah Michele Kiene, Kerri Carleen McGuire, Dharma Paige Monjure, McKenna Rose Moore, Emily Grace Morgan, Lynnsey Caroline Newman, Amber Marie Richey, Maddison, Renee Roe, Emma Catherine Savoie, Emily Gail Son, Olivia Louise Soukup, Logan Caroline Stox, Addison-Lee Field Thompson, Reagan Grey Kalei Kau Maka O’Nalani Thornley, Jillian Kaye Tinnell, and Justin Thomas Vernon.

Community service is a core value at Charleston School of Law and was created to instill a commitment to service. Each graduate is required to participate in a minimum of 50 hours of pro bono service in the community.

Additional student, faculty, and staff honors and scholarships were announced during the ceremony, including the following:

• Kat Westbrook Rockstar Award: Justin T. Vernon
• Grand Marshal: Marisa Banke
• Faculty Marshal: Katie Brown