Fourteen KU Law students honored for scholarship, leadership and service

LAWRENCE – Fourteen University of Kansas School of Law students received awards during the spring 2025 semester for distinguishing themselves in scholarship, leadership and service to the law school and the community.

The recipients:

• Neelie Browne, Olathe: Janean Meigs Memorial Award
• Karen Campbell, Lawrence: Class of 1949 Leadership Award
• Dane Caster, Inman: Faculty Award for Outstanding Scholastic Achievement
• Sam Crawford, Ellis: Faculty Award for Outstanding Scholastic Achievement
• Josh Hukill, West Valley, Utah: Class of 1949 Leadership Award
• Kelli Ludlum, Uniontown: Robert F. Bennett Award
• Joshua Lollar, Lawrence: Faculty Award for Outstanding Scholastic Achievement
• Emma Mays, Hastings, Nebraska: Samuel Mellinger Scholarship, Leadership and Service Award
• Emily Moyes, Parkville, Missouri: Class of 1949 Leadership Award
• Ben Murphy, Overland Park: Janean Meigs Memorial Award
• Ayaan Musse, Vancouver, British Columbia: Janean Meigs Memorial Award
• Gabby Phillips, Norwich: Justice Lloyd Kagey Leadership Award
• Leah Stein, Dodge City: Walter Hiersteiner Outstanding Service Award 
• Corrine Yoder-Mulkey, Eudora: The Dru Mort Sampson Center for Diversity & Inclusion Award of Distinction.

All award winners are graduates of the Class of 2025, who were recognized at the KU Law hooding ceremony May 17. Emma Mays, of Hastings, Nebraska, was selected to serve as the 2025 banner carrier, an honor bestowed upon the student who exemplifies excellence in their program. The class is composed of 126 recipients of the Juris Doctor as well as two Doctor of Juridical Science graduates. Eight students graduated from the Master of Science in Homeland Security: Law & Policy program.

Funds for the awards are managed by KU Endowment, the independent and nonprofit organization serving as KU’s official fundraising and fund-management organization. Founded in 1891, KU Endowment was the first foundation of its kind at a U.S. public university.

Student awards are listed below alphabetically.

Neelie Browne

Neelie Browne, of Olathe, received the Janean Meigs Memorial Award. This award is given to the graduates who have demonstrated a caring spirit in service to the students of the university and/or the community at large. Browne founded the KU Law Balance and Wellbeing club, where she coordinated programs and events aimed at improving student well-being. She also served as a Dean’s Fellow and staff articles editor for the Kansas Journal of Law & Public Policy. Browne is the daughter of Kevin and Kindra Browne. She graduated from Olathe East High School and KU.

Karen Campbell

Karen Campbell, of Lawrence, received the Class of 1949 Leadership Award. This award is given to the students who contributed most significantly to the overall experience of the students in Green Hall. Campbell served as the editor-in-chief of the Kansas Law Review for the 2024-25 school year. She has also been a student ambassador since her first year at KU Law and formerly served as the Student Federal Bar Association president. Campbell is the daughter of Terrence and Kristin Campbell. She graduated from Free State High School and KU.

Dane Caster

Dane Caster, of Inman, received the Faculty Award for Outstanding Scholastic Achievement. This award is given to the graduates who have made the most significant contribution toward overall legal scholarship. During his time at KU Law, Caster served as Chief Justice En Banc of the KU Court of Parking Appeals, also known as Traffic Court. He dedicated his time teaching new students how to prep cases and give strong oral arguments. He also worked as a staff and comments editor of the Kansas Law Review. Caster is the son of Carol Summervill and Michael Caster. He graduated from Inman High School and Wichita State University.

Sam Crawford

Sam Crawford, of Ellis, received the Faculty Award for Outstanding Scholastic Achievement. This award is given to the graduates who have made the most significant contribution toward overall legal scholarship. Crawford worked as an articles editor for the Kansas Journal of Law & Public Policy, where her article was selected for publication. She also competed on the bankruptcy moot court team, placing third at the national Duberstein competition. She was a Shook, Hardy & Bacon Scholar, served as a Moot Court Council officer, was on the Mock Trial Council and was elected treasurer of the KU Law chapter of the Federal Bar Association for two years. Crawford is the daughter of Kim Andries and the late George Crawford III. She graduated from Ellis High School and Kansas State University.

Josh Hukill

Josh Hukill, of West Valley City, Utah, received the Class of 1949 Leadership Award. This award is given to the students who contributed most significantly to the overall experience of the students in Green Hall. As Chief Justice of the Traffic Court, Hukill not only led the court but also mentored first- and second-year law students. He was an active member of the mock trial team and represented KU Law in the American Association for Justice Student Trial Advocacy Competition. He graduated from Hunter High School and Utah Valley University.

Joshua Lollar

Joshua Lollar, of Lawrence, received the Faculty Award for Outstanding Scholastic Achievement. This award is given to the graduates who have made the most significant contribution toward overall legal scholarship. He served on the Moot Court Council and as articles editor for the Kansas Law Review. Lollar is the son of Robin Kluge and Kevin Lollar. He is a graduate of Wichita East High School, Kansas State University, St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary and the University of Notre Dame.

Kelli Ludlum

Kelli Ludlum, of Uniontown, received the Robert F. Bennett Award. This award is presented to the graduate whose undergraduate degree is from a Kansas university or college and who has demonstrated leadership qualities through public service. During her time at KU Law, Ludlum served in a leadership position in Women in Law,  participated in moot court and was staff editor of the Kansas Journal of Law & Public Policy.  Her efforts as president of the Federal Bar Association earned the KU chapter national recognition with the Innovation Award as one of the top three student divisions in the country. Ludlum also earned pro bono distinction for her work in KU Law's Legal Aid Clinic and served on the search committee to hire a director for the new Veterans Legal Support Clinic. Ludlum is the daughter of Joe and Ann Ludlum. She graduated from Uniontown High School and Kansas State University.

Emma Mays

Emma Mays, of Hastings, Nebraska, received the Samuel Mellinger Scholarship, Leadership and Service Award. This award is given annually to the graduate who has most distinguished themselves in the combined areas of scholarship, leadership and service. Mays served as the editor-in-chief of the Kansas Journal of Law & Public Policy for the 2024-25 school year. She served as a Lawyering Skills and writing teaching assistant, helping first-year students learn the complexities of the Bluebook. Mays received the highest grade-point average of any student in the Class of 2025. Mays is the daughter of Greg and Ann Mays. She graduated from Hastings High School and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Emily Moyes

Emily Moyes, of Parkville, Missouri, received the Class of 1949 Leadership Award. This award is given to the students who contributed most significantly to the overall experience of the students in Green Hall. She served as a Lawyering Skills teaching assistant, was the president of the Environmental Law Society and held a position on the Moot Court Council. Moyes is the daughter of Andrew and Cathryn Moyes. She is a graduate of Park Hill South High School and Baylor University.

Ben Murphy

Ben Murphy, of Overland Park, received the Janean Meigs Memorial Award. This award is given to the graduates who have demonstrated a caring spirit in service to the students of the university and/or the community at large. Murphy served as the executive comment editor on the Kansas Law Review, where he had his paper on the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes and the applicability of U.S. law published. He was also a Shook, Hardy & Bacon Scholar. Murphy is the son of Mark and Susan Murphy. He is a graduate of Olathe East High School and KU.

Ayaan Musse

Ayaan Musse, of Vancouver, British Columbia, received the Janean Meigs Memorial Award. This award is given to the graduates who have demonstrated a caring spirit in service to the students of the university and/or the community at large. She served as executive staff articles editor of the Kansas Journal of Law & Public Policy, where her article proposing and advocating for legislation on community land trusts in Kansas and Missouri was selected for publication. She worked for two semesters in KU Law's Legal Aid Clinic, representing low-income clients under the supervision of licensed attorneys. She also served as a Shook, Hardy & Bacon Scholar, where she led Constitutional Law study groups to support first-year law students' academic success. Musse held leadership roles in several student organizations, including the Black Law Students Association and the Student Bar Association, and mentored prospective law students through the KU Minority Pre-Law Student Association. She is a graduate of Lee's Summit North High School’s International Baccalaureate program and Arizona State University.

Gabby Phillips

Gabby Phillips, of Norwich, received the Justice Lloyd Kagey Leadership Award. This award is presented to the graduate who has most distinguished themselves through leadership in the School of Law.  Phillips is a Weigand Scholar. She served as a comments editor for the Kansas Law Review, where her article was selected for publication. She was a member of the Moot Court Council, the president for the Business and Tax Law Society, the program manager for the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program, the treasurer of the Asian Law Students’ Association, a teaching assistant for the Lawyering Skills program and a Shook Hardy & Bacon Scholar. She also worked as Professor Mike Hoeflich’s research assistant. Phillips is the daughter of Jessie and Judy Garrison and Nghia Nguyen. She is a graduate of Norwich High School, Emporia State University and KU.

Leah Stein

Leah Stein, of Dodge City, received the Walter Hiersteiner Outstanding Service Award. The recipient of this award is the graduate whose service to their fellow students in the School of Law or the university community demonstrates the greatest promise for contribution to the legal profession and to society. Stein served as a head Dean’s Fellow and the symposium editor for the Kansas Journal of Law & Public Policy, where she coordinated their 2025 symposium “Cities of Tomorrow: Legal Approaches to Urban Health and Sustainability.” Stein is the daughter of Michael and Coleen Stein. She is a graduate of Dodge City High School and KU.

Corrinne Yoder-Mulkey

Corrinne Yoder-Mulkey, of Eudora, received the Dru Mort Sampson Center for Diversity & Inclusion Award of Distinction. This award is given to a student who has exhibited exemplary leadership and a commitment to promoting diversity and belonging – both in Green Hall and in the law school’s broader communities. They served as the president of OUTLaws & Accomplices for two years and was a founding member of the first Trans Law Student Association of its kind. Yoder-Mulkey is the child of Christine Yoder and Kent Mulkey. They graduated from Eudora High School and Wellesley College.