Law school honors Class of 2022 graduates for scholarship, leadership and service

Margaret Hair

11 student award recipients

LAWRENCE — The University of Kansas School of Law honored graduates in the Class of 2022 at a hooding ceremony on May 14. During the ceremony, 11 graduates received awards for distinguishing themselves in scholarship, leadership and service to the law school and the community.

The recipients:

  • Parker Bednasek, of Charlotte, North Carolina: Robert F. Bennett Award
  • Olivia Black, of Wichita: Justice Lloyd Kagey Leadership Award
  • Karsyn Dahl, of West Point, Utah: Class of 1949 Leadership Award
  • Nancy Donahue, of Overland Park: Walter Hiersteiner Outstanding Service Award
  • Cortez Downey, of Edmond, Oklahoma: Samuel Mellinger Scholarship, Leadership and Service Award
  • David Halliwell, of Overland Park: Class of 1949 Leadership Award
  • Minha Jutt, of Overland Park: Dru Mort Sampson Center for Diversity & Inclusion Award of Distinction
  • Natalie Nelson, of Highland Village, Texas: Janean Meigs Memorial Award
  • Heddy Pierce-Armstrong, of El Dorado: Dru Mort Sampson Center for Diversity & Inclusion Award of Distinction
  • Dahnika Short, of Topeka: Faculty Award for Outstanding Scholastic Achievement
  • Ashlyn Shultz, of Manhattan: Faculty Award for Outstanding Scholastic Achievement

The award winners were part of a class composed of 98 recipients of the Juris Doctor as well as five Doctor of Juridical Science graduates. Nine students graduated from the Master of Science in Homeland Security: Law & Policy program.

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

Student award recipients are listed below by hometown.

BUTLER COUNTY

From El Dorado

Heddy Pierce-ArmstrongHeddy Pierce-Armstrong received the Dru Mort Sampson Center for Diversity & Inclusion Award of Distinction, given to the students who have exhibited exemplary leadership and a commitment to promoting diversity and belonging – both in Green Hall and in the law school’s broader communities. Pierce-Armstrong was a member of the OUTLaws & Allies leadership board for three years, serving as president during her second year of law school. She was also a member of the Dean’s Diversity Leadership Council and has been recognized as a strong advocate, resource and mentor for fellow law students. Pierce-Armstrong was co-president of KU Law’s Student Ambassadors; competed in the National Native American Law Students Association Moot Court Competition and the All-Star Bracket Challenge Mock Trial Competition; and was a member of student organizations including Women in Law, Native American Law Students Association and Black Law Students Association. She is a recipient of the Peggy Browning Fellowship, a competitive national program focused on labor law. Pierce-Armstrong is the daughter of Joni Pierce. She graduated from Circle High School and KU.

JOHNSON COUNTY

From Overland Park

Nancy DonahueNancy Donahue received the Walter Hiersteiner Outstanding Service Award, given to the student whose service to their fellow students in the law school and to the university community demonstrates the greatest promise for contribution to the legal profession and to society. Donahue served as managing editor for the Kansas Law Review, was treasurer of the Mindfulness in Law Society and vice president of the St. Thomas More Society. As a member of the Moot Court Council, she represented KU Law at the Hunton Andrews Kurth Moot Court National Championship and helped mentor fellow students. Donahue also participated in the Philip C. Jessup International Moot Court Competition for two years. Donahue is the daughter of Nancy and Karl John Donahue. She graduated from St. Thomas Aquinas High School and Arizona State University.

David HalliwellDavid Halliwell received the Class of 1949 Leadership Award, given to the students who contributed most significantly to the overall experience of the students in Green Hall. As president of the International Law Society, Halliwell planned a broad range of co-curricular programs focused on international law, including lectures and alumni panels. Halliwell also served as an articles editor for the Kansas Journal of Law & Public Policy, was on the Jessup Moot Court team and was the secretary of the Energy and Environmental Law Society. He graduated with an Environment, Energy and Natural Resources Law Certificate and an International Trade and Finance Certificate. Halliwell is the son of Tedene and Michael Halliwell. He graduated from Blue Valley North High School and KU.

Minha JuttMinha Jutt received the Dru Mort Sampson Center for Diversity & Inclusion Award of Distinction, given to the students who have exhibited exemplary leadership and a commitment to promoting diversity and belonging – both in Green Hall and in the law school’s broader communities. Jutt served as executive comments editor for the Kansas Law Review, where she advocated for changes to provide greater access to publication membership for students across the law school. Jutt was a member of the Moot Court Council and advanced to the quarterfinal round in the National Environmental Law Moot Court Competition. She also was a teaching assistant for Lawyering Skills. Jutt is the daughter of Kausar and Muhammad Jutt. She graduated from Blue Valley North High School and the University of Missouri-Kansas City.

POTTAWATOMIE COUNTY

From Manhattan

Ashlyn ShultzAshlyn Shultz received the Faculty Award for Outstanding Scholastic Achievement, given to the graduates who have made the most significant contributions toward overall legal scholarship. Shultz served as the Class of 2022 banner carrier, an honor given to a student who exemplifies excellence in their program. She was an articles editor for the Kansas Law Review, where she had a comment selected for publication. Shultz helped first-year students navigate the challenges of law school as a teaching assistant in the Lawyering Skills program and as a peer tutor. She also participated in the Christian Legal Society and is among the first group of students to graduate from KU Law after participating in the Legal Education Accelerated Degree (LEAD) Program with Kansas State University. Shultz is the daughter of Brian and Melissa Shultz. She graduated from Flint Hills Christian School and Kansas State University.

SEDGWICK COUNTY

From Wichita

Olivia BlackOlivia Black received the Justice Lloyd Kagey Leadership Award, given to the graduate who has most distinguished themselves through leadership in the law school. Black was a student leader involved in the Black Law Students Association and OUTLaws & Allies. She was a co-head Dean’s Fellow, providing mentorship, academic support and guidance to first-year students. Black represented KU Law in two national transactional law competitions: The Closer, an elite, invitation-only competition, and the UCLA School of Law Transactional Law Competition, where she won the award for Best Draft and received second-place honors for Best Negotiation and Best Overall. Black participated in the Medical-Legal Partnership and the 6th Semester in D.C. Program. She graduated with a Business and Commercial Law Certificate. Black is the daughter of Shonna Black and the late Michael Black. She graduated from Wichita East High School and Wichita State University.

SHAWNEE COUNTY

From Topeka

Dahnika ShortDahnika Short received the Faculty Award for Outstanding Scholastic Achievement, given to the graduates who have made the most significant contributions toward overall legal scholarship. Short served as a comments editor for the Kansas Law Review and attended the Judicial Clerkship Opinion Writing Conference, hosted by the Columbus School of Law at The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. Short advocated for fellow students as a member of the Dean’s Diversity Leadership Council, mentored first-year peers as a member of the Dean’s Fellows and helped develop the Non-Traditional Law Students Association. Prior to attending law school, Short worked as a registered nurse and served as a health education volunteer in the Peace Corps. Short is the daughter of Kathy Cheatham and Dave Sachs. She graduated from Hayden High School, Kansas State University and KU School of Nursing.

NORTH CAROLINA

From Charlotte

Parker BednasekParker Bednasek received the Robert F. Bennett Award, given to a graduate whose undergraduate degree is from a Kansas university or college and who has demonstrated leadership qualities through public service. Bednasek served as editor-in-chief of the Kansas Law Review, where he had an article selected for publication. He mentored first-year students and led study groups as a Lawyering Skills teaching assistant and Shook Hardy & Bacon Scholar. Bednasek was also a member of the Moot Court Council, placing as a semi-finalist in the Wagner National Labor & Employment Law Moot Court Competition. Bednasek is the son of Shawn and Terri Bednasek. He graduated from Broken Arrow High School in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, and from KU.

OKLAHOMA

From Edmond

Cortez DowneyCortez Downey received the Samuel Mellinger Scholarship, Leadership and Service Award, given to the student who has most distinguished themselves in the combined areas of scholarship, leadership and service. An active student leader at KU Law, Downey founded the KU Privacy & Cybersecurity Society, served as president of the Black Law Students Association and co-president of the Student Ambassadors, and was a member of the Dean’s Diversity Leadership Council. He has facilitated wellness education sessions for his peers; led efforts to raise over $4,000 for local charities during BLSA’s annual Food & Textured Hair Care Drive; and has been active in mentoring fellow students. Downey’s scholarship during law school has included working as a research assistant to help design a new interdisciplinary course, Marginalized Bodies in Literature, Medicine and the Law; participating as a facilitator for a scholarly conference; and completing legal internships through the Tribal Judicial Support Clinic and the Mediation Clinic. In 2021, Downey received the Class of 1949 Award for Leadership for the 2L class. Downey is the son of Teaver and Cartius Downey. He graduated from Edmond Santa Fe High School and Oklahoma State University.

TEXAS

From Highland Village

Natalie NelsonNatalie Nelson received the Janean Meigs Memorial Award, given to the graduate who has demonstrated a caring spirit in service to the students at the university and/or the community at large. As a member of the Moot Court Council, Nelson competed in the semi-final round of the Wagner National Labor & Employment Law Moot Court Competition. She was a dedicated moot court participant, helping fellow students prepare for competitions and serving as a judge for the law school’s in-house moot court competition. Nelson also supported students as a teaching assistant for Lawyering Skills courses, working with first-year students on mediation sessions and oral arguments. She was vice president of the Sports Law Society during her third year and a member of the Federal Bar Association student organization during her first year. Following her first year of law school, Nelson participated in the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity Scholars Program. Nelson is the daughter of Andra and Bill Nelson. She graduated from Liberty Christian School and Baylor University.

UTAH

From West Point

Karsyn DahlKarsyn Dahl received the Class of 1949 Leadership Award, given to the students who contributed most significantly to the overall experience of the students in Green Hall. As president of the Student Bar Association, Dahl led the law school’s student government. She planned events and engagement activities for students and alumni and represented student interests in working with the law school’s administration. Dahl was also president of the Federal Bar Association student organization, a member of the Dole Institute Student Advisory Board, and a member of Women in Law and OUTLaws & Allies. She completed pro bono service projects for the 18th Judicial District of Kansas and Kansas Legal Services. Dahl is the daughter of Michelle and Kipp Dahl. She graduated from Clearfield High School and Utah State University.