Texas Law students were honored for excellence in legal writing and advocacy during the Beck Center Awards presentation on April 22, 2025.
The annual event, which is sponsored by the David J. Beck Center for Legal Research, Writing, and Appellate Advocacy recognized outstanding Texas Law students for their focus on refining exceptional communication skills.
The center provides all first-year Texas Law students with a foundation for excellence in legal writing and research as well as oral presentation and argument. The center also offers advanced courses to second- and third-year students.
At the ceremony, Beck Center faculty were excited to celebrate student success. “We have watched these students work hard all year, and it is a delight to honor them for their accomplishments,” says Beck Center Director Kamela Bridges. “This year we had the additional pleasure of recognizing three students who succeeded in statewide competitions. The Beck Center has a rigorous program teaching legal research, analysis, and writing. It’s great to see that already reaping dividends for these students, as we hope it will for all of our students for years to come.”
Thad T. Hutcheson Moot Court
First-year Texas Law students test their advocacy skills at the annual Thad T. Hutcheson Moot Court competition, held this year on April 11-13. 1Ls Ahryn Hancock and Taylor Davis faced off in the final round of the 64-person tournament, and Hancock took top honors. Fellow 1Ls Drew Ashlock and Lillian Jorden were semifinalists, while Will Bonds, Steven Brunetti, Andrew Chahda, and Ananya Dwivedi advanced to the “elite eight” round.
Teaching Quizmasters
Eight students were recognized for their two years of service as teaching quizmasters, or “TQs.” Long recognized as a prized role for second- or third-year Texas Law students, TQs act as academic assistants for legal research and writing courses, working with students on assignments and providing feedback. TQs completing their second year are the following 3Ls: Kaitlyn Ameny, Brandon Chernov, Annalee Jeffress, Ashley Kim, Corrine May, Caelan Mitchell-Bennett, Kimberly Pilatovsky, and Lauren Radigan. Nineteen first-year TQs were introduced as well.
Statewide Competition Winners
3L Luca Azzariti and 2L Grant Shellhouse were recognized for placing first and second, respectively, in the 2025 Paper Chase Legal Writing Competition, a practice-oriented competition designed to test analytical and legal writing skills that included entries from students at eight law schools.
3L Saketh Meka also earned statewide recognition and a scholarship prize by placing second in the Texas Insurance Law Student Writing Competition, which is sponsored by the Insurance Law Section of the State Bar of Texas.
Outstanding Memos and Best Briefs
Professor Wayne Schiess announced that 16 first-year students received Outstanding Memo awards. Those went to: 1Ls Alexis Leigh Allison, Chloe Elaine Baker, Emily Rose Beatty, Blake Brawner, Austin Boyles, Ryan James Gale, Marc Deyuan Jiang, Madison Grace Lamb, Nico Lewine, Mary Oancia, Karolyn Raj, Sruti Ramachandran, Paige Avery Russell, Adam Kendrick Smith, Ana Marija Stanovcic, and Grace M. Wetsel.
The Review of Litigation presented Best Brief Awards to 1Ls Kyle Brubacher, Andrew Chahda, Ryan Gale, Marc Jiang, Nico Lewine, Patrick Mills, Austin Smith, and Claire Thomas.
Beck Award
The ceremony culminated with the announcement of this year’s winners of the Beck Award, given to six students who demonstrate outstanding performance in legal analysis, communication, persuasive writing, and advocacy. Winners for 2025 are 1Ls Alexis Leigh Allison, Berkeley Elizabeth Baird, Blake Brawner, Skylar Dixon-Englert, Ryan James Gale, Marc Jiang, Nico Lewine, and Patrick Mills.
View Beck Center Awards Photos on Flickr
