In spring 2023, the Justice Center and Mithoff Pro Bono Program reprised the Law School’s annual Celebration of Service, joined by two new co-hosts — the Office of Student Affairs and the Office for Equity and Inclusion. The end of year lunch and ice cream social recognizes excellence in service and teaching.
Elizabeth Bangs, Assistant Dean for Student Affairs, introduced the new, expanded program. Dean Chesney presented the 2023 Justice Center Graduating Student Awards for outstanding contributions to building and supporting Texas Law’s public interest community and the culture of service. Shavonne Henderson, Associate Dean for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging, presented new student awards for outstanding contributions to student life given out by the Office of Student Affairs and the Office for Equity and Inclusion. The event also included the Student Bar Association’s teaching awards, presented by Student Bar Association president Jamaal Lockings ’24, and the Hildy’s Cutback Award, presented by Professor Jay Westbrook.
Mithoff Program director Andrea Marsh concluded the program recognizing outstanding student achievement in pro bono service, including the Pro Bono Beacons — the students in each class with the highest number of hours of pro bono service. “This event is always a wonderful way to recognize Texas Law students’ public service. Over 700 current law students have participated in pro bono, and they collectively have donated over 30,000 hours to providing free legal services,” said Marsh. “The Beacons lead the way in demonstrating how law students can balance a commitment to service with their other academic and extracurricular responsibilities.” She singled out graduating student Adarsh Parthasarathy, who holds the Law School’s current record for the highest number of hours of pro bono service. “Adarsh volunteered with almost every pro bono project offered at the Law School and completed over 500 hours of pro bono work with the Federal Public Defender’s Capital Habeas Unit,” said Marsh.
See the event program for a complete list of participants, honors and other recognitions: Awards Program 2023
