Widener Law Commonwealth honors Class of 2026 at Student Awards Ceremony
Widener University Commonwealth Law School recognized members of the class of 2026 during its annual student awards ceremony, celebrating academic excellence, leadership, service and advocacy across the law school community.
Held in the Douglas M. Wolfberg Courtroom, the ceremony brought together students, faculty, staff, and family members to honor a class Dean andré douglas pond cummings described as exceptional in both talent and impact.
“We have incredible students,” cummings said. “Today is one of those rare opportunities to celebrate all they’ve accomplished and all the ways they’ve helped elevate this institution.”
Assistant Dean of Students Randi Teplitz said the ceremony offered a chance to reflect on just how much the students have achieved during their time at Widener Law Commonwealth.
“It has been such a joy to see you progress over these last three or four years,” Teplitz said. “Today is a reminder of how far you’ve come and how much you’ve accomplished.”
Awards presented during the ceremony recognized students for excellence in scholarship, advocacy, public service, leadership and contributions to campus life. The program also included recognition for honor society members, Public Interest Initiative participants, scholarship recipients, and the recipient of the Staff Excellence Award.
Top honors
- President’s Award: David Duggan
- Dean’s Award: Rishi Nayee and Ely Zeigler
- Valedictorian Award: Kiera Flannery
- Distinguished Service Award: Natalie Solano
Student leadership awards
- Dean Anthony J. Santoro Outstanding Service Award: Sarah Phillips
- Appellate Advocacy Honor Society Outstanding Executive Board Member: Cana Fasick
- Trial Advocacy Honor Society Outstanding Executive Board Member: Madison Levengood
- Law Review Distinguished Legal Scholarship: Kiera Flannery
Honor society recognitions
Widener Commonwealth Law Review
- Brent Finkbeiner, executive managing editor
- Joseph Marrero, internal managing editor
- Jason Dratch, business/external managing editor
- Carey Anspach, internal supervising editor
- Arianna Gambacorta, internal supervising editor
- Sydney Kline, internal supervising editor
- Christian Kline
- Max Oeler
- Katrina Perea
- Emily Sweeney
- Kiera Flannery
Appellate Advocacy Honor Society
- Cana Fasick
- Cassidy Hartle
- Gianna Ianni
- Allen Kapit
- Olivia Kline
- Paige Oustrich
- Katrina Perea
- Tomyra Wilson
- Brianna Maia
Trial Advocacy Honor Society
- Madison Levengood
- Gabriel Kuehn
- Karen Kreis
- Jessica Cossaboone
- Carl Grab
- Abigail Hoben
- Brooke Jones
- Tomyra Wilson
Order of the Barristers
- Cana Fasick
- Cassidy Hartle
- Brianna Maia
- Paige Oustrich
- Katrina Perea
- Tomyra Wilson
- Carl Grab
- Brooke Jones
- Gabriel Kuehn
- Madison Levengood
Student achievement awards
- James S. Bowman American Inn of Court Award: Brooke Jones
- American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers Eric D. Turner Award: Jermaine Harris
- Pennsylvania Bar Association Business Law Section Professor Lewis Del Duca Memorial Award: Kaden Rude
- John A. Fillion Memorial Award: Allen Kapit
- International Academy of Trial Lawyers Student Advocacy Award: Gabriel Kuehn
- Commonwealth Court Historical Society Judge Alexander F. Barbieri Award: Brent Finkbeiner
- Outstanding Law and Government Student Award: Alex Benson
- Robert and Audrey Dernbach Memorial Award for Environmental Law and Sustainability: Sarah Phillips and Veronica Porter
- Legal Research and Writing Award, Regular Division: Cassidy Hartle and Sydney Kline
- Legal Research and Writing Award, Extended Division: Justine Trevino
- Outstanding Clinical Advocacy Award: Nico Cavalari
- Outstanding Pro Bono Service Award: Justine Trevino
Public Interest Initiative recognition
- Grace Andrefski
- Michael Bekhit
- Alex Benson
- Nico Cavalari
- Ashton Clark
- Brooke Jones
- Nathalie Polo
- Christian Ross
- Justine Trevino
- Karyna Vadalazkava
- Elizabeth Wenger
- Tomyra Wilson
- Ellen White
Outstanding service awards
- Emilie Baerga
- Alex Benson
- Ashton Clark
- Jermaine Harris
- Gianna Ianni
- Brooke Jones
- Sydney Kline
- Madison Levengood
- Emily Sweeney
- Elizabeth Wenger
Special recognition
- Staff Excellence Award: Jeremy Wingert
