A selection of Harvard Law students from the Class of 2023 were recognized for their contributions during the Class Day ceremony on May 24. They were honored for outstanding leadership, citizenship, compassion, and dedication to their studies and the profession.
Ralph D. Gants Access to Justice Award
Stephanie Perez ’23 was the recipient of the 2023 Ralph D. Gants Access to Justice Award. She is honored for her steadfast devotion to protecting the most vulnerable in society while addressing systemic injustice. As a student leader in the Harvard Prison Legal Assistance Project (PLAP), Perez spent hundreds of pro bono hours fighting for the rights of the incarcerated, and she participated in four clinics that display a dedication to understanding how the law can be used to serve others.
David A. Grossman Exemplary Clinical Student Award
Ricardo Jimenez Solis ’23 was the recipient of the 2023 David A. Grossman Exemplary Clinical Student Award. He is celebrated for his significant contributions to the Harvard Immigration and Refugee Clinical Program (HIRC), as a graduate of both the Immigration and Refugee Advocacy Clinic and the Crimmigration Clinic.
Andrew L. Kaufman Pro Bono Service Award
Molly Crane ’23 was the recipient of the 2023 Andrew L. Kaufman Pro Bono Service Award, in recognition of her dedication to uplifting those touched by the criminal legal system, extraordinary care for clients, and her embodiment of the true spirit of pro bono service.
The Frank S. Righeimer Jr. Prize for Student Citizenship
Sudheer R. Poluru J.D. J.D./M.B.A ’23 was awarded the 2023 Righeimer Prize, an honor that celebrates a graduating student in recognition of exceptional citizenship within the Harvard Law School community, demonstrated through involvement in student organizations, community service groups, or through individual efforts.
William J. Stuntz Memorial Award for Justice, Human Dignity, and Compassion
This year, Ryan Gunderman ’23 was named the 2023 winner of the William J. Stuntz Memorial Award for Justice, Human Dignity, and Compassion. The Stuntz Award recognizes a graduating student who has demonstrated an exemplary commitment to those principles while at Harvard Law School.
The David Westfall Memorial Award
Barbara (Babs) Tsao ’23 and Irene Kwon ’23 were the recipients of this year’s Westfall Memorial Award, which recognizes a student or students with outstanding contributions to creating community within their first-year section and class. The award is named in honor of the late Professor David Westfall ’50, who taught at Harvard Law School for more than 50 years and served as an inaugural faculty leader for a first-year section.
Deans Award for Community Leadership
Twenty-three students were honored with The Dean’s Awards for Community Leadership, which recognize graduates who contribute time and energy to making the Harvard Law School community a better place through involvement in student organizations and journals, community service groups, clinics, and through individual efforts.