Shaping Justice Award
The Shaping Justice Awards arose from the inaugural Shaping Justice Conference in 2017. The awards recognize alumni every year who have shown true dedication to the pursuit and practice of social justice lawyering. The Extraordinary Achievement Award and Rising Star Award recognize the current and next generation of public interest advocate leaders, respectively. The awards are bestowed upon individuals who have demonstrated leadership in their fields, a dedication to community building across practice areas, and a passion for paying it forward to aspiring public interest attorneys.
2021
Shaping Justice Award for Extraordinary Achievement
Toby Heytens ’00, Solicitor General of Virginia
Shaping Justice Rising Star Award
Elisabeth Epps ’11, founder and director of the Colorado Freedom Fund
April Nicole Russo ’11, Assistant U.S. Attorney at the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Child Exploitation & Human Trafficking Unit
2020
Shaping Justice Award for Extraordinary Achievement
Chris Kavanaugh ’06, U.S. attorney for the Western District of Virginia
Shaping Justice Rising Star Award
Claire Blumenson ’11, executive director and co-founder of the School Justice Project
Chioma Chukwu ’12, senior executive counselor at the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Reform
2019
Shaping Justice Award for Extraordinary Achievement
Chinh Q. Lee ’00, Legal Aid Society, District of Columbia
Julia Pierce ’98, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Indian Health Branch Public Health Division
Shaping Justice Rising Star Award
Michelle Harrison ’12, EarthRights International
2018
Shaping Justice Award for Extraordinary Achievement
Jeffry Kerr ’87, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals
Shaping Justice Rising Star Award
Kim Rolla ’13, Legal Aid Justice Center
Jeree Thomas ’11, Campaign for Youth Justice
2017
Shaping Justice Award for Lifetime Achievement in Public Service
Jim Hingely ’76, Charlottesville-Albemarle Public Defender
Shaping Justice Prosecution Award
Vijay Shanker ’99, Justice Department, Criminal Division, Appellate
Shaping Justice Government Award:
Jennifer Ricketts ’88, Justice Department, Civil Division, Federal Programs
Shaping Justice Public Defense Award:
Lt. Jacqueline Leonard ’11, U.S. Navy JAG
Shaping Justice Legal Aid/Nonprofits Award:
Robert E. Lee ’92, Virginia Capital Resource Representation Center
Shaping Justice Human Rights/Civil Rights Award:
Stephen Pevar ’71, ACLU, Racial Justice Program