Alumni Awards

Every year, Maryland Carey Law recognizes alumni for their hard work and dedication to the legal and professional communities they serve. Our graduates have distinguished themselves in a variety of endeavors, and the Alumni Awards program honors alumni who embody the spirit of a Maryland Carey Law education and who inspire excellence in the legal community.

Nominations for the 2026 awards program have closed. We will open the nomination window for the 2027 Alumni Awards in the fall!

If you have any questions, please contact Justinia Carter, executive director of alumni engagement, at j.carter@law.umaryland.edu.

Selection Process

Alumni Award Honorees are selected each year by members of the Alumni Board Awards Committee for confirmation by the Alumni Board. Selected Award Honorees are informed of their nominations and selections by the Dean of the Law School, and their acceptance of the awards is then confirmed. After all Award Honorees are confirmed, nominators are informed of their candidates' status. Alumni Award recipients will be recognized and presented with their awards at the Alumni Honors Banquet during Alumni Weekend.

Award Criteria

The Distinguished Graduate Award honors a Maryland Carey Law alumnus/a who has achieved prominence through professional excellence and service to the community.

The Benjamin L. Cardin ’67 Public Service Award is presented to an alumnus/a who has demonstrated significant and substantial contributions to furthering ideals of public service in the law.

The Mary Ellen Barbera ’84 Judicial Excellence Award is presented to an alumnus/a who exemplifies the highest standards of judicial excellence, displays extraordinary courage, energy, and tenacity in the handling of controversial and difficult cases as well as embodies strength of character, service, and competence as a jurist, lawyer, and public servant.

The Star Award (awarded in alternating years) recognizes the unsung heroes among the alumni population. Those alumni who volunteer for Maryland Carey Law behind the scenes with little fanfare, and who are steadfast in their support, loyal in their hearts, and deserving of special recognition. 

The Rising Star Award recognizes a recent graduate (must have graduated no more that 10 years prior to the academic year in which the award will be granted) whose exemplary contributions of service and leadership, either professionally or at Maryland Carey Law, have brought credit to the graduate and this institution.

Timeline

September: Nominations Open
October: Nominations Close
December: Award recipients notified of status
January: Award recipients announced
April: Alumni Honors Banquet

Honorees

2020s

2010s

2000s

  • 2009 - Joseph R. Hardiman '62
  • 2008 - The Hon. Elijah E. Cummings '76
  • 2007 - Francis "Frank" Burch, Jr. '74
  • 2006 - Joanne E. Pollak '76
  • 2005 - Henry Hopkins '68 and Samuel Hopkins '38
  • 2004 - The Hon. Charles E. Moylan, Jr. '55
  • 2003 - The Hon. Ellen M. Heller '77
  • 2002 - Raymond G. LaPlaca '83
  • 2001 - Wilbur D. "Woody" Preston, Jr. '49
  • 2000 - The Hon. George L. Russell '54

1990s

  • 1999 - The Hon. Alan M. Wilner '62
  • 1998 - The Hon. Lynne A. Battaglia '74
  • 1997 - Alvin B. Krongard '75
  • 1996 - Mathias J. DeVito '56
  • 1995 - LeRoy E. Hoffberger '50
  • 1994 - The Hon. Barbara Kerr Howe '69
  • 1993 - J. Michael McWilliams '67
  • 1992 - Jeanette Rosner Wolman '24
  • 1991 - William S. James '37
  • 1990 - James W. Rouse '37

1980s

  • 1989 - The Hon. W. Albert Menchine '29
  • 1988 - The Hon. Louis L. Goldstein '38
  • 1987 - The Hon. Robert C. Murphy '51
  • 1986 - The Hon. Harry A. Cole '49
  • 1985 - Joseph Meyerhoff '20
  • 1984 - The Hon. Marvin H. Smith '41
  • 1983 - The Hon. Charles M. Mathias '49
  • 1982 - The Hon. J. Dudley Digges '36
  • 1981 - The Hon. Bernard S. Meyer '38
  • 1980 - The Hon. Benjamin R. Civiletti '61 and The Hon. Roszel C. Thomsen '22

1970s

  • 1979 - R. Dorsey Watkins '25
  • 1978 - Rignal W. Baldwin
  • 1977 - The Hon. Joseph Sherbow '22
  • 1976 - Clarence W. Miles
  • 1975 - The Hon. Hall Hammond '25
  • 1974 - Edward F. Johnson '14
  • 1973 - Roger Howell '17
  • 1972 - The Hon. Simon E. Sobeloff '15
  • 1971 - William D. MacMillan, Sr. and The Hon. John B. Gray '17
  • 1970 - The Hon. Emory H. Niles '52

2020s

2010s

2000s

  • 2008 - The Hon. Andre M. Davis ’78
  • 2007 - The Hon. Lawrence F. Rodowsky ’56
  • 2006 - Patricia Gatling ’82
  • 2005 - Elizabeth L. Julian ’78
  • 2004 - Dorothy J. Lennig ’87
  • 2003 - The Hon. Marcella A. Holland ’83
  • 2002 - Andrew D. Levy ’81
  • 2001 - John H. Lewin, Jr. ’65
  • 2000 - Stephen J. Nolan ’76

1990s

  • 1999 - Herbert J. Belgrad ’61
  • 1998 - Rachel A. Wohl ’88
  • 1997 - The Hon. Robert B. Watts ’48
  • 1996 - Richard O. Berndt ’67
  • 1995 - The Hon. Albert J. Matricciani ’73
  • 1994 - Herbert S. Garten ’51
  • 1993 - The Hon. William O. Carr ’73
  • 1992 - Susan P. Leviton ’72
  • 1991 - Nevett Steele, Jr. ’67
  • 1990 - The Hon. Benjamin L. Cardin ’67

2020s

2010s

2000s

  • 2009 - Juliet Choi ’03
  • 2007 - Marnell Cooper ’02

2020s

2010s

2000s

  • 2008 - Bernard Manekin ’36
  • 2006 - Col. Edwin Wolf ’27
  • 2004 - The Hon. Elsbeth L. Bothe ’52
  • 2003 - Ernest C. Trimble ’48
  • 2002 - Lena K. Lee ’51