We are proud to announce that the following graduates were 2006 Pro Bono Commitment to Community Award winners:

• Sarah Brown – Sarah was a founder and liaison for the Volunteer Student Law Project. She spearheaded several projects for this group, which works with local attorneys to provide free legal assistance to those in need in the community. She also participated in Equal Justice conferences, speaking on issues related to student pro bono organizations.
• Walter Castro – As an active member of the Society of St. Thomas More student organization, Walter volunteered his time to several local charities. He also assisted bankruptcy clients through the VSLP and worked on eviction cases through an internship at the Dayton Legal Aid of Western Ohio office.
• Carrie Chaille – Carrie was involved in bankruptcy and living will cases through her involvement in the VSLP. She also provided assistance to the Colorado Court-Appointed Special Advocates program. As an officer for the Student Bar Association, Carrie donated many hours to charitable organizations including a local homeless shelter. Her pro bono work focused on assisting women and children.
• Juliette Gaffney Dame – Juliette helped to create the VSLP and spent countless hours organizing it and working on bankruptcy and living will issues with its clients. Through the criminal pro bono program, she worked with the public defender to assist indigent clients with their criminal cases.
• Max Eckstein – As a founding member of the VSLP, Max has served in many capacities for the group including vice president and as a training coordinator. He helped clients with bankruptcy, divorce, and living will issues. Max also donated many hours of service to the Student Bar Association as president and vice president.
• Jennifer George – Jennifer played an instrumental role in creating the VSLP and served as secretary/treasurer and president. A key player in fundraising, training, and leadership for the project, she represented VSLP at the 2006 Equal Justice conference. Jennifer completed other pro bono legal assignments including work on bankruptcy cases and serving as an interpreter for client interviews.
• Aimee Herring – As a member of the St. Thomas More Society, Aimee was involved in fundraising for several charitable organizations and helped plan and execute a variety of food, clothing, and blood drives. She served as president of the Women’s Caucus student organization and was an advocate and fundraiser for several worthy causes including support for underprivileged children.
• Judy LaMusga – Judy worked with the Disability Foundation, a nonprofit organization that provides financial planning options for people with disabilities. She was also the founder and president of the Elder Law and Estate Planning Society and a member of the VSLP. She has volunteered with the Dayton Foundation, Ohio Legal Rights Services, and the Community Blood Center.
• Maureen Marshall – Maureen worked in Chicago for the Center for Disability and Elder Law, which provides free legal services to the elderly and disabled. She also worked on a pro bono domestic violence case for a law firm in South Bend, Indiana, and volunteered time at a Dayton homeless shelter to help clients determine their housing needs. She was a founding member and vice president of the Elder Law and Estate Planning Society.
• Sasha Alexa VanDeGrift – As a law clerk for the Federal Public Defender’s office in Dayton, Sasha worked with indigent clients and participated in several felony trials. She also served as a volunteer law clerk for the Ohio Twelfth District Court of Appeals. Sasha founded the Criminal Law Association and conceptualized its Student Bench Bar Conference. She was also involved with the Democratic Law Society and the Women’s Caucus.