Cooley Law School’s Lansing campus recognized students for their achievements during an honors convocation held on March 14.
Adriana Burga, Norelle Miranda, and Frances Silney-Bah were each presented with the Leadership Achievement Award, which acknowledges those students who have consistently, comprehensively, and effectively provided leadership in a variety of capacities. The award is intended to be the culmination of the recipients’ participation in leadership activities at Cooley.
The Alumni Association Distinguished Student Award was presented to Samantha Hulliberger. The award is given to selected graduating students based on academic accomplishments, professionalism and ethics, leadership, extracurricular activities, and post-graduation plans. The recipients are selected by the past presidents and executive committee of the Cooley Alumni Association. Recipients are presented a diploma frame from the law school.
Each year, Cooley Law School’s student body selects one adjunct faculty member to be the recipient of the Frederick J. Griffith III Adjunct Faculty Award. Professor Christi Henke, who teaches Advanced Legal Methods, Conflict of Laws, and is director of the law school’s Academic Resource Center was presented the award, which was established in memory of Rick Griffith, who taught as an adjunct for nearly two decades until he passed away at the age of 52. The award is presented in recognition of a member of the adjunct faculty whose service best reflects the character and attributes of Griffith: dedication to the law school, excellence in teaching, passion for persuasive advocacy, compassion for law students and optimism about life and the future of legal education.
Originally from Northridge, California, Burga earned her bachelor’s degree from Pepperdine University. While at Cooley she was selected as a Deans Fellow and was a member of the Moot Court Board, Organization of Women Law Students, Women Lawyers Association of Michigan, and the International Law Society. Burga also served as a graduate assistant and as a grade appeals magistrate. During the convocation she was also presented with the Law Review John D. Voelker Award.
Miranda, who is originally from Bacoor, Philippines, earned her bachelor’s degree from Saint Mary’s College of California. While at Cooley, Miranda served as president of the International Law Society, chairperson of the Mock Trial Board, associate editor of the Cooley Law Review, senator for the Student Bar Association, and secretary for the Health Law Society. Additionally, she served as a member of the Black Law Students Association, Organization of Women Law students, and Moot Court Board. Miranda was also presented with the Student Bar Association (SBA) Distinguished Student Award, the SBA Fitzgerald Award, and the SBA Robert E. Krinock Memorial Award.
Silney-Bah of Columbia, Missouri earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Missouri-Columbia. She was vice president of the Black Law Students Association, vice president and treasurer of the International Law Society. Silney-Bah also served as a member of the Moot Court National team and board member, was a teaching assistant, and participated in Cooley Volunteer Corps.
Hulliberger is from Lansing, Michigan and earned her bachelor’s degree from Calvin University. She is currently part of the Air Force ROTC program and will be sworn in as an officer following graduation from law school. While at Cooley, Hulliberger served as president of the Student Bar Association and managing articles editor for the Law Cooley Review. She competed on the National Moot Court Team, worked as a teaching assistant for Criminal Procedure, and served on the law school’s Grade Appeals Board.
Adriana Burga, Norelle Miranda, and Frances Silney-Bah were each presented with the Leadership Achievement Award, which acknowledges those students who have consistently, comprehensively, and effectively provided leadership in a variety of capacities. The award is intended to be the culmination of the recipients’ participation in leadership activities at Cooley.
The Alumni Association Distinguished Student Award was presented to Samantha Hulliberger. The award is given to selected graduating students based on academic accomplishments, professionalism and ethics, leadership, extracurricular activities, and post-graduation plans. The recipients are selected by the past presidents and executive committee of the Cooley Alumni Association. Recipients are presented a diploma frame from the law school.
Each year, Cooley Law School’s student body selects one adjunct faculty member to be the recipient of the Frederick J. Griffith III Adjunct Faculty Award. Professor Christi Henke, who teaches Advanced Legal Methods, Conflict of Laws, and is director of the law school’s Academic Resource Center was presented the award, which was established in memory of Rick Griffith, who taught as an adjunct for nearly two decades until he passed away at the age of 52. The award is presented in recognition of a member of the adjunct faculty whose service best reflects the character and attributes of Griffith: dedication to the law school, excellence in teaching, passion for persuasive advocacy, compassion for law students and optimism about life and the future of legal education.
Originally from Northridge, California, Burga earned her bachelor’s degree from Pepperdine University. While at Cooley she was selected as a Deans Fellow and was a member of the Moot Court Board, Organization of Women Law Students, Women Lawyers Association of Michigan, and the International Law Society. Burga also served as a graduate assistant and as a grade appeals magistrate. During the convocation she was also presented with the Law Review John D. Voelker Award.
Miranda, who is originally from Bacoor, Philippines, earned her bachelor’s degree from Saint Mary’s College of California. While at Cooley, Miranda served as president of the International Law Society, chairperson of the Mock Trial Board, associate editor of the Cooley Law Review, senator for the Student Bar Association, and secretary for the Health Law Society. Additionally, she served as a member of the Black Law Students Association, Organization of Women Law students, and Moot Court Board. Miranda was also presented with the Student Bar Association (SBA) Distinguished Student Award, the SBA Fitzgerald Award, and the SBA Robert E. Krinock Memorial Award.
Silney-Bah of Columbia, Missouri earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Missouri-Columbia. She was vice president of the Black Law Students Association, vice president and treasurer of the International Law Society. Silney-Bah also served as a member of the Moot Court National team and board member, was a teaching assistant, and participated in Cooley Volunteer Corps.
Hulliberger is from Lansing, Michigan and earned her bachelor’s degree from Calvin University. She is currently part of the Air Force ROTC program and will be sworn in as an officer following graduation from law school. While at Cooley, Hulliberger served as president of the Student Bar Association and managing articles editor for the Law Cooley Review. She competed on the National Moot Court Team, worked as a teaching assistant for Criminal Procedure, and served on the law school’s Grade Appeals Board.
