Association for Women Attorneys 2013 Scholarship Recipients
This year, the AWA scholarship awards total $5,500, according to AWA Scholarship Chair, Anita Lotz.
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| Photograph by Kim Brukardt |
- Dorothy Osradker Memorial Scholarship: Jessica H. Chandler
- Judge Rita Stotts Memorial Scholarship: Angela Denise Harris
- AWA Annual Scholarship: Kaycee Roberts Arnold
1) Dorothy
Osradker Memorial Scholarship – Jessica
H. Chandler
A
Dean’s List honors student at the U of M Law School, Jessica H. Chandler is a
former member of the Law Review (2011) and currently, Kappa Phi Honor Society
(2010-present). She served as associate
justice of the Freshman Competition on the Moot Court Board (2012-present) and
also placed 2nd in Advanced Competition and won Best Oral Advocate
as well as 2nd Best Appellate Brief (fall 2011) and 3rd
in Freshman Competition (spring 2011).
In addition, she is a member of the student chapter of the Association
for Women Attorneys (2010-present), where she also served as vice president
(2011-2012). She also worked as a Writing Center assistant (2012-present) and
as an orientation leader (fall 2011). Jessica graduated magna cum laude in May
of 2010 from Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, Tenn., with a
bachelor of science degree in political science. As an undergraduate, she was a scholarship
recipient, on the Dean’s List and was named to Who’s Who Among American
Colleges and Universities. She also
served as president of Alpha Sigma Alpha and held several leadership positions
(2006-2010). She was very active in many other Greek organizations including the
Order of Omega Honor Society, Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society and Rho Lambda
National Sorority Leadership Recognition Society. She currently serves as a research assistant
at the U of M Law School. Before that,
she gained legal experience as an intern for the 22nd Judicial
District Attorney’s Office and served in varied intern positions including for
the Tennessee Supreme Court, Tennessee General Assembly and Charlotte Fleming
Law Firm. In volunteer work, she has
been involved with the Make-A-Wish Foundation, Farm Aid, Saddle Up, Children’s
Miracle Network, Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund, Youth Aids, Special Olympics,
Relay for Life, and Great American Clean-Up to name a few. She is originally from Lawrenceburg, Tenn.
About the Scholarship’s Namesake - “Miss Dorothy” was known as a legend at City Hall where she served 14 city mayors and 11 city attorneys. In 59 years of employment, she was known to have used only one sick day. Miss Dorothy also was a former recipient of the Bobby Dunavant Public Servant award. In total, Miss Dorothy dedicated 65 years of her life serving the citizens of Memphis. She is regarded as a pioneer for all women in the legal community.
2)
Judge Rita Stotts Memorial Scholarship: Angela Denise Harris
An
active U of M law student, Angela Denise Harris has participated on the Moot
Court Board as chief justice (2012-2013), as a member of the American Bar
Association (student) Arbitration Team (2012) and the Thurgood Marshall Mock
Trial Team (champion in 2011 and Southern Region runner-up in 2011). She also is a member and president
(2011-2012) of the Black Law Student Association (AWA), as well as a volunteer
coordinator for the student chapter of the Association for Women Attorneys
(2011-2012). Her many honors include
student membership in the Leo Bearman, Sr.
American Inn of Court (2011-2013), 2L In-school Best Oral Advocate (2012),
President’s Leadership Award nominee (2011) and National Bar Association
Scholarship award (Ben F. Jones Chapter, 2010).
She received her bachelor of science degree from Middle Tennessee State
University in Murfreesboro, where she majored in criminal justice and minored
in political science (2009). She worked
in diverse law environments as an intern for the Public Defender’s Office in
Murfreesboro and clerked for The Wharton Law Firm in Memphis and for Judge John
T. Fowlkes in Div. VI of Shelby County Criminal Court and for the Office of the
District Attorney General in Nashville.
She also was a summer associate for Howell & Fisher, PLLC law firm
in Nashville where she researched law and drafted memorandums for attorneys in
areas of medical malpractice, tort law, construction, medical battery and
worker’s compensation. In addition, she
was a graduate assistant for the Tennessee Institute for Pre-Law where she
assisted students in exam preparation and research.
Her community service activities include participation in the AWA Dress for
Success Drive; the Downtown Legal Eagles, which she originated to inspire
elementary students to pursue the field of law; the Ronald McDonald
House Pop-tab-palooza fundraising drive; and Hope House 5K Run in Harbor
Town.
About the Scholarship’s Namesake - Judge Stotts has been lauded as a selfless person and one of the first African-American lawyers in the Memphis community. Judge Stotts also was a former recipient of the Marion Griffin-Frances Loring award for outstanding legal achievement. She was intensely involved in the fabric of her community including Legal Services, EEOC, the University of Memphis law school and Leadership Memphis.3) AWA Scholarship: Kaycee Roberts Arnold
U of M law student Kaycee Roberts Arnold stays busy as a professional liaison, vice president and as a participant in Dress for Success for the student chapter of the Association for Women Attorneys (2011-2013) and as a participant of her In-school Freshman Moot Court, Advance Moot Court and Mock Trial Competitions. She received Best Motion and runner-up/ Best Trial Notebook in 2012 for her In-School competitions, as well as the Dean’s Distinguished Pro Bono Service Award and the Cali Award for Family Law high exam score. She earned a bachelor of science degree in August of 2009 from East Tennessee State University in Johnson City, where she graduated magna cum laude. As an undergraduate, she was named to the Dean’s List and the President’s List. She gained practical experience as an extern with the Shelby County Public Defender’s Office where she worked with assistant public defenders in Criminal Court. Before that, she clerked for Shelby County Circuit Court, Div. VIII where she prepared the weekly motion docket and briefed Judge Weiss on matters to appear on the docket. She also clerked for Shelby County Juvenile Court, Office of Advocate for Non-custodial Parents where she conducted client interviews, prepared motions and petitions on custody and visitation. She also was a legal assistant for the Law Office of Kenneth W. Brashier where she drafted motions and memorandum regarding criminal defense matters. In service to her community, she participated in Project Homeless Connect and Memphis Area Legal Services, Inc. (MALS) Saturday Legal Clinic.
