Four members of the Class of 2009 have been honored with awards recognizing their leadership during their time at Vanderbilt Law School.
Scott Goldman received the Philip G. Davidson Award, which is presented each year to the student who has demonstrated dedication to the law and its problem-solving role in society, and who has provided exemplary leadership in service to the law school and the greater community. Goldman is Editor-in-Chief of the Vanderbilt Law Review, is a member of the Moot Court Board, and was a finalist in the Moot Court Competition during his 2L year. During his first year at Vanderbilt, he helped found the Law School Democrats as a new student organization and then served as its president. Goldman also served as treasurer of the American Constitution Society, and taught Street Law as a member of the Legal Aid Society during his 1L year. While on the Law Review‘s editorial staff, he oversaw the launch of a new online publication, En Banc. Goldman plans to join the Judge Advocate General Corps of the United States Army after graduation.
Byron Sarhangian received the Jordan A. Quick Memorial Award, given to the student judged to have made the greatest contribution to the quality of life at the law school through leadership with the Vanderbilt Bar Association. Sarhangian will join Snell & Wilmer in his hometown of Phoenix, Arizona, as an associate after graduation.
Georgia Sims received the Damali A. Booker Award, which is presented each year to the third-year law student who has a keen dedication to legal activism and a demonstrated commitment to confronting social issues facing both Vanderbilt Law School and the greater Nashville community. Sims served as executive director of the Vanderbilt Legal Aid Society during 2008-09, leading an initiative in which many students participated to improve the public interest programs available at Vanderbilt, including the recent launch of the VULS Pro Bono Program. Sims also served as Notes Editor for the Vanderbilt Law Review and was a semi-finalist in the 2007-08 Moot Court Competition. Sims has worked for the federal public defender’s office in Nashville as well as the Metropolitan Davidson County Public Defender, directly representing indigent defendants in Criminal Court and General Sessions Court. She plans to accept a position as a public defender after graduation.
DeNae Thomas received the National Women Lawyers’ Association Outstanding Student Award, which recognizes the student who contributes to the advancement of women in society; promotes issues and concerns of women in the legal profession; exhibits motivation, tenacity and enthusiasm; demonstrates academic achievement; and earns the respect of Vanderbilt’s women faculty and students. "In essence, the award recognizes a student for whom women’s issues are such a priority that she engages in pursuits that help to advance women in society and actively promotes women’s legal issues," Julie Sandine, Assistant Dean for Student Affairs, says. Thomas has been active in our WLSA chapter throughout her law school career and has served as an officer for the past two years, last year as Vice President of Operations and this year as the Vice President of Career Development."