The John Marshall Law School Alumni Association hosted its 44th Annual Freedom & Distinguished Service Awards on May 17.
The Freedom Award honors individuals who, through their thinking, accomplishments or profession, reflect the basic tenets of freedom. The award recognizes their work, high ethical standards, efforts to help mankind and initiatives to improve society and our nation.
U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth received this year’s Freedom Award. Duckworth is an Iraq War Veteran, Purple Heart recipient and former Assistant Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs. She was among the first Army women to fly combat missions during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Duckworth served in the Reserve Forces for 23 years before retiring from military service in 2014 at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. She was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2016 after representing Illinois’s Eighth Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives for two terms. Duckworth has been active in working with John Marshall’s Veterans Legal Support Center & Clinic.
The Alumni Association also honored the Hon. Jillian Cerone-Marisie (’90), Teresa Do Kopriva (’08), Kerryann Haase Minton (’96) and Larry Rogers Sr. with Distinguished Service Awards.
Cerone-Marisie is the Presiding Judge of the Third Municipal District, where she handles all Third District administrative matters for the Chief Judge. Do Kopriva worked at John Marshall from 2010–2018 in many different roles, including Assistant Dean for Administration; she currently serves as Assistant Provost for Strategic Initiatives at Santa Clara University. Minton serves managing partner for the Chicago office of Michael Best. Crain’s named her one of the Most Influential Women Lawyers in Chicago for 2017. Rogers was a trial attorney for more than 30 years and was one of the founding partners of the firm Power Rogers & Smith; he also serves on the law school’s Board of Trustees.
The award ceremony and reception were held at the Chicago Cultural Center and were sponsored by Ankin Law Office, Bryant Legal Group, Saturn Title LLC, William Raniere, Golan Christie Taglia and Instant Care.
