Awards & Banquet

Each year, the Drake Law Review presents awards at the Drake Law Review Banquet recognizing the accomplishments of the past year.
The recipients of the Drake Law Review‘s annual awards are recorded below along with the sponsor or origination of each award.
The Drake Law Review staff and faculty are eligible to receive the H.G. Cartwight Law Review Award for best student note, the Jeff Gilbert Memorial Writing Award for greatest junior staff contribution, the Morris A. Haft Award for greatest graduating staff contribution, and the Friend of the Law Review Award for greatest staff or faculty contribution.

H.G. Cartwright Law Review Award
This cash award is presented to the student who submits the best Note to the Drake Law Review during the year. The award is named in honor of the late Harold G. Cartwright, LW’25, who participated actively in founding the Law Review and who was a loyal supporter of Drake Law School.
2023 recipient: Caleb Piersma
2022 recipient: Brett Donahe
2021 recipient: Samuel McMichael
2020 recipient: Rachel Soderstrum
2019 recipient: Nicole Krueger
2018 recipient: Madison LeDuc
2017 recipient: Olivia Kilgore

2016 recipient: Kayla Burkhiser Reynolds

2015 recipient: Louis Sloven
2014 recipient: Jacob Lantry
2013 recipient: Michelle Moss
2012 recipient: Linzey Erickson
2011 recipient: Rebecca N. Duffy
2010 recipient: Sam Benham
2009 recipient: Jay Syverson
2008 recipient: Amber L. Juffer
2007 recipient: Sarah J. Hastings
2006 recipient: Heather Rooney
2005 recipient: Brian Dearinger
2004 recipient: Michael J. Carroll
2003 recipient: Carey Erhard
2002 recipient: William Miller
2001 recipient: B. MacPaul Stanfield
2000 recipient: Nathaniel W. Schwickerath
1999 recipient: Matthew T. Oetker
1998 recipient: Christine Nierenz
1997 recipient: Chad V. Horner
1996 recipient: Scott Green
1995 recipient: Peter Thill
1994 recipient: Jeffery Thomas Mains
1993 recipient: Sharon K. Hall
1992 recipient: Carla Jensen Hamborg
1991 recipient: Marne E. Brom
1990 recipient: Barbara J. Lano
1989 recipient: Jeffrey M. Lamberti
1988 recipient: Alice Eastman Helle
1987 recipient: Max J. Schott
1986 recipient: Julie A. Cardosi
Jeff Gilbert Memorial Writing Award
This award is named in honor of the late Jeffrey S. Gilbert, who was named to the 1985-86 editorial board shortly before his untimely death in 1985. The award is presented to the junior staff member who has made the greatest contribution to the success of the Drake Law Review.
2023 recipient: Ami Penquite
2022 recipient: Rachel Fritz

2021 recipient: Jordan Gehlhaar
2020 recipient: Ryan Benn
2019 recipient: Sheridan Schuessler
2018 recipient: Julie Spieker
2017 recipients: Samantha Nordstrom & Dillon Malone


2016 recipient: Kylie Crawford

2015 recipient: James Arnett
2014 recipient: Tracy Swalwell
2013 recipient: Torey Robinson
2012 recipient: Susan Scieszinski
2011 recipient: Victoria Moran
2010 recipient: Gavin Quill
2009 recipient: Samuel Benham
2008 recipient: Jay Syverson
2007 recipient: David Dance
2006 recipient: Jess Phelps
2005 recipient: Jessica Malott
2004 recipient: Erik Fisk
2003 recipient: Amanda Wachuta
2002 recipient: Tyler Klooster
2001 recipients: Anne Nielson & Cheryl Murad
2000 recipients: Apryl M. DeLange & Brian J. Fagan
1999 recipients: Jennifer C. Brooks & David E. Frank
1998 recipient: Stephanie Marett
1997 recipient: Stephen J. Havercamp
1996 recipient: Ruth Saunders
1995 recipient: Nancy S. Flury
1994 recipient: Paige Fiedler
1993 recipient: Mark D. Lowe
1992 recipient: James W. O’Brien
1991 recipient: Jon S. Herreman
1990 recipient: Stephanie G. Sarcone
1989 recipient: Harry E. Gallaher
1988 recipient: Kyle L. Jennings
1987 recipient: Richard M. LaJeunesse
1986 recipient: Barbara A. Whitaker
Morris A. Haft Award
This award, established by Howard S. Haft, LW’53, in honor of his father Morris A. Haft, Esq., recognizes the role of the Drake Law Review in fostering the ardent study and scholarly discussion of law that Morris A. Haft personally championed and exemplified in his life and practice. The award is given to the graduating member of the Law Review staff or editorial board who, through individual effort, service, and leadership, has contributed most to the overall success and quality of the Law Review during the student’s membership.
2023 recipient: Kyle Dawson
2022 recipient: Catherine Anderson Skotzke

2021 recipient: Ashley Madsen
2020 recipient: Chelsey Knapp
2019 recipient: Nicole Krueger
2018 recipient: Julia Steggerda-Corey
2017 recipient: Tucker Levis

2016 recipient: Christopher Merkle

2015 recipient: Joshua Henry
2014 recipient: Kyle Mendenhall
2013 recipient: Margret White
2012 recipient: Stephanie Eifler
2011 recipient: Nicholas Erickson
2010 recipient: Zachary Hindman
2009 recipient: Josh Patrick
2008 recipient: Andrew M. Wilcox
2007 recipient: Jess Phelps
2006 recipient: Jessica Mallott
2005 recipient: Bryan Dearinger
2004 recipient: Amanda Wachuta
2003 recipient: Barry Koopmann
2002 recipient: Jessica Braeger
2001 recipient: Joanne Propst
2000 recipients: Hayley E. Hanson & Joel T. Wiegert
1999 recipients: Rebecca J. Bishop & Robert T. Kleinknecht
1998 recipient: Kerry Porter
1997 recipient: Jennifer Benning
1996 recipient: Sarah Frink
1995 recipient: Karrieann M. Couture
Friend of the Law Review
This award is presented to the Drake Law School faculty or staff member whose contributions toward the Drake Law Review and support of the students have made the Law Review a success that year.
2023 recipient: Professor Miguel Schor
2022 recipient: Professor Mark Kende
2021 recipient: Ed Sease (LA’ 64, LW’ 67)
2020 recipient: Karen Wallace
2019 recipient: Heather Campbell
2018 recipient: Amy Cutler, Continuing Legal Education Coordinator
2017 recipient: Dean John Edwards

2016 recipient: Professor Brent Pattison

2015 recipients: The Honorable Marsha Ternus and Sara Hughes
2014 recipients: Rebecca Lutkenhaus, Karen Wallace and Sherry VonBehren
2013 recipient: Amy Cutler
2012 recipients: Professor John Edwards & Lori Richman
2011 recipient: Leslie Herman
2010 recipients: Seth Andersen & Lindsay Hindman
2009 recipients: Shawn Madsen & Brian Fodrey
2008 recipient: Sherry VonBehren