Recognizing Student Excellence

Photo by:Elle Morris

Dean Flanagan poses with 2005-06 recipients of the new Dean's Scholar Awards: Erin Dann (Law '07), Chantalle Fish (Law '08), Claire Houston (Law '07) and Megan Williams (Law '08).

At a luncheon this fall, Dean Bill Flanagan presented the new Dean's Scholar Awards to first and second year recipients for the 2005-06 academic year.  The Dean's Gold Scholar Award, Silver Scholar Award, and Bronze Scholar Award are given annually to the students obtaining the top three highest averages in first, second and third year of the LL.B. degree program.  These awards were adopted by Faculty Board as part of the Dean's Honour List and Medal Policy last year, after an extensive debate that included students and faculty.

During this policy review, the Faculty Board also decided to revive the University Medal in Law after a 36-year absence and introduce two new medals for our top graduates. At the spring 2006 convocation ceremony, the University Medal in Law, awarded annually to the candidate graduating with the highest cumulative average in the LL.B. program in the Faculty of Law was presented to Lily Ng.  At the luncheon following convocation, the graduating students with the second and third highest cumulative averages in the LL.B. program were also presented medals, and the Dean's Scholar Awards were given to the graduating students with the top three averages in 2005-06.

"It is important to recognize and celebrate the academic achievements of our very best students", stated Dean Flanagan.  "Highlighting our best students will among other things open up more opportunities for our strongest students to secure prestigious clerkships and gain entry to leading graduate programs in Canada and abroad."

In addition to academic excellence, Queen's Law ensures that all of its students have a variety of ways to distinguish themselves through their contributions to the law school.  For example, students annually nominate their peers for various Law Students' Society awards that recognize contributions to the Queen's Law community, including those made through student government, clubs, sports and social activities.  Along with many other opportunities in Queen's Legal Aid, Pro Bono Students Canada, and Queen's Law Journal, as well as through the Law Students' Society and its various organizations, Queen's Law provides many ways to recognize the wide range of distinguished contributions of our students to the Queen's Law community.