Campbell Law recognizes academic achievements, contributions at 49th annual awards banquet

RALEIGH- Campbell Law School awarded and recognized distinguished members of the law school community for their academic achievements and contributions at the 49th annual Family Day Law Awards banquet, which was organized by the Student Bar Association (SBA) and held March 21, 2026, at the Sheraton City Center.

Professor Johnny Chriscoe Jr. '90 was named "Professor of the Year" following a vote of the student body. Finalists for the Professor of the Year award included Professors Erin Kenny and Lisa Lukasik. Professor Erin Kennywon the "1L Professor of the Year" award and finalists for the 1L Professor of the Year award included Professors Lisa Lukasikand Luke Smith Morgan.

Chriscoe is a multi-time recipient of the SBA's Professor of the Year awardand the Dean's Excellence in Teaching Award, most recently in 2024. Chriscoe graduated summa cum laude and first in his class from Campbell Law in 1990. He served as a research assistant on the N.C. Court of Appeals and then entered private practice where he focused on litigation. He continues to consult primarily in the areas of torts and insurance law. Since returning to the law school, Chriscoe has served as Associate Dean for External Relations, interim Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Assistant and Associate Professor of Law. He teaches torts, insurance law, trial and appellate advocacy and personal property, and has also coached trial teams. He will retire at the end of this school year.

Campbell Law SBA leaders also distributed a number of other student-voted awards to professors and staff at the banquet.

Adjunct Professor LaToya Powell was awarded the "LRW Professor of the Year" award. Finalists included Adjunct Professors Josh Walthall and Liana Orta.

N.C. Supreme Court Justice Trey Allen and Jon David Hensarling (tie) were recognized as the "Adjunct Professor of the Year." The finalist was the Hon. Paul Ridgeway '86.

Director of Academic Success and Accessibility Meredith Chilausky was voted "Administrator of the Year." Finalists were Lisa Clark, Eunice Torres-Browder and Grace Roede (tie).

A new award, "Support Staff of the Year," was given to Tawana Freeman. Finalists were Gwen Robertsand Sonia Rodriguez.

Campbell Law also recognized pro bono leaders. The "Outstanding Pro Bono Student Award" was given to Emma Baynard '26, who is the director of the student-led Pro Bono Council, the "Outstanding Project in Pro Bono and Public Service Award" was awarded to the People Not Property Project and the "Outstanding Pro Bono Professor Award" was awarded to Professor Jon Powell '98, director of the Restorative Justice Clinic.

Campbell Law also recognized academic achievements at the banquet. Abigail R. Hamilton '27 earned the First-Year Academic Achievement Award, Madison Dishler '26 earned the Second-Year Academic Achievement Award, Hailey LaRock '26was awarded the BARBRI Jane Perkinson Memorial Scholarship, Taylor West '26 was awarded the Kaplan PMBR Scholarship, Imani Henderson '26was awarded the Themis Bar Review Scholarship and Paige Klink '26 and Elizabeth Reynolds '26 (tie) earned the Chief Justice I. Beverly Lake Jr. Constitutional Law Award.

Campbell Law students also recognized Women in Law (WIL) once again as the "Student Organization of the Year." Finalists included the Black Law Student Association (BLSA) and the Christian Legal Society (CLS).

Clinton Jones '28was awarded the David Teddy Innovative Leadership Award, which is given annually to a Campbell Law student who demonstrates "a keen sense of leadership and service to the law school." Finalists included BLSA President Dominique Frederick '26 and Pro Bono Council Director Emma Baynard '26.

LeAnn Cain '26was given the J. Bryan Boyd Award for Excellence in Legal Journalism from the Campbell Law Observer.

To find photos of all of the awards, visit our Facebook page at thislink.

ABOUT CAMPBELL LAW SCHOOL

Since its founding in 1986, Campbell Law has developed lawyers who possess moral conviction, social compassion, and professional competence, and who view the law as a calling to serve others. Among its accolades, the school has been recognized by the American Bar Association (ABA) as having the nation's top Professionalism Program and by the American Academy of Trial Lawyers for having the nation's best Trial Advocacy Program. Campbell Law boasts more than 5,000 alumni, who make their home in nearly all 50 states and beyond. In 2026, Campbell Law is celebrating 50 years of graduating legal leaders and 17 years of being located in a state-of-the-art facility in the heart of North Carolina's Capital City.

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