With the generous support of Gloria and Barry Garfinkel, the Society has offered annually since 2008 The David A. Garfinkel Essay Contest established in memory of the Garfinkel's son David. This contest targets students from community colleges across New York State, offering them the opportunity to submit essays on topics of New York legal history. The competition seeks to draw students with a wide range of interests in law, history, social science and general research writing. The grand prize is $1,500, and the CUNY & SUNY Community College Prizes are $1,000 each. The winners of the competition are honored on Law Day each year held in the magnificent courtroom of the New York Court of Appeals. Their families and professors are invited for a memorable day at the courthouse for the awards ceremony followed by a luncheon where they are graciously and warmly greeted by the Court of Appeals Judges.
2013 › "Cyberspace and the Law: What are Our Rights and Responsibilities?"
The David A. Garfinkel Essay Competition is open to all students pursuing a degree in SUNY & CUNY two-year colleges during the 2012-2013 academic year. Students from all academic disciplines are invited to submit an essay. See the winning essays from the 2013 Contest below, and check back at the start of the Fall 2013 for the 2014 Contest Topic and questions.
GRAND PRIZE: Josh Pawlikowski, Mohawk Valley Community College: Professor David Katz / ESSAY [PDF]
CUNY PRIZE: Ruby SIngh, Queensborough Community College: Professor Christine Mooney / ESSAY [PDF]
SUNY PRIZE: Zachary Field, Onondaga Community College: Professor Mary Bogin & Instructor David Hines / ESSAY [PDF]
HONORABLE MENTION: Husni Abdelqader (Queensborough Community College, Prof. Adam Luedtke), Benjamin Berry (Genesee Community College, Prof. Charles Scruggs), Kristi Diaz (Queensborough Community College, Prof. Christine Mooney), Gina DiGiovanni (Westchester Community College, Prof. David Wedlick), Jeinson Espinosa (Queensborough Community College, Prof. Stephen Hammel), Robert Johnson (Monroe Community College, Prof. Elizabeth Clifford), Beatrice LaViscount (Queensborough Community College, Prof. Christine Mooney), Daniel Vincent Marrano (Adirondack Community College, Prof. John W. Arpey), Christian Meyers (Borough of Manhattan Community College, Prof. Andrew Gottlieb), Farah Naz (Queensborough Community College, Prof. Stephen Hammel), Diane Notar (Erie Community College, Instr. Aaron Thomas), Sara Sahibzada (Queensborough Community College, Prof. Christine Mooney), Nicholas Van Nostrand (Fulton-Montgomery Community College, Prof. Stephen Astmann & Instr. Theodore Marotta)
2012 › "The Blue and the Gray: New York during The Civil War"
1ST PRIZE: Rodney Schuyler, Fulton-Montgomery Community College Mentor: Professor Theodore Marotta / ESSAY [PDF]
2ND PRIZE: Mary E. Erckert, Erie Community College Mentor: Professor Robert J. Caputi / ESSAY [PDF]
3RD PRIZE: Amanda Griffin, Genesee Community College Mentor: Professor Charles L. Scruggs / ESSAY [PDF]
HONORABLE MENTION: Jeremy Michael Fletcher (Onondaga Community College, Prof. Michele Ley), Cassandra L. Grice (Genesee Community College, Prof. Charles L. Scruggs), Megan Henry (Queensborough Community College, Prof. Christine Mooney), Rebekah Kimble (Schenectady County Community College, Prof. Evelyn Rybaltowski), Rachelle Lear (Onondaga Community College, Prof. David Hines), Jordan Valerino (Onondaga Community College, Prof. David Hines), Alexandra Woodruff (Jefferson Community College)
L to R Bottom Row: Amanda Griffin (3rd Place
Genesee CC), Mary Erckert (2nd Place,Erie CC),
Rodney Schulyer (1st Place Fulton-Montgomery CC)
L to R Top Row: Michael Benowitz (Assistant Director),
Marilyn Marcus (Executive Director), Frances Murray
(Court of Appeals Chief Librarian)
contest judges and contestants with their families and
professors. Greeted by Hon. Carmen Beachamp
Ciparick and Hon. Susan Phillips Read
2011 › "The Legal Legacy of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire"
1ST PRIZE: Amelia Weimar, Onondaga Community College / ESSAY [PDF]
2ND PRIZE: Kevin Volk, Genesee Community College / ESSAY [PDF]
3RD PRIZE: James Gerber, Borough of Manhattan Community College / ESSAY [PDF]
HONORABLE MENTION: James Clark (Onondaga Community College), Phyllis Washburn (Genesee Community College), Alysha Barker (Fulton-Montgomery Community College), Lana Medina (Hudson Valley Community College), Tammi Douglas (Jefferson Community College), John Wilkinson (Queensborough Community College), Maykel Farronay (Borough of Manhattan Community College), Elisha Zarpentine (Genesee Community College), Terrhon Vaughn (Queensborough Community College)
2010 › "The Evolution of Justice Along the Erie Canal"
1ST PRIZE: Leah Marie Reino, Genesee Community College / ESSAY [PDF]
2ND PRIZE: Kerri Pickard-DePriest
FINALISTS: Ese Peter Abohwo (Queensboro Community College), Kerri Pickard-DePriest (Onondaga Community College), Leah Marie Reino (Genesee Community College), Phyllis A. Washburn (Genesee Community College)
HONORABLE MENTION:, Christina Basdeo (Queensboro Community College), Kristen Casper (Genesee Community College), Shannon Kilner (North Country Community College), Genevieve Oliveira (Genesee Community College), John Sambucci (Queensboro Community College), Cheuk W. Shum (Queensboro Community College)
2009 › "The New Netherland Legal System and the Law of 21st Century New York"
1ST PLACE: Dawar Jamal, Queensborough Community College / ESSAY [PDF]
2ND PLACE: Courtney Malewicz, Schenectady County Community College
HONORABLE MENTION: Tanea S. Bakare, Alexandra Dorga, Christina A. Edmunds, Carlos G. Marin, Kimberly Molina, Meela Neebar
2008 › "The Courts and Human Rights in New York: The Legacy of the Lemmon Slave Case"
WINNER: Elijah Fagan-Solis, Hudson Valley Community College / ESSAY [PDF]
Jury Pool News Article: "Meet Elijah Fagan-Solis" [PDF]
"Legal History Matters"
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