Three Students Win Labor Law Awards
June 16, 2008 -- Cynthia Burks '08, Mary Johnson '08, and Eric Wiesner '08 recently accepted the ABA-BNA Award for Excellence in the Study of Labor and Employment Law. Each year USF faculty select two to three graduating students to receive the award, which is sponsored by the American Bar Association's (ABA) Section of Labor and Employment Law and The Bureau of National Affairs, Inc. (BNA). "We think this year's group of recipients truly shows the breadth and depth of our labor and employment program," Professor Maria Ontiveros said. "We are very proud of this remarkable group."
Burks was selected due to her coursework in labor law and employment discrimination, and involvement in the Employment Discrimination Mediation Clinic, which represents clients in Equal Employment Opportunity Commission mediations concerning alleged discrimination. Ontiveros said that Burks "impressed the professors with her maturity, thoughtfulness, and ability to articulate complex ideas incorporating both theory and real world experience."
Johnson excelled in Employment Law and Labor Law, and did exemplary work in support of migrant worker rights as part of the Frank C. Newman International Human Rights Clinic. She participated in the clinic for two semesters, visiting the Human Rights Council (HRC) in Geneva, Switzerland. In addition to mentoring and assisting other students in the clinic, Johnson did an exceptional job contacting delegates at the HRC, Ontiveros said.
Wiesner's coursework at USF included Employment Law, Employment Discrimination, and Labor Law. In each of these classes, Wiesner received the Center for Computer-Assisted Legal Instruction Excellence for the Future Awards. Wiesner also participated in the Employment Discrimination Mediation Clinic and the Wagner Moot Court team. He published an article in the University of San Francisco Law Review on the application of the National Labor Relations Act to supervisors in the workplace. During his first summer at USF, Wiesner was chosen as a Peggy Browning Fellow and worked for the union UNITE HERE Local 2.
The sponsors of the award hope to promote interest in the field of labor and employment law, and recognize students who have demonstrated superior academic performance and commitment to the field. Winners of the award receive a formal certificate and a complimentary copy of the BNA treatise of their choice, in addition to acknowledgement on the ABA and BNA website.
