Jenny Dent

2005 Student Leadership Award

Jenny is a second-year law student who began volunteering

in the VLP Advocates Child Support Project during her first

year of law school.  Last summer, during a transitional

period for the VLP Advocates Program, Jenny was selected

as student coordinator and immediately recruited 25 of her

law school classmates to volunteer.  Over the summer, due

largely to Jenny’s direction and leadership, 26 law students

donated 403 hours to help 245 people, which is equivalent

to $16,120 in donated services.  Ultimately, under Jenny’s

leadership, the summer of 2005 was, unequivocally, the most successful

summer in the Program’s history.  Jenny is pictured receiving her award from

Justice Rebecca White Berch.

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Lindsay St. John

2005 Outstanding Law Student

Lindsay is a third year law student who has volunteered

with the VLP since her first semester of law school in 2003.  For two years, she coordinated the VLP Advocates Program

and served as the student liaison for the Domestic Relations

Clinic and the Bankruptcy Court Project.  During her tenure

as coordinator, Lindsay’s take-charge attitude and tremendous energy and drive

were vital to the success of the program.  Las spring, in addition to participating

on a team that secured funding for the VLP Advocates, Lindsay was one of three

law students who launched the Guardianship Project, a pilot program that

facilitates children’s access to safe shelter, education, and necessary medical

care. Throughout her law school career, Lindsay has worked tirelessly for the low

income in our community through the VLP Advocates Program.  Lindsay is

pictured receiving her award from Justice Rebecca White Berch.

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Jacqueline Lanni 

2004 Outstanding Law Student

Jackie is a third year law student at the University of Arizona James E. Rogers

College of Law.  Jackie has volunteered with the VLP Advocates Program

throughout law school.  She has participated in all of the VLP clinics, providing

clients with advice and brief service.  In addition, Jackie spent the summer and

fall of 2004 working with VLP Chapter 7 bankruptcy clients.  Jackie has a

commitment to helping those less fortunate that was evident to everyone she

worked with.  Her selection for this award was unanimous among the VLP staff.

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Heather Strickland

2003 Outstanding Law Student

Heather was selected to receive this award as a third year law student at the

University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law.  Heather volunteered with

the VLP Advocates Program throughout law school.  She participated in all three

VLP clinics, providing clients with advice and brief service.  In addition, Heather

dedicated the summer and fall of 2003 to working with clients who attended the

Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Clinic.  Heather has a commitment to helping those most

in need that was apparent to the entire VLP staff.  Heather is currently working in

Tucson with the law firm of Karp Heurlin & Weiss, PC.

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Nichole Bunker-Henderson

2002 Outstanding Law Student

Nichole was selected to receive this award as a second year law student at the

University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law.  Nichole assisted the

VLP with the coordination of law student involvement in the VLP.  During 2002,

sixty law students participated in three VLP clinics.  In addition to her

coordination work, Nichole spent the summer of 2002 working with the VLP

Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Clinic.  Nichole consistently demonstrated professional

skill and sensitivity in handing her work while at the same time never wavering

from her commitment to serve the public. 

Nichole is missed by the VLP and by the many people whose lives she touched

throughout the Tucson community during her law school career.  However, she

has become an invaluable asset to the Texas Attorney Generals Office and to

the city of Austin where she resides and continues her public service work.

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Sarah Britton

2001 Outstanding Law Student

Sarah was selected to receive this honor as a second year law student at the

University of Arizona.  Sarah dedicated the summer and fall of 2002 to working

with the Volunteer Lawyers Program.  She was critical to the organization of the

VLP’s Domestic Relations Pilot Project.  With Sarah’s assistance, the VLP was

able to help one hundred and forty-one clients calculate their child support at

domestic default hearings during the summer. 

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Shannon Locke

2000 Outstanding Law Student

Shannon volunteered in the VLP Advocate Clinics

throughout his time in law school.  Shannon was one of

a select group of students to volunteer to participate in

the VLP Child Support Court Project when the program

was a pilot.  Working under pressure during domestic default hearings to assist

clients with support calculations, Shannon demonstrated both legal skill and

compassion for clients.  Both clients and staff enjoyed working with Shannon.    

Today Shannon continues his public service work as an attorney for the Pima

County Attorneys Office in Tucson.  He is pictured above receiving his award

from Justice Feldman.

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Kelly Clarke

1999 Outstanding Law Student

Kelly is a law student at the University of Denver who spent

the summer of 1999 working with the Volunteer Lawyers

Program.  In her short time with the VLP, Kelly made a

lasting impact on the program.  She conducted a study of

the Domestic Relations Clinics, collecting data from

attorneys and clients.  The student produced valuable

recommendations to improve client services.  Kelly also

assisted clients in the Chapter 7 bankruptcy clinic, helped

to research and write grants, and initiated an underwriting

campaign for a recognition event.  Kelly’s enthusiasm for her work and her sense

of humor endeared her both to clients and the VLP staff.  Kelly currently resides

in Raleigh, North Carolina where she practices law.       

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Stacy Rupprecht Butler

1998 Outstanding Student Volunteer

Stacy began her involvement with the VLP during the

summer of 1998, before her senior year of college.  During

that time Stacy assisted the Volunteer Lawyers Program

with pro bono recruitment and client placement.  Stacy

also wrote press releases.  Her exceptional communication

skills resulted in numerous articles being published about

the VLP, including a feature in the Arizona Daily Star. 

For her tireless efforts and commitment to the program Stacy was named the

Outstanding Student Volunteer for 1998.

After graduation Stacy returned to Tucson to attend the James E. Rogers

College of Law.  During her first semester of law school she joined the

Community Service board and began talking to the VLP and the law school about

a joint project.  As a result of her efforts, the Volunteer Lawyers Program and the

James E. Rogers College of Law formed a partnership, VLP Advocates, to help

provide legal services to those Pima County Residents most in need of civil legal

help.  To date, more than 300 law students have volunteered with the VLP.

Stacy is now a member of the law firm, DeConcini McDonald Yetwin & Lacy,

P.C. Immediately upon joining the firm, Stacy signed up to participate in the

VLP, this time as an attorney.  Her current involvement has included direct

representation in domestic relations cases, participation in law student raining,

and providing support and assistance to VLP staff. 

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Theresa Klosterman

1997 Outstanding Law Student

Theresa dedicated an enormous amount of time to producing a study of the    

Volunteer Lawyers Program.  The purpose of study was to enlarge the pool of pro

bono attorneys and increase volunteer satisfaction.  Guiding the evaluation was

two broad research questions: Are VLP attorneys satisfied with the program? 

What factors are affecting other attorneys from Participating in the VLP?   In

order to gather this information, Theresa circulated surveys to all attorneys in

Pima County.  The program evaluation was a massive undertaking and elicited

valuable information for the program.  Theresa’s efforts were appreciated by the

staff and recognized by the program when Theresa was selected to receive the

first ever Outstanding Law Student Volunteer Award in 1997.

During law school, Theresa also served as a member of Southern Arizona Legal

Aid’s Board of Directors.