Alumni Association Names 2024 Award Winners
Spanning multiple generations and backgrounds, the winners of the 2024 Stetson Lawyers Alumni Association (SLAA) were honored for their diverse contributions to Stetson Law and the legal profession itself.
The awards, typically given in June of each year during the Florida Bar Association’s annual convention in Orlando, recognize alumni for a broad range of achievements as well as for going above and beyond in giving back to their alma mater.
“Coming from diverse backgrounds, experiences, and achievements the winners of the 2024 Stetson Lawyers Alumni Association awards are selected for going above and beyond with their contributions to Stetson Law School, its students, and the legal profession,” said Brittany Maxey-Fisher, president of SLAA.
Here are the 2024 SLAA award winners:
Ben Willard Award: Carleton Weidemeyer JD ’61
An early advocate for Stetson Law’s now-robust Clinics and Externships program, Carleton “Woody” Weidemeyer ‘61 was honored with this year’s Ben Willard Award, which aims to recognize an individual whose work has benefited society at large.
Weidemeyer helped establish and run the first law school clinic in Florida through the Pinellas County Public Defender’s Office, which gave students the opportunity to argue cases before a judge on behalf of those who could not afford private legal counsel. One of the top students during his time at Stetson Law, Weidemeyer has remained close to his law school colleagues and has given generously to help establish a scholarship to aid students focusing on legal writing.
Distinguished Alumni Award: Ying “Laura” Gao JD ’16 (posthumously)
Honoring an alum who has had an enduring impact on the legal profession and humanity at large , the 2024 Distinguished Alumni Award was posthumously given to 2016 alumna Ying “Laura” Gao.
Gao, who passed away February 28, 2024, was a beloved member of the Stetson Law community. She was a practicing attorney whose focus was elder law. A licensed pilot, she was passionate about aviation as well as sailing, SCUBA diving, and other activities.
“Laura Gao is being honored posthumously with the 2024 Distinguished Alumni Award for her impact on the legal profession and Stetson Law School, particularly for her work with Asian-American Law Student Association,” Maxey-Fisher said. “Laura was also steadfast in her commitment to bar passage. As the inaugural donor to Stetson’s Bar Preparation Fund, Laura gave both her time and treasures to ensure Stetson Law Students have the necessary resources to study for and pass the bar exam.”
Paul May Meritorious Service Award: Dr. Adam Levine JD ’09
Its namesake a tribute to an alumnus who helped grow SLAA into the substantial network it is today, the Paul May Meritorious Service Award honors an individual who has been generous and consistent with their time and resources in support of the Stetson Law community. This year’s honoree, Dr. Adam Levine ’09, enrolled at Stetson Law after years working as a medical doctor. Not long after earning his J.D. a semester early and launching his private practice, Levine returned to Stetson Law to teach. Stetson Law courses include Medical Jurisprudence, Introduction to the Physical Examination and Critical Interpretation of Medical Records, Deposing Medical Experts, and Florida Medical Malpractice. He also teaches Advanced Expert Witnesses for Stetson Law’s Online LL.M. in Advocacy.
Outstanding Alumni Representative Award: David Persky JD ’88
An award recognizing alumni who excelled in their efforts to help the Stetson Law alumni community remain active and robust, this year’s Outstanding Alumni Representative honor went to an alumnus who has dedicated his career to higher education.
Persky earned his PhD in Higher Education Administration from Florida State University in 1979, and earned his J.D. from Stetson Law a decade later. While at Stetson Law, he served as president of the Student Bar Association and worked as a student admissions counselor. After serving as Assistant County Attorney in Hillsborough County, he spent two decades in leadership roles at Saint Leo University. Persky now teaches at University of Tampa and Saint Leo University as an adjunct professor.
Persky says he had a great experience at Stetson Law and that lifelong friendships grew out of his time in law school. He adds that he hopes giving back to the College of Law will help future students continue the tradition of excellence at Stetson.
Distinguished Service Award: Soneet Kapila and Dr. Prabodh Kapila.
Each year, this award goes to a non-alum who has gone above and beyond in enriching the Stetson Law community, the legal profession, and society overall. With an extensive history of philanthropy that has greatly benefited education, medical research and the arts, the Kapila’s have demonstrated a deep passion for community involvement.
Soneet Kapila is a founding member of KapilaMukamal, LLP, one of the nation’s foremost forensic and insolvency/creditors’ rights and litigation consulting practices. He is currently Acting Chairperson and immediate past-president of the American Bankruptcy Institute. He is also a Fellow of the American College of Bankruptcy and a Distinguished Fellow of the Association of Insolvency and Restructuring Advisors as well as a sitting trustee on the panel of U.S. Bankruptcy Trustees in the Southern District of Florida.
His wife, Dr. Prabodh Kapila, is a retired physician who specialized in rheumatology practicing for about thirty years in Plantation, Florida.
As a director of The Kapila Family Foundation, and inspired by his wife’s spirit, Soneet Kapila helped establish The Kapila Family Foundation Scholarship Fund at Stetson, an award intended to support law education in the insolvency area and to provide scholarship assistance to students specializing in bankruptcy law. “I am committed to the enhancement of legal education and skills in the insolvency and creditors’ rights space and creating opportunities for aspiring law student who wish to pursue a career in business reorganizations and the insolvency field,” Soneet Kapila said.
Post date: Aug. 14
Media contact: Kate Bradshaw
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