Widener Law - 2006 Alumni Awards

2006 Alumni Awards

Awards Call for Nominations & Criteria Online Nomination Form 2007 Alumni Awards

2006 Alumni Awards

2005 Alumni Awards 2004 Alumni Awards

2006 Alumni Awards

Photo: Seated from left, William J. Higgins Jr. '99,
Yvonne Takvorian Saville '95.
Standing from left, Law Dean Linda L. Ammons,
Robert J. Sander '98, Brian J. Preski '92,
Scott E. Blissman '97, and
Steven P. Barsamian, '75, president of
the Widener Law Alumni Association.

The Widener University School of Law has announced winners of its 2006 alumni awards, given annually to recognize outstanding leadership, service, and achievement of its graduates. Widener University School of Law has honored and awarded its distinguished alumni since 1976. This year's event was held Dec. 11 in the Ruby R. Vale Moot Courtroom on the Delaware campus.

Outstanding Alumnus of the Year Award was given to Brian J. Preski '92 of Philadelphia. The award is presented to an alumnus or alumna who, through service to his or her community or profession, or other accomplishments, has brought honor, recognition, and distinction to the Widener University School of Law. Preski graduated from the Delaware campus. Today he works as chief of staff to the speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, has served as the key advisor to members of the Pennsylvania House leadership team and has helped to develop and author legislation aimed at improving the quality of life and well-being of Pennsylvania residents. He oversees a staff of 800, daily preparation of the House voting calendar and all House functions.

Outstanding Service Awards were presented to Scott E. Blissman '97 of Hatfield, Pa. and Yvonne Takvorian Saville '95 of Wilmington, Del. Blissman graduated from the Harrisburg campus and Saville attended Widener's Delaware campus. Today, Blissman is a senior associate at Reed Smith LLP in Philadelphia, primarily handling management-side public- and private-sector labor law. Saville handles primarily personal injury and worker compensation litigation as a director at Weiss & Saville, P.A. in Wilmington.

The service awards are granted for outstanding alumni service to the law school as a whole, to a particular concentration within the school or to the legal profession.

Outstanding Recent Alumni Awards were presented to William J. Higgins, Jr. '99 of Bedford, Pa. and Robert J. Sander '98 of West Conshohocken, Pa. These awards recognize work by recent graduates who show energy and dedication as community leaders or provide invaluable service to the Widener University School of Law.

Higgins, a Delaware campus graduate, is the district attorney of Bedford County - and at age 32, the youngest district attorney in Pennsylvania. Sander, also a Delaware campus graduate, is captain of the Narcotics Enforcement Team in the Montgomery County District Attorney's Office. He is also a special assistant U.S. attorney for Project Safe Neighborhoods.