Third-year Dickinson Law student Francesca Kester was presented the D. Arthur Magaziner Human Services Award for her outstanding record of academic achievement and service to others at Dickinson Law's annual Philadelphia alumni reception held on Nov. 2.
D. Arthur Magaziner was a successful Philadelphia lawyer who earned his law degree from the University of Pennsylvania. His granddaughter, Brenda Flock, is an alumna of the Dickinson School of Law. It was due to her affinity for the Law School that the family of Magaziner established this award at Dickinson Law.
Magaziner was a true lawyer-statesman believing that lawyers occupy a special place in our democracy and therefore have a special responsibility to provide legal representation even to those who cannot pay, but his leadership and service of others was not limited to the legal profession. He volunteered countless hours of service to a number of organizations that served the community including the Anti-Defamation League, the Philadelphia Psychiatric Center, and the Philadelphia Orchestra Pension Fund.
Kester’s commitment to service began when she joined the Kiwanis Club in seventh grade and began volunteering in a soup kitchen in her local community, and participating in community service projects for the homeless, underprivileged children, and Veterans serving overseas, culminating in over 200 hours of community service. Her service to others has continued during her time in law school with service to the homeless at Bethesda Mission in Harrisburg, working in the medical-legal partnership and expungement clinics, and establishing a partnership between Dickinson Law and Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Capital Region.
Magaziner’s daughter Maxine (Magaziner) Flock and his granddaughter, Dana Goode, were present at the reception in Philadelphia to meet Kester and wish her continued success following graduation.
At Dickinson Law, Kester is executive chair of the Moot Court Board, vice president of the Criminal Law Society, a member of the National Trial Team, and a Law Lion Ambassador. She earned her undergraduate degree from Marywood University, Scranton, Pennsylvania.