UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State Law in University Park inducted 21 third-year law students into the Woolsack Honor Society during an awards luncheon on April 19, 2024. The honor society recognizes students who place in the top 15% of their class following the fifth or sixth semester of study.

This year’s inductees are Geremia Adamo, Faith Anderson, Jennifer Bauer, John Blackwell, Erik Blasic, Adam Cook, Victor de Oliveira Leite, Ari Geselowitz, Luke Glavin, Hannah Marmaro, Emaline Maxfield, Ava McCartin, Emily Newton, Julie Pandich, Trenton Rawdan, Mari Reott, Morgan Ryan, Zachary Shepherd, Declan Stone-Murphy, Alyssa Umberger and Amy Zigarovich.

“It’s always a pleasure to break bread with our Woolsack Honor Society awardees,” said Victor Romero, interim dean of Penn State Law and the School of International Affairs, Maureen B. Cavanaugh Distinguished Faculty Scholar, and professor of law. “Apart from their academic excellence, so many of them have served as student leaders within our Penn State Law community, via our various Student Bar Association organizations, our law clinics, moot court and mock trial events, law journals, and beyond.”

The luncheon included an awards presentation, with each student receiving a plaque and commemorative pillow embroidered with “Penn State Law Woolsack Honor Society.”

“I am incredibly honored to be inducted into the Woolsack Honor Society,” Pandich said. “Penn State Law has afforded me many valuable educational opportunities, and I am excited to use the skills that I have learned here in my future legal career. I cannot thank the dedicated professors here enough for guiding me through my law school journey.”

Each Woolsack awardee receives a notation on their transcript and will be listed in the 2024 Penn State Law commencement program. Society membership is lifelong.

“The Woolsack is a terrific opportunity to celebrate with students their success in our academic program,” said Jud Mathews, associate dean for academic affairs at Penn State Law, and a professor of law and political science. “It’s hard to overstate how much work they have put into law school, and it’s good to recognize that work and how it has paid off.”

The Penn State Law Woolsack Honor Society was founded in 1920 to recognize students who have distinguished themselves academically. The Woolsack is a symbol of excellence borrowed from the British legal tradition; the name is derived from the large, wool-stuffed red cushion that has served as a seat for high-ranking British Parliament officers since the 14th century.