Excellence in Public Interest Awards

About EPIA

The Excellence in Public Interest Awards (EPIA) honors individuals who have made outstanding contributions in the public interest law field. TLF honors individuals in five groups: students, professors, staff, public interest attorneys, and private attorneys.

2023 Nominations

TLF is now seeking nominations for all five categories: students, professors, UT staff members, public interest attorneys, and private attorneys. Nominees should demonstrate a strong commitment to serving the public interest community.

Please use this form to submit your nominations. Nominations are not required for every category. Nominations are due no later than Friday, March 3 at 12:00 CST. If you have any questions, please contact Mary Grace McFarland.

EPIA Ceremony 2023

This year, TLF will be hosting EPIA at the home of Bill and Stephanie Whitehurst on Sunday, March 26, 2023. The event will be held at the home of our generous contributors Bill and Stephanie Whitehurst. Please use this form to RSVP by March 20th at 12:00 EST. Keep an eye out for your e-vite in March with additional information!
 

The event is open to all law students, faculty, staff, and guests of the honorees. Representatives of public interest organizations in Austin will likely be in attendance.

Past Recipients

2022 EPIA Recipients

PUBLIC INTEREST ATTORNEY
Claire Bow
 
PRIVATE ATTORNEY

 Jeff Edwards

FACULTY
Katy Dyer
 

STAFF
Nicole Simmons

STUDENT
Emily Guzman Surfing

2021 EPIA Recipients

PUBLIC INTEREST ATTORNEY
Gretchen Sween 
 
PRIVATE ATTORNEY

Emily Eby

FACULTY
Lucy Wood
 

STAFF
Sarah Sedgwick

2021 STUDENT
Anna Harris

2020 GRADUATE
Meredith Luneack
 
PANDEMIC RESPONSE
Jacqueline Morales

2019 EPIA Recipients

PUBLIC INTEREST ATTORNEY

Ashley Steele

PRIVATE ATTORNEY
Kate Lincoln-Goldfinch

FACULTY
Thea Posel

STAFF
Sarah Sedgwick

STUDENT
Patrick Marcus

2018 EPIA Recipients

PUBLIC INTEREST ATTORNEY

Susanne Pringle

PRIVATE ATTORNEY
Brian Zubay

FACULTY/Staff
Beth Navarro

STUDENT
Jessica Cisneros

2017 EPIA Recipients

PUBLIC INTEREST ATTORNEY

Trudy Strassburger

PRIVATE ATTORNEY
Becky Beaver

FACULTY
Raoul Schonemann

STUDENT
Lochlin Rosen and Cristian Sanchez

2016 EPIA Recipients

PUBLIC INTEREST ATTORNEY
Claire Marie Bow

PRIVATE ATTORNEY
Chris Perri and Paul Quinzi

FACULTY
Chris Roberts

STUDENT
Bryan Zubay

2015 EPIA Recipients

PUBLIC INTEREST ATTORNEY

Betty Balli Torres

PRIVATE ATTORNEY
Christine Wood, Jack Carnegie, and John Hagan

FACULTY
Ranjana Natarajan

STUDENT
Nora Gay

2014 EPIA Recipients

PUBLIC INTEREST ATTORNEY

Brian McGiverin

PRIVATE ATTORNEY
Pete Schenkkan

FACULTY
Heather K. Way

STUDENT
Kali Cohn

2013 EPIA Recipients

PUBLIC INTEREST ATTORNEY

David Hinojosa (MALDEF)

PRIVATE ATTORNEY
Virginia Raymond

FACULTY
Michele Deitch

STUDENT
Megan Sheffield

2012 EPIA Recipients

PUBLIC INTEREST ATTORNEY

Ian Spechler (Disability Rights Texas)

PRIVATE ATTORNEY
David Gonzalez (Sumpter & Gonzalez)

FACULTY
William P. Allison & Patricia Cummings

STUDENT
Jordan Pollock

2011 EPIA Recipients

PUBLIC INTEREST ATTORNEY

Deborah Fowler (Texas Appleseed)

PRIVATE ATTORNEY
David Weiser (Kator, Parks, & Weiser, PLLC)

FACULTY
William Forbath

STUDENTS
Adriana Rodriguez & Susannah Volpe

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