Minority Bar Association of WNY holds awards dinner

Daily Record (Rochester, NY), Oct 18, 2004 by Fred Petersen

Buffalo City Court Judge E. Jeanette Ogden, president of the Minority Bar Association of Western New York, presided over the 22nd annual scholarship dinner on Oct. 1 at the Buffalo Convention Center. Awards were presented recognizing individuals for service and leadership to the community and academic achievement in law school.

Kenneth G. Standard, president of the New York State Bar Association, delivered the keynote address, reflecting on the landmark Brown v. Board of Education case and its effect on society 50 years later.

Following a cocktail reception, over 250 people took their seats for an invocation by Rev. William Gibson, Jr.

To begin the awards presentation, Brenda W. McDuffie, president and CEO of the Buffalo Urban League, was given the Community Service Award.

The John L. Hargrave Memorial Legal Scholarship Award was presented to Yadira A. Ramos. In law school, Ramos participated as a member of the Jessup Fasken International Law Moot Court team, as well as three other mock trial teams, in addition to serving as vice president of the Latin American Law Students Association.

The Legal Service Award was given to Craig D. Hannah, an attorney with nearly a decade of experience as a trial lawyer in city, state and federal courts. Hannah was recognized in 2002 and 2003 in Business First's Who's Who in Law, served as a past president of the Minority Bar Association of Western New York and was legal counsel for the Buffalo Police Reserves.

Alfonso O'Neil-White, president and CEO of BlueCross BlueShield of Western New York, received the Trail Blazer Award. He was recently nominated to serve as chair of the Health Law Section of the American Bar Association, and also serves on many other boards, including as vice president of the board of directors for the Boys and Girls Club of Buffalo.

There is no greater reward than one you receive from your peers, O'Neil-White said on receiving the award.

The President's Award was presented to Vikki L. Pryor, president and CEO of SBLI USA Mutual Life Insurance Co., for her creation of the Promise Prize, launched in 2002 in memory of her grandmother, Marie Nesbitt. The $5,000 award is presented annually to an African- American law student at the University at Buffalo Law School who has shown academic achievement and professional promise during his or her first year.

I can't accept this award unless you let me accept it on behalf of all of us, Pryor remarked. Discussing the strength of the Buffalo region in light of the progress made since the Brown decision, she continued Don't take for granted that the community you have changes lives.

The third annual Marie Nesbitt Promise Prize was awarded to UB Law School student Sara L. Valencia. In addition to ranking in the top 15 percent of her law school class, Valencia was the recipient of the Arthur A. Schomburg Fellowship. She is also the policy editor for the Buffalo Women's Law Journal and works as a law clerk for a Buffalo law firm.

President's certificates of appreciation were then presented to four members of the legal community in recognition of their service to the Minority Bar Association. Carlos Fletcher, a database administrator for the Buffalo city courts; Irene Chiu, an associate at Morgan, Lewis & Bockius, LLP; Stephanie Williams Torres, an associate with Hiscock & Barclay, LLP; and Katherine Strong Bifaro, executive director of the Bar Association of Erie County, were all commended for their contributions to the Minority Bar Association.

As keynote speaker, Standard discussed the impact of the Brown decision on people today, remarking that the courts can be a path to achieve important objectives, and attorneys can be an agent for change. He agreed that legal action alone is not enough, saying the cause of justice must be pursued on multiple fronts.

Standard went on to outline several initiatives the NYSBA is currently pursuing, including issues involving young people in the education system, working with the YMCA to help the disadvantaged and investigating the hurdles faced by individuals released from prison, such as restrictions on the right to vote.

Standard also discussed his desire to free up resources for indigent clients in civil and criminal cases. He shared recommendations to courts and legislatures that would help with this effort, as well as the need to ensure legal service agencies receive adequate funding to protect the rights of those less fortunate.

In her closing remarks, Judge Ogden discussed Brown's influence today and in the future. She noted it was the responsibility of law students and the community to uphold the effects of Brown v. Board of Education.

She closed by presenting Standard with a commendation for his efforts and accomplishments as an African- American attorney.