Annual Alumni Awards Banquet Videos
The History of William Lee Knous (1911)
[video:https://www.youtube.com/embed/pP6CGtYhWuA]
In 2021, we honored:
William Lee Knous Award
Daniel A. Vigil ('82)
[video:https://youtu.be/Ti7L9ETUvZs]
Distinguished Achievement—Public Sector
Jacki Cooper Melmed ('03)
[video:https://youtu.be/lHQ61kfRfIg]
Distinguished Achievement—Private Practice
Carolyn Fairless ('98)
[video:https://youtu.be/NnuQV8dD-Y8]
Distinguished Achievement—Education
Whiting Dimock ('96)
[video:https://youtu.be/LyETXTyHRW0]
Distinguished Achievement— Solo/Small Firm Practitioner
Tyrone Glover ('09)
[video:https://youtu.be/UNj2qvt_Lew]
Distinguished Achievement—Special Recognition for Outstanding Leadership in Civil Rights
Ryan Haygood ('01)
[video:https://youtu.be/X4ILI4N8yFA]
Richard Schaden Adopted Alumnus Award
John Echohawk
[video:https://youtu.be/r34cAtEI2Os]
Sonny Flowers Award
Hon. Gary M. Jackson ('70)
[video:https://youtu.be/8MXNrXaFD6M]
In 2020, we honored:
William Lee Knous Award
Hon. Nathan Coats ('77), Colorado Supreme Court
[video:https://youtu.be/XbFy2hDU9zU]
Distinguished Achievement—Public Sector
Steve Zwick ('77), San Miguel County (retired)
[video:https://youtu.be/nb_hiCJx9H0]
Distinguished Achievement—Private Practice
Mindy Sooter ('03), WilmerHale
[video:https://youtu.be/hneX0NkcvME]
Distinguished Achievement— Solo/Small Firm Practitioner
W. Harold "Sonny" Flowers Jr. ('71), Hurth, Sisk & Blakemore LLP
[video:https://youtu.be/COMTR2mPhLg]
Dean Edward C. King Making a Difference Award
Kristin Bronson ('97), City and County of Denver
[video:https://youtu.be/I4YEx3XaFtY]
Richard Schaden Adopted Alumnus Award
Gordon Gamm
[video:https://youtu.be/g9kgMdhPdvA]
In 2019, we honored:
William Lee Knous Award
William R. Gray ('66) and John A. Purvis ('67), Purvis Gray Thomson, LLP
[video:https://youtu.be/zN2sjt78oiY]
Distinguished Achievement—Judiciary
The Honorable Kristen L. Mix ('85), United States District Court for the District of Colorado
[video:https://youtu.be/nrnNJAktoDM]
Distinguished Achievement—Private Practice
Todd Fredrickson (’91), Fisher & Phillips LLP
[video:https://youtu.be/ZLNcx1-417s]
Distinguished Achievement—Public Sector
Jim Coyle (’85), Office of Attorney Regulation Counsel for the Colorado Supreme Court (Retired)
[video:https://youtu.be/yk2vvI00JmM]
Dean’s Choice—Richard Schaden Adopted Alumnus Award
Korey Wise
[video:https://youtu.be/AHgeSxOUnFk]
Dean’s Choice—Dean Edward C. King Making a Difference Award
Meshach Y. Rhoades ('04), Armstrong Teasdale LLP
[video:https://youtu.be/IMFykgvAPa4]
In 2018, we honored:
William Lee Knous Award
Peter C. Dietze (’62), Dietze and Davis, P.C. (retired)
[video:https://youtu.be/vszPJygqpTE]
Distinguished Achievement—Recent Alumnus
Javed M. Abbas (’13), The Harris Law Firm P.C.
[video:https://youtu.be/Dm-FEinzQVA]
Distinguished Achievement—Corporate Counsel
Sonny Cave (’85), ON Semiconductor
[video:https://youtu.be/HDkPbaJUyKI]
Distinguished Achievement—Public Sector
Timothy Monahan (’87), Colorado Office of the Attorney General
[video:https://youtu.be/hf3SzZoUx7s]
Distinguished Achievement—Private Practice
Niki Frangos Tuttle (’84), Hogan Lovells
[video:https://youtu.be/gYfT_-f9LYk]
Dean’s Choice—Richard Schaden Adopted Alumna Award
Chief Justice Nancy E. Rice, Colorado Supreme Court
[video:https://youtu.be/4ivhJFNy74E]
Dean’s Choice—Dean Edward C. King Making a Difference Award
Mekela Goehring (’02), Rocky Mountain Immigrant Advocacy Network
[video:https://youtu.be/ZoOJXpOrY1k]
In 2017, we honored:
- William Lee Knous Award
The Honorable Bill Ritter Jr. ('81), former governor of Colorado and founder and director of the Center for the New Energy Economy at Colorado State University.
[video:https://www.youtube.com/embed/5Aw_FYxbVWs] - Distinguished Achievement - Solo/Small Practice
Gary B. Blum ('71), director and shareholder, Silver & DeBoskey, P.C.
[video:https://www.youtube.com/embed/WRzC9hKaFzE] - Distinguished Achievement - Private Practice
Hugh Q. Gottschalk ('79), partner and president, Wheeler Trigg O'Donnell LLP
[video:https://www.youtube.com/embed/GvneGOieM2g]
- Distinguished Achievement - In-House Counsel
Beverly E. Ledbetter ('72), vice president and general counsel, Brown University
[video:https://www.youtube.com/embed/QUlnataw7R4] - Distinguished Achievement - Public Service
The Honorable Pat Steadman ('91), senator, Colorado General Assembly
[video:https://www.youtube.com/embed/nxO3Rb6WYyY] - Dean's Choice Award - Adopted Alumna
The Honorable Christine M. Arguello, judge, United States District Court, Colorado
[video:https://www.youtube.com/embed/lbSEAHTK-ss]
In 2016, we honored:
- William Lee Knous Award
Norman Brownstein ('68) and Steven W. Farber ('68), Shareholders, Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, LLP
[video:https://www.youtube.com/embed/TW10JRjo1-8] - Distinguished Achievement - Public Sector
The Honorable Cory Gardner ('01), United States Senator - Colorado
[video:https://www.youtube.com/embed/1ZrvHbwzcZg] - Distinguished Achievement - Judiciary
The Honorable Marcia S. Krieger ('79), Chief Judge, United States District Court, Colorado
[video:https://www.youtube.com/embed/dUwSftkCsWY] - Distinguished Achievement - Corporate Counsel
Michelle M. Lucero ('89), Chief Administrative Officer, General Counsel, and Chief Flash Mob Officer, Children's Hospital Colorado
[video:https://www.youtube.com/embed/3WREveSTJ1I] - Richard Schaden "Adopted Alumni" Award
Paul and Norma, and David and Jed Barash, parents and brothers of Daniel Barash ('02)
[video:https://www.youtube.com/embed/-Y833ZUs9FY] - Dean Edward C. King "Pay it Forward" Award
Fiona Arnold, Executive Director, Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade
[video:https://www.youtube.com/embed/N8dGqC4NGpY]
In 2015, we honored:
- Betty Carter Arkell ('75), Partner, Holland & Hart LLP, for the William Lee Knous Award, Colorado Law's highest alumni honor
[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Am7Ixdd9Ip0]
- William R Buck (’83), General Counsel-Upstream Companies, Exxon Mobil Corporation, for Distinguished Achievement in Corporate Counsel
- Michael L. Connor ('93), Deputy Secretary, U.S. Department of the Interior, for Distinguished Achievement in the Public Sector
- David G. Palmer ('70), Denver Managing Shareholder, Greenberg Traurig, LLP, for Distinguished Achievement in Private Practice
- Brian L. Duffy ('91), Shareholder & Co-President, Greenberg Traurig, LLP, for Distinguished Achievement in Private Practice.
In addition, Dean Phil Weiser presented two Dean's Choice awards, recognizing individuals who have made exceptional contributions to Colorado Law:
- Roxanne Jensen ('85), Managing Director, Catapult Growth Partners, & Founder, EvolveLaw, for the Dean Edward C. King “Pay it Forward” Award
- R. Stanton Dodge, Executive Vice President, General Counsel & Secretary, DISH Network, for the Richard Schaden “Adopted Alumnus” Award
[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8jA5LHGLuQ0]
In 2014, we honored:
- The Honorable Roy R. Romer (’52), former Governor of Colorado, for the William Lee Knous Award, Colorado Law's highest alumni honor
[video:https://www.youtube.com/embed/rMHJxYgv1yE]
- The Honorable Claudia J. Jordan (’80), Denver County Judge, Second Judicial District, for Distinguished Achievement in the Judiciary
- Thomas M. Ray (’86), President & CEO, CoreSite, for Distinguished Achievement in Industry
- Thomas W. Fredericks (’72), Partner, Fredericks Peebles & Morgan LLP, for Distinguished Achievement in Private Practice
- Douglas J. Friednash, Shareholder, Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, LLP, and D. Scott Martinez, Denver City Attorney, for the Dean Edward C. King “Pay it Forward” Award
- Ann Marks Getches for the Richard Schaden “Adopted Alumna” Award
[video:https://www.youtube.com/embed/avSTXevy7i4]
The Honorable Michael L. Bender ('67) was the 2013 William Lee Knous Award recipient.
[video:https://www.youtube.com/embed/XbOAfy5zgso]
The 2012 William Lee Knous Award recipient was Bill Johnson ('58).
[video:https://www.youtube.com/embed/EO05IXWlrBs]
37th Annual Alumni Awards Banquet
