Press Room
College of Law Presents Public Service Awards
June 2, 2009, CHICAGO — While many of his law school classmates were enjoying a tropical respite from their studies, Paul Temple spent his spring break cleaning dump sites in Appalachia and learning about the complex effects of coal mining on the local community. Temple and four other graduating law students, Vanessa Esparza, Kimberly Musick, Rose Rivera and Kayleigh Van Poolen, were honored for their extraordinary commitment to public service with the inaugural DePaul Public Service Awards at a reception at the College of Law on April 27. Each of the five students had reported at least two hundred hours of uncompensated legal work or community service during their tenure as law students.
Like Temple, Vanessa Esparza took advantage of one of the law school's Service Immersion Trip opportunities and traveled to New Orleans during her winter breaks in 2008 and 2009, assisting hurricane survivors by rehabilitating their damaged homes – this in addition to the dozens of hours she spent performing legal research at the National Immigrant Justice Center during the academic year. "This kind of commitment is the common thread among all of the Service Award winners," reports Margaret Duval, the school's Pro Bono and Community Service Initiative Coordinator. "They have devoted exceptional amounts of time to causes they care about and the community is a better place for it."
Indigent criminal defendants are one group who have benefited from the students’ work, as Kimberly Musick has volunteered hundreds of hours at the Office of the State Appellate Defender, while Rose Rivera put in similar time at the Cook County Public Defender’s Office. In additional to the educational opportunity afforded the student by this kind of in-depth volunteer experience, "significant contributions of student time at under-resourced agencies can help ease the burden on the agency’s full time attorneys," says Duval.
Indeed, public service seems to be a full-time occupation for Kayleigh Van Poolen, with commitments to the Greater Chicago Food Depository, the Student Hurricane Network and a leadership position with Chicago Cares, among others. "Law school can be a stressful experience," notes Duval, "and we want to honor the students who have managed to prioritize service among all the other demands on their time. It’s also important to recognize the tangible impact they’re having in the community."
As for Temple, he's grateful for the opportunities he’s had to serve, recognizing that a legal education is a "gift and privilege" that give its recipients "an even stronger ability to improve others' lives."
The Pro Bono & Community Service Initiative (PBCSI) connects law students with rewarding volunteer opportunities at local public interest organizations. Through service, students gain valuable experiences, insights, and skills, while creating stronger ties to their communities and helping to remedy social problems and injustices.
Contact - Margaret Duval
