Awards & Recognitions
Each year, the national Phi Alpha Delta law fraternity recognizes local chapters and officers for their outstanding fraternity achievements and performance, and for the impact they make locally and nationally. See the awards Carthage has won below.
2021 Awards
Outstanding Pre-Law Chapter Advisor, 2nd place
Professor Thomas Powers
Professor Thomas Powers has been a pre-law advisor since 2001. He was named Carthage’s Pre-law Coordinator in 2020. Prof. Powers organizes several events at Carthage each year, to include a fall orientation event for first year students, an event at Carthage featuring regional law school admissions officers, and events for Juniors and Seniors pertaining to the law school application process and LSAT preparation.
Outstanding Pre-Law Chapter President, 2nd place
Braden Kundert ’21
Braden Kundert ’21 played a central role in revitalizing the Carthage Phi Alpha Delta (PAD) chapter, an achievement recognized in the chapter’s garnering four national awards last year (2020-21). Braden initiated two major service undertakings, organizing PAD volunteers for the ELCA Outreach Center (which provides free legal assistance) and working to establish an immigration legal clinic at the Racine Interfaith Coalition. He also organized regular bimonthly meetings with local attorneys and law school students who met with Carthage PAD members to share their experience in the law. Braden is now a student at the University of Wisconsin Law School.
Outstanding Pre-Law Secretary, 2nd Place
Kelsey Spears ’21
Kelsey Spears ’21 served as Secretary of Phi Alpha Delta (PAD) during the 2020-21 year and was instrumental in helping to launch a series of new initiatives undertaken by the organization. In addition to meticulous attention to the duties of the Secretary position, Kelsey helped to schedule, track, and coordinate Carthage PAD chapter members’ volunteer work with the ELCA Outreach Center. She is now working for a law firm in Illinois.
Outstanding Pre-Law Professional Program, 3rd place
Carthage was recognized for its “Virtual Law School Fair,” which showcased law school representatives from area law schools. This event, which ordinarily would be hosted live at Carthage, was presented virtually due to COVID-19. Law school admissions officers from Marquette Law School, University of Wisconsin Law School, and the University of Illinois Chicago School of Law spoke with and fielded questions from Carthage students at the well-attended event.
2020 Awards
Outstanding Pre-Law Professional Program Award, 1st Place
Carthage pre-law students were recognized for their work with the “Helping Hands Free Legal Clinic.” Carthage students organized to provide volunteer services at the ELCA Outreach Center in Kenosha, where they shadowed attorneys working at a free legal clinic. When not working directly with the attorneys, students assisted the center in other ways as well. (This activity won the Carthage campus award for Best Community Service.)
Outstanding Pre-Law Recruitment Award, 1st Place
Carthage pre-law students were recognized for their extremely successful “Fall Involvement Fair,” which allowed the group to inform the Carthage community about its record of service and active roster of events for the coming year.
Outstanding Pre-Law Communication Program Award, 2nd Place
The Carthage Phi Alpha Delta Chapter was recognized for excellence in communication both internally, with chapter members and other Carthage students, and externally, with the local community.
Outstanding Pre-Law Chapter, 3rd Place
The Carthage Pre-Law Student Club won third place nationally in this most prestigious general category, taking one of the “Don Hutson Outstanding Pre-Law Chapter Awards.” The chapter was awarded for its leading role and participation in an active roster of pre-law events at Carthage. These include a first-year student orientation session, a Law School Fair, a webinar on applying to law school, an LSAT preparation seminar, and many guest speakers (attorneys and alumni). The chapter’s most notable efforts were in the area of community service.