Greg Johnson Collaboration Award

The Greg Johnson Collaboration Award was presented for the first time in 2021. The award is named for Professor Greg Johnson, Director of the Legal Writing Program at Vermont Law School, whose foresight, enthusiasm, and commitment to the greater good of his law students set JURIST on a collaborative multi-institutional and multi-jurisdictional path that in unexpectedly short order made it possible for JURIST to become a worldwide enterprise benefiting a range of law students and readers far broader than anything he or we ever imagined. Today Greg oversees a growing JURIST Chapter at Vermont, coordinating recruiting, being a mentor to students, and helping them organize chapter activities. We are immensely grateful for all he has done for his students and JURIST. As JURIST expands nationally and internationally, collaboration between members of our law student staff becomes more important than ever, not only for successful teamwork but also for building mutual understanding and empathy, as well as relational attitudes and capacities important for truly successful lawyers that we hope will last a lifetime. This award will be presented annually to the member or members of JURIST’s law student staff who best exemplify the collaborative nature and capacity-building initiative modeled by the award’s namesake Greg Johnson.

The 2023 recipients of the Greg Johnson Collaboration Award are:

Lauren Ban

Edgar Odongo

Lauren BanLauren Ban is an incoming third-year law student at the University of Pittsburgh School of Law. She first joined JURIST as a news writer back in October 2021. This past year she served as the US Bureau Chief, managing and directing all of JURIST’s US staffers. This upcoming year Lauren will serve as JURIST’s News Managing Editor–a role she is excited to take on alongside JURIST’s 2023-2024 staff. “Working with JURIST has been an absolute joy,” said Lauren. “The work our staffers do is truly amazing and has inspired me to pursue a future career in journalism. I have JURIST to thank for so much, but especially the connections I have made over the past few years. I cannot wait to get started with next year’s work!”

Edgar OdongoEdgar Odongo holds a Bachelors of Law Degree (LLB) from the University of Nairobi (Class of 2022). Edgar graduated as the valedictorian of his class with a First Class Honours! He is currently pursuing his Advocates Training Programme (ATP) at the Kenya School of Law. In his more than two years with JURIST, Edgar has served in diverse capacities including News writing, Commentary, Community Engagement Committee, and as Chief of Staff, Africa. Edgar considers that the JURIST experience was a life-turning moment for him. JURIST offers law students an opportunity to be involved in something that is greater than themselves. JURIST provided him with a sense of purpose. Edgar wishes JURIST all the best for the future.

JURIST is honored to acknowledge past recipients of the Greg Johnson Collaboration Award.

2022
Katherine Gemmingen
Akshita Tiwary
2021
Kristen Doyan