Michigan Law Announces 2025 Student Awards

Henry M. Bates Memorial Scholarship Award

The Bates Award is presented to outstanding graduating students, with account taken of scholarship in legal studies, personality, character, extracurricular interests, and promise of a distinguished career. The award was established in 1949 through the generosity of alumni and friends of the Law School in memory of the late Dean Henry M. Bates.

2025 Winners: Caleb Ashley, Alexandra M. Corcoran, and Arthur Etter

Caleb Ashley

“Caleb was a model of careful engagement. He never ducked what was hard about the question—never tried to cut a corner or take an easy way out. He is excellent: smart, thoughtful, responsible, and unassuming. He should make Michigan proud.” —Nomination Statement

Caleb Ashley received the Helen L. DeRoy Scholarly Writing Award for his seminar paper on judicial deference and the Clean Air Act. During his time at Michigan, he also received multiple certificates of merit. Ashley served as a problem chair for the Henry M. Campbell Moot Court Competition, clerkship director for the Federalist Society, co-president of the Law and Economics Club, and as a First-Year Information Leader. He has been a research assistant for Professors Richard Primus and Christopher Walker and a course assistant for Professor Nicolas Cornell. Following graduation, Ashley will serve as a law clerk for the Hon. David Stras on the US Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit. 

Alexandra M. Corcoran

“Allie is an extraordinary student. She’s whip-smart, thoughtful, gracious and kind to her peers, and deeply passionate about making the world a better place through law. She is exactly the kind of student of whom we should be most proud.” —Nomination Statement

Alexandra “Allie” Corcoran worked as a student-attorney with the Pediatric Advocacy Clinic and as a research assistant for several professors. She served as managing comments editor for the Michigan Journal of Law Reform, a senior judge for the First-Year Legal Practice Program, communications director of the Michigan Voting Project, and mentorship co-chair for the Organization of Public Interest Students. Following graduation, she will clerk for Justice Elizabeth Welch on the Michigan Supreme Court and for the Hon. Nicole G. Berner on the US Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. 

Arthur Etter

“Arthur is a star. He is going to put that to use to make the legal profession and the law better. And he will never crow in the process; his humility and collegiality, coupled with his razor-sharp mind and work ethic, make him the best of Michigan Law.” —Nomination Statement

Arthur Etter won the 100th Henry M. Campbell Moot Court Competition in March. He was an executive editor of the Michigan Law Review, served as a research assistant for several professors, and earned multiple certificates of merit. Etter also served as a student-attorney in the Federal Appellate Litigation Clinic, executive board member of the 99th Campbell Competition, social chair for OUTlaws, and co-president of Michigan Law’s chapter of the American Constitution Society. He will clerk for the Hon. Rachel Bloomekatz on the US Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit and then for the Hon. Casey Pitts on the US District Court for the Northern District of California.

Jane L. Mixer Memorial Award

The Mixer Award is presented to the Michigan Law students who have made the greatest contribution to activities designed to advance the cause of social justice. Students, faculty, and staff provide nominations for the award, which was established in 1969 through the generosity of alumni and friends in memory of the late Jane L. Mixer, who died while she was a student at the Law School.

2025 Winners: Brittney Lynn Dorton and Rory Peters

Brittney Lynn Dorton

“No one in this law school has advanced justice inside and outside Hutchins and Jefferies halls over their three years more than Britt. From the Innocence Clinic to disability rights advocacy, she’s left Michigan Law a more accessible place than she found—and, as important—a more welcoming place.” 
—Nomination Statement

Brittney “Britt” Dorton came to law school to make justice accessible for all. She was the co-president of the Disability Rights Organization and served on the board of the National Lawyers’ Guild and the Sentence Commutation Pro Bono Project. Dorton was a student-attorney in the Michigan Innocence Clinic, where she argued and won her first motion before the Michigan Court of Appeals; a notes editor for the Journal of Law Reform; and a recipient of the Jenny Runkles Memorial Award and Dores McCree Award. She will be the student speaker at this year’s Law School Senior Day ceremony. After graduation, she will begin a two-year Skadden Fellowship as an attorney with the national American Civil Liberties Union’s Disability Rights Program, representing people with disabilities who are under or at risk of conservatorship.

Rory Peters

“Rory brings empathy and kindness to every space they are in. They engage in tough conversations with grace and use their lived experience to advocate for a better world for all. I know that they will continue to fight for justice and positive social change wherever they go.” —Nomination Statement

Advocacy for transgender rights and access to public benefits and health care has been integral to Rory Peters’s experience both in and outside the Law School. They were a volunteer for the Public Benefits Advocacy Project, a student-attorney for the Pediatric Advocacy Clinic, a research assistant for Professor Anna Kirkland, a mentor for OUTlaws, vice president of the Michigan Health Law Organization, and a volunteer for the Transformative Justice Law Project’s name-change clinics. They received the OUTlaws Public Service Fellowship to help transgender clients and clients living with HIV/AIDS access  public benefits during their 1L summer. They received the Justice John Paul Stevens Fellowship for their 2L summer work on Medicaid policy and research. After graduation, Peters will join a legal aid organization in Chicago to ensure transgender youth’s access to health, social, and educational services.

Irving Stenn Jr. Award

The Stenn Award is presented to Michigan Law students who have demonstrated leadership and contributed, through extracurricular activities, to the well-being and strength of the Law School or University. The award, established in 1976, is made possible through the generosity of Irving Stenn Jr., ’55, and his father, Irving Stenn Sr., of Chicago.

2025 Winners: Ethan Morrison Greenberg, Alex M. Kremer, and Katherine Rifiotis Slivensky

Ethan Morrison Greenberg

“If you know one thing about Ethan, it’s that you can always rely on him to show up with a good attitude and do an exceptional job.” —Nomination Statement

Ethan Morrison Greenberg was executive articles editor for the Michigan Law Review and a senior judge for Professor Christopher Knight in the First-Year Legal Practice program. He served as the treasurer for the Michigan Immigration and Labor Law Association and as the budget/admin chair for the Sentence Commutation Project. He also served as a judge chair on the executive board of the Henry M. Campbell Moot Court Competition during his 3L year after finishing as a semifinalist in the competition in his 2L year. During his second and third years, he was a research assistant for Professor Sanjukta Paul. Following graduation, he will clerk for the Hon. Amy M. Baggio on the US District Court for the District of Oregon.

Alex M. Kremer

“Alex is an unsung hero whose hard work is behind so many events and organizations at Michigan Law, and his leadership has made Michigan Law a better place.” —Nomination Statement

Alex M. Kremer was the managing editor for the Michigan Journal of Law Reform and was selected by the members of the journal to receive the Award for Exceptional Journal Service. He also served on the executive boards of the First-Year Information Program, Student Funded Fellowship Auction, Nannes 3L Challenge, and the 1L Oral Advocacy Competition (as logistics and outreach co-chair). During law school, he worked as a research assistant for Professor Nicholas Bagley and as a student-attorney in the Michigan Innocence Clinic for two years. Following graduation, he will clerk for the Hon. Matthew Brann, chief judge of the US District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, before joining Kirkland & Ellis in Chicago as an associate. 

Katherine Rifiotis Slivensky

“Katherine’s leadership has been a shining example at the Law School of how to communicate across differences. She leads by first listening and then acting. I’m so excited to see the impact Katherine will have on the legal community and the world in the years to come.” —Nomination Statement

Katherine Rifiotis Slivensky served as president of the Michigan Law Federalist Society (FedSoc). In this role, she led the chapter in inaugurating the Judge Joan Larsen Lecture, organizing a statewide FedSoc Michigan Chapters Banquet, and bidding for and successfully hosting the 44th Annual Federalist Society National Student Symposium. These efforts culminated in the chapter winning the national George Washington Award for Most Innovative FedSoc Chapter. Before that, Slivensky was the chapter’s membership development co-chair and also the 1L alumni relations representative for the Latinx Law Student Association. Slivensky externed at the US District Court for the Western District of Michigan for Chief Judge Hala Jarbou and worked as a student-attorney in the Human Trafficking and Immigration Clinic. Following graduation, Slivensky will be an associate at Jones Day in Chicago.