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LYC Educator of the Year

BROOKLYN’S MADELEINE BRENNAN NAMED “EDUCATOR OF THE YEAR” BY STATE BAR ASSOCIATION’S LAW, YOUTH & CITIZENSHIP PROGRAM

Veteran educator honored for more than half a century of outstanding service as teacher and principal of Dyker Heights Junior High School

             (ALBANY, N.Y. – 5/5/09) —The New York State Bar Association’s Law, Youth & Citizenship Program today announced that Madeleine D. Brennan, principal of Dyker Heights Junior High School (IS 201) in Brooklyn, has been named Educator of the Year.  Ms. Brennan has served the New York City school system with distinction for 63 years – 46 as principal of Dyker Heights.  The award is presented on New York Teacher’s Day annually by the State Bar Association to an educator who has made an outstanding contribution to law-related and civic education.

             “For 63 years, Madeleine Brennan has been a dynamic leader, bringing out the best in her faculty and students.  Her life-long dedication to educating students and inspiring future leaders have led many of her former students to pursue education as a vocation,” said State Bar President Bernice K. Leber of New York (Arent Fox LLP).  “It is an honor to recognize Ms. Brennan’s truly exemplary career as an educator.”

            "Madeleine D. Brennan is a model of excellence for citizenship education, which is one of the most important parts of educating our children and future leaders.  Without good citizenship education programs, we cannot sustain the benefits of our democratic society,” said Past State Bar President and committee member A. Thomas Levin of Garden City (Meyer Suozzi English & Klein PC). “The Law, Youth & Citizenship Committee is pleased to acknowledge Ms. Brennan's outstanding work and dedication."

            The 22nd recipient of the award, Brennan is the longest serving principal in the New York City Department of Education.  A graduate of St. John’s University, she began her career as a teacher in 1946.  She was appointed principal of Dyker Heights Junior High School in 1963 after serving as an assistant principal in Queens Village.     

            Cited for her strong character and integrity, Brennan has been involved with numerous professional, civic and community organizations, such as the New York Academy of Public Education, the Middle School Principal’s Association, the National Council of Administrative Women in Education, the Dyker Heights Civic Association, the Bay Ridge Community Council and the Emerald Society.  She has been chairperson of the Friends of Music of New York City for 35 years.

            Brennan has received numerous awards from the Emerald Society, Middle School Principal’s Association, St. John’s School University of Education Alumni and was selected the New York City Principal of the Year by the National Association of Secondary School Principals in 1999.  Over the years, she has received many commendations from the Brooklyn Borough President, Mayor of the City of New York, Governor of the State of New York, and President of the United States of America.

            The Educator of the Year Award is presented to an educator who has made an outstanding contribution to law-related and civic education and whose voluntary service has fostered understanding of the values of our legal and judicial systems; informed and educated students; stimulated a deeper sense of individual responsibility by helping students recognize their duties, as well as their rights; encouraged effective law-related education programs in their communities and in their schools; and increased communication and understanding among students, educators and those involved professionally in the legal system.

            The 76,000-member New York State Bar Association is the largest voluntary state bar association in the nation.  Founded in 1876, the Association’s programs and activities have continuously served the public and improved the justice system for more than 130 years.


Brandon Vogel
Media Writer
New York State Bar Association
One Elk Street
Albany, NY 12207
Phone (518) 487-5535
Fax (518) 463-4276

LYC Attorney of the Year

ROCHESTER ATTORNEY WILLIAM G. BAUER HONORED BY STATE BAR FOR SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS TO ITS LAW, YOUTH & CITIZENSHIP PROGRAM

Distinguished Attorney Award recognizes Bauer’s commitment to the Monroe County Sydney R. Rubin Mock Trial Program and helping young people better understand our legal system
 
 ALBANY, NY - 10/01/09 —The New York State Bar Association’s Law, Youth & Citizenship (LYC) Program will present William G. Bauer of Rochester (Woods Oviatt Gilman LLP) with its Distinguished Attorney Award for his tireless dedication, unbridled enthusiasm and outstanding success in expanding the Monroe County Rubin Mock Trial Program, one of New York State’s oldest mock trial programs for high school students. 

The award, to be conferred on October 15, 2009 at the 33rd Annual LYC Civics and Law-Related Education Conference in Lake George, recognizes Bauer’s leadership over the course of the past seven years.  Through his efforts, hundreds of students in high schools across Monroe Country have had a unique opportunity to sharpen their critical thinking and speaking skills while gaining a greater understanding of New York’s legal system and becoming active community citizens. 

The Distinguished Attorney Award recognizes New York attorneys who make outstanding contributions to law-related education and whose voluntary service fosters an understanding of the values of our legal and judicial systems while educating students on the roles that the law, the courts, law enforcement agencies and the legal profession all play in society. The awardee also is acknowledged for his or her efforts to stimulate a deeper sense of individual responsibility by helping students recognize their duties, as well as their rights; to encourage effective law-related education programs in their communities and in their schools; and to increase communication and understanding among students, educators and those involved professionally in the legal system.

“As an active leader and volunteer in the Monroe County Mock Trial Program, William Bauer has been an exemplary educator and role model for hundreds of high school students, showing them the importance of the law in their daily lives while encouraging them to be active and engaged citizens,” said State Bar President Michael E. Getnick (Getnick Livingston Atkinson & Priore, LLP of Utica and of counsel to Getnick & Getnick of New York City). “The State Bar Association is pleased to honor Mr. Bauer’s dedication and guidance in shaping our future leaders and I congratulate him on winning this outstanding honor.”

In 2002, Bauer stepped in to take over the mock trial program when Dr. Peter W. Knapp retired after 26 years directing the program. During Bauer’s tenure, the program has expanded to more than 180 students in 12 high schools. “I really believe in the program. For students, it’s as good an experience as they could possibly get in what it’s like to be a trial lawyer,” said Bauer. “I am always impressed by the students’ dedication and devotion and grateful to members of the bench and bar for giving of their time.”

Bauer is a partner in Woods Oviatt Gilman LLP’s Labor & Employment and Litigation Departments. He concentrates his practice in general business and civil litigation, including corporate/partnership disputes, employment law, intellectual property, securities and federal court litigation. A graduate of the State University of New York at Brockport and of Albany Law School, Bauer previously served four years as a United States Magistrate Judge for the Western District of New York.

To nominate someone for the Law, Youth & Citizenship Program’s Distinguished Educator and Attorney/Justice of the Year Awards, please go to www.lycny.org .  The next nomination deadline is November 30, 2009.

The 76,000-member New York State Bar Association is the official statewide organization of lawyers in New York and the largest voluntary state bar association in the nation. Founded in 1876, State Bar programs and activities have continuously served the public and improved the justice system for more than 130 years.

Brandon J. Vogel
Media Writer, Department of Media Services & Public Affairs
New York State Bar Association



Related Files
Contest flier (Adobe PDF File)
mini-grant application (Adobe PDF File)