John J Ross Award

John J. Ross Memorial Award for Excellence in Law-Related Education

This award recognizes exceptional contributions of Arizona educators in furthering understanding of the role of the law in our democratic society.

Nominations are due March 1st and are to include:
Nominee's name;
Nominee's School;
Nominee's address & other contact information;
Award for which they are being nominated
Nominator's contact information;
Summary of their characteristics, experiences, and service that qualifies them for the award;
and support letters from others may be included.

Submit Nomination

2024 awardees

Angelica Abbey
Frye Elementary

James Madison Legacy Project Expansion, Kids Voting ArizonaWe the People
Maricopa County

 

Larry Lopes
Country Place Leadership Academy

Mock Trial, We the People, Teen Court
Maricopa County

Jennifer Marlow
University High School

Pima County

Andrew Mercer
Gila Ridge High School

 

YumaCounty

 

2023 awardees

Gabriela Curiel
Desert View Middle School

Mock TrialiCivics
Yuma County

 

Elayna Direnfeld
BASIS Oro Valley

Mock TrialiCivics
Pima County

Read about Elayna

Paul Hrovat
Desert Foothills Junior High School 

Mock TrialiCivicsKids VotingWe the People

Maricopa County

 
Sheela Shukla
Percy L. Julian School

Teen Court

Maricopa County

 

2022 awardees

Dave Beery

Mingus Union High School 

Mock Trial
Yavapai 
County

 

Erin Eisen

Verrado High School 

Teen Court

Maricopa County

 

Janet Emond 

Desert Mountain High School 

Kids Voting, Teen Court

Maricopa County


Cassandra Thomas 

Desert Christian School

Mock Trial

Pima County

 

2021 awardees

Bonnie Hickman
Patterson Elementary
Program: We the People, Project CitizenKids Voting Arizona
Maricopa County

 

Jill Maner
Capps Middle School
Program: We the People, & Kids Voting Arizona
Navajo County

 

 Jennifer Roberts
Empire High School
Program: Mock Trial
Pima County

 

Shannon Sweat
Desert Edge High School
Program: We the PeopleProject CitizenICivics & Kids Voting Arizona
Maricopa County
 

 

2020 awardees

Eric Alvarez
Glenn L. Downs Elementary
We the People
Maricopa County

Joshua Guidote
Cibola High School
Mock Trial
Yuma County

Roger Lyman
Carson Junior High
Kids Voting
Maricopa County

Jeremy Samoy
Tanque Verde High School
Mock Trial
Pima County

2019 awardees

Tara Bartlett
Carson Jr. High School
Program: We the PeopleKids Voting & Project Citizen
Maricopa County

Joshua Guidote
Cibola High School
Program: Mock Trial
Yuma County

Bill Stewart
Santa Maria Middle School
Program: We the People
Maricopa County

Richard Zamorano
Sunnyside School District 
Program: Mock Trial & We the People
Pima County

 

2018 awardees

Harrison Chislock 
Prescott High School
Program: We the People
Yavapai County

Jake Harvey 
Hamilton High School
Program: We the People
Maricopa County

Matthew Smith
South MountainHigh School
Program: We the People
Maricopa County

Daniel Young 
The Gregory School
Program: Mock Trial
Pima County

 

2017 awardees

Warren Burda 
Sunnyside High School
Program: We the PeopleProject Citizen, Student Congress 
Pima County

Dr. Mary Ellen Halvorson 
Tri-City College Prep High School
Program: Mock Trial, CSI, Project Citizen, and Kids Voting 
Yavapai County

Melinda Newman
Pan-American Charter School
Program: We the People
Maricopa County

Mandy Wright
Gilbert Classical Academy
Program:We the People
Maricopa County

 

2016 Awardees

Officer Nathan Goetz
Santa Maria Middle School
Program: School Safety Program 
Maricopa County

Janice Koenig 
Dysart High School
Program: Mock TrialTeen Court
Maricopa County

Brenda Lee 
Prescott High School
Program: Mock TrialTeen CourtWe the People 
Yavapai County

Erika Sparlin 
Coronado K-8 School
Program: ICIVICS 
Pima County

2015 Awardees

Shari Anton
Shadow Mountain High School
Program: CSI

Anna Van Zile 
Payson High School
Program: Mock Trial

Norma Jean M Higuera-Trask 
Challenger Middle School
Program: We the People

Jenifer Meadows
Walker Butte K-8
Program: ICIVICS

2014 Awardees

Becky Fitch Franklin Phonetic Primary School

Heather Matchett Lineweaver Elementary

Michael Dillon Metro Tech High School

Ofc. Matt Blech Bogle Junior High School

2013 Awardees

Ellyssa Eiring Copper Basin

Dawn Burstyn-Meyers Salt River Elementary

Wiley Popovich Smith Junior High

Justina Powell Thunderbolt Middle School

2012 Awardees

Bill Young - Mohave County Probation Department

Officer John Talley - Alhambra High School

Amy Price - Sonoran Heights Middle School

Terry Green - Blue Ridge High School

2011 Awardees

Officer Shawn Benjamin - Canyon Del Oro High School

Jill Benza - Skyline High School

Jaime Festa-Daigle - Lake Havasu High School

Eric Miller - Joseph City Junior and Senior High School

2010 Awardees

Elaine Potes - Centennial Middle School - Yuma 

Felipe Navarro - Somerton Middle School - Somerton 

Natalio Sabal - Douglas High School - Douglas 

David Nach - Mountain Pointe High School - Phoenix 

2009 Awardees

Marc Crowley - Jess Schwartz College Prep - Phoenix 

Mark Goligoski - Prescott High School  - Prescott

Nona Hanson - Benson Middle School - Benson 

Charlene Roll - South Mountain High School - Phoenix 

2008 Awardees

George Colebrook - Landmark Middle School - Glendale

Lisa Flores - Cactus Middle School - Casa Grande

John Cosden - Xavier High School - Phoenix

Patrick McAndrew - University High School - Tucson

2007 Awardees

Jim Maner - Capps Middle School - Heber

Jim Norman - Hamilton High School - Chandler

2006 Awardees

John Nitka - Palo Verde Magnet High School - Tucson
Rich Curtin - Palo Verde Middle School - Phoenix

2005 Awardees

Cheri Bludau- Tucson Unified School District - Tucson
Duane Phifer - Desert Sands Middle School - Phoenix
John Halverson - Desert Sands Middle School - Phoenix

2004 Awardees

Charlene Roll - South Mountain High School - Phoenix
Lisa Adams - Corona del Sol High School - Tempe
Lori Rodriguez - East Globe School - Globe
Phyllis Wolfskill/Cindy Pickett - Sinagua High School - Flagstaff

2003 Awardees

Patricia Downing - Crane Middle School, Yuma
Abby Dupke -  Dobson High School, Mesa
Dave Franquero -  Globe High School, Globe
Tim Smith -  Corona del Sol High School, Tempe

2002 Awardees

Cathy Currier - Sahuaro High School (Tucson)
Michael Spears - Hamilton High School (Chandler)

2001 Awardees

Darla Johnson - Bradshaw Mountain High School
Arlie Hunt Anderson - Junior High School, Chandler
Robin Andre, Shelly Baker and Georgia Davidson  - Mile High Middle School, Yavapai County

2000 Awardees

Tammy Waller - Mountain Ridge High School, Glendale

1999 Awardees

Julie McCall - Madison #1 Middle School, Phoenix
Nancy Haas - ASU West, Phoenix
Kathy Williams - Dobson High School, Mesa
Sarah Cromer - South Beaver Elementary, Flagstaff

1998 Awardees

Jody Arnold - Liberty Elementary School, Buckeye
Judy Cox - Thornydale Elementary School, Tucson
Marilyn Easton - Thornydale Elementary School, Tucson
Elnora Johnson - Blue Ridge School District, Lakeside
Janet Thor - Centennial Middle School, Phoenix

1997 Awardees

Katheryn Hedges - Deer Valley High School, Phoenix
Betsyann Wilson - Thornydale Elementary School, Tucson

1996 Awardees

Connie R. Boulton - Wilson Primary School, Phoenix

1995 Awardees

William Graham - Tempe High School, Tempe
W. Dorrean Walker - Prescott High School, Prescott

1994 Awardees

Mildred (dede) Havens - Buena High School, Sierra Vista
Mary Jo Hilpert - South Mountain High School, Phoenix
Mary Platt - St John's High School, St. Johns
George Thomson - Nogales High School, Nogales

1993 Awardees

Norma Jean Coulter - Madison #1 School, Phoenix
Paula Olson - Esperanza School, Tucson

1992 Awardees

Darlene Speaker - Creighton Middle School, Phoenix
Lorene Ely - South Mountain High School, Phoenix
Ron Trent - Amphitheater High School, Tucson
Elnora Johnson - Blue Ridge Junior High School, Lakeside

1991 Awardees

Tom Foster - Mountain View High School, Mesa
Kathy Hedges - Deer Valley High School, Phoenix
Winifred McAter - Flowing Wells High School, Tucson
George Thomson - Nogales High School, Nogales

1990 Awardees

Richard C. Brown - South Mountain High School, Phoenix
Augie Zito - Paradise Valley High School, Phoenix
Towne Bishop - Rincon High School, Tucson
John Yanez - Miami High School, Miami

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