Katharine and George Alexander have contributed $1,000,000 for the establishment of a Law Prize to be awarded annually on former Dean George Alexander’s birthday, March 8th, at Santa Clara University School of Law. The purpose of the prize is to recognize that person in the law who has, anywhere on the globe, used his or her skill, knowledge and abilities in the field of law to correct an injustice in a significant manner. The prize will be known as the Katharine and George Alexander Law Prize and will be given in perpetuity. The hope of the donors is that the Prize will not only give the public a higher regard for the legal profession but will also be an inspiration within the legal profession and a recognition of the good work of so many in the law.
Selection criteria will include factors such as the innovative nature of the programs or other activities undertaken, the courage and self-sacrifice required of the recipient, the sustainability of the programs the individual has implemented, the number of people benefited and any other indications that the recipient is committed in both heart and mind to alleviating injustice and inequity.
The recipient may be invited to participate in lectures and classes and serve as a teacher, mentor and scholar at the School of Law. She or he may elect to mentor a specific Santa Clara University Law student who has demonstrated his or her commitment to emulate the activities of the Prize Recipient.
The Dean of the Santa Clara University School of Law will annually select a Katharine and George Alexander Law Prize Committee (Selection Committee) including the Dean of the School of Law and two faculty members from among the senior tenured faculty of the School of Law. The Selection Committee shall solicit nominations for the Prize Recipient on an international basis, take appropriate actions to investigate nominees, and name an appropriate recipient for the Prize.
The Alexanders also donated $800,000 the SCU Law Center, which was renamed in their honor and is now the Katharine and George Alexander Community Law Center. The Law Center provides free civil legal services in a variety of areas to low-income individuals residing in Silicon Valley.
If you have questions or would like information on how to nominate an individual, please send an email to Alexanderprize@scu.edu or contact Professor Cynthia Mertens at 408.554.4025.
