Assisting those with physical disabilities to excel in the legal profession.

Award Purpose

The fund pays tribute to, Honorable John R. Sticht, and is established for the purpose of providing assistance to disabled individuals who are striving for productivity and independence through careers in the legal profession.

Contributors to the Memorial

Procedures and Understandings

A $1,000 award will be distributed (pending Memorial funds availability) annually to the university that the student/alumni is applying from with designation to the awardees for general support of his/her success in legal studies and/or profession. A maximum of two awards of $1,000 each will be given annually.

Eligibility Requirements

This award is intended to assist those who have physical disabilities and are seeking to or are currently practicing in the legal profession; and

Attending or a graduate of University of Arizona or Arizona State University College of Law; and

Able to secure a recommendation from an Arizona University Professor of Law; and

Willing to submit a letter of application which will include information about him/her self and a brief narrative explaining why they are interested in the practice of law.

Previous award winners are eligible to re-apply.

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2010 Recipient: Karina Ordóñez

Karina will not allow the obstacles in her life to get in the way of her goals and believes they only make her stronger. In 2007, she was diagnosed with Valley Fever during her journey towards taking the LSAT. In 2008, she was accepted to Arizona State University, Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law. Her goal as a law student, currently a one-L, and a future attorney is to continue her professional development through service in Maricopa County, particularly in National Security Affairs. Her main reasons in choosing this career path are to make a difference one person at a time and to empower others to move this community forward in this ever-changing time. This summer she will study abroad at the Guanajuato Summer Law Institute in Mexico. When she returns, she will extern for Judge Heilman at the Maricopa County Superior Court. In the fall, she will extern for the Eloy Immigration Court. She feels all these experiences and future endeavors will continue to broaden her awareness of the societal needs and help advance justice.

2008 Recipient: Florin Ivan

Mr. Ivan determined to do everything he could to overcome the constraints imposed by his disability. He and his parents emigrated from Europe shortly after he was diagnosed with muscular dystrophy. In addition to adapting to a new language, he had to adapt to progressively losing mobility and, finally, to using a wheelchair. His love of the law brought him to law school after receiving his MBA. Mr. Ivan performs volunteer legal research for a multi-county low income housing initiative, and contributes to the Arizona Justice Project. He enjoys helping others, and hopes that what he does will make a difference in his community.

2007 Recipient: Ketti McCormick

Ms. McCormick is not only known for her determination and resourcefulness, but also for her strength of character and amazing sense of humor.

After graduating from the University of Arizona in 1997, she began working at the Yuma County Attorneys' office Criminal Division and fell in love with the work, for its mixture of law and social work.

Currently she works for Davis Miles law firm in Mesa and is also licensed to practice law in New Mexico and California. Though her diabetes left her blind in 1986, she states she feels blessed to live in a time with so many ways to deal with being blind.

2006 Recipient: W. Patrick Kincaid

Mr. Kincaid was disabled in combat during the Gulf war after being exposed to a nerve agent called Sarin. The VA has given him a 60 percent disability rating. The disability and post-war trauma led to Mr. Kincaid being homeless for several years. Despite overcoming homelessness, disabilities, and cultural barriers–he is Native American and the first of his family to attend college–Mr. Kincaid currently attends ASU's law school. He does not attend law school in hopes of a lucrative career, but so that he can be a strong advocate for the community, both Native and non-Native. He has advocated for homeless programs, is a Sacred Land advocate on the national level, was a youth counselor and mentor for troubled youth, and is currently involved in the landmark case to protect the San Francisco Peaks.