HCBA Award Recipients
Professionalism Award
The award is presented to an attorney who is a well-respected member of the legal community and exhibits integrity, competence, high ethical standards, career achievement and service to the bar and/or community. The individual must be licensed to practice law in the state of New Jersey, and have demonstrated outstanding character and continually displayed a firm commitment to the ideals of professionalism as epitomized in the NJ Commission on Professionalism in the Law’s Principles of Professionalism.
- 2024 Steven Karch
- 2023 Dennis Winegar
- 2022 Alisa Grossman
- 2022 Anthony Koester
- 2021 Michelle Cresti
- 2019 Sharon Ransavage
- 2018 John Gallina
- 2017 James Lance
- 2016 Therese Thompson
- 2015 Dawn Solari
- 2014 Mary Ann Bauer
- 2013 Robert Kuchinsky
- 2012 Robert Ballard
- 2011 Richard Conley
- 2010 Kevin Kilcommons
- 2009 Rosalyn Metzger
- 2008 Martha Gonzalez
- 2007 John Thatcher
- 2006 Donald Scholl
- 2005 Alison Dyer Trofimov
- 2004 Michael Sozansky
- 2003 Joseph Novak
- 2002 William Goodwin
- 2001 Richard Cushing
- 2000 Ann Bartlett
- 1999 Raymond Drake
- 1998 Anthony Rotunno
- 1997 Peter Jost
Trailblazer Award
This award recognizes an attorney whose significant contribution to the bar and the Hunterdon County legal community exemplifies such special merit so as to be worthy of official recognition. The attorney selected has advanced an area of the law in a unique and significant manner resulting in benefit to the practice of law in the county, the public good and/or a matter of important social concern.
- 2024 The Honorable Ann R. Bartlett, J.S.C. (ret.)
- 2023 Michelle Cresti
- 2022 David Culley
- 2021 Mary Ann Bauer
- 2020 Rosalyn Metzger
- 2019 William Goodwin
- 2018 Anthony Kearns
- 2017 The Honorable Marilyn Ryne Herr, J.S.C. (ret.).
Medal of Honor Nomination
The New Jersey State Bar Foundation’s Medal of Honor Award is given annually to lawyers and law-related professionals, as well as lay people, who best exemplify either or both of the following criteria:
- significant contribution to the advancement or improvement of the justice system or the betterment of the legal profession in New Jersey
- professional excellence as demonstrated by accomplishments in the law; or service to the profession and the community during their careers.
When appropriate, the Hunterdon County Bar Association prepares and submits a nomination for this very prestigious award.
- 2019 Nominee Rosalyn Metzger
- 2017 Nominee Anthony Murgatroyd
- 2016 Nominee and Award Recipient The Honorable Peter G. Verniero
Rising Star Award
This award is presented to an attorney who is less than 40 years of age or has practiced law less than 10 years. The attorney has made a significant contribution to the Hunterdon County legal community, including volunteerism, and has achieved recognition as an outstanding practitioner. The award recipient must be a past or current HCBA member.
- 2023 Taylor DeSantis
- 2022 Hyun Lee
- 2021 Christopher Vaccaro
- 2020 Kasia Zielinski
- 2019 Charles E. Ray
Lifetime Achievement Award
This award recognizes an attorney whose integrity, varied and numerous contributions, and professional achievements over the course of his or her extended legal career merit singular recognition. Awarded every other year, in even numbered years, beginning in 2020.
- 2024 Robert Shanahan, Jr.
- 2022 Joseph Novak
- 2020 Richard Cushing
Charles J. Hollenbeck Award
Presented by the New Jersey State Bar annually to a New Jersey attorney who is employed by a governmental agency or a nonprofit organization that serves the needs of the legal community and who has served with diligence, competence and dedication in the profession. When appropriate, the Hunterdon County Bar Association prepares and submits a nomination for this prestigious award.
- 2019 Nominee Alisa Grossman
Daniel O’Hern Award
Presented by the New Jersey State Bar annually to an experienced member of the bar of outstanding character who has continually displayed a firm commitment to the ideals of professionalism and is well respected in the legal community for integrity, competence, high ethical standards, career achievement and service to the bar and/or community. When appropriate, the Hunterdon County Bar Association prepares and submits a nomination for this prestigious award.
- 2019 Nominee Anthony Murgatroyd