Notre Dame Law School announces Class of 2024 Top Academic Awards

Notre Dame Law School is pleased to announce the top three academic awards for the Class of 2024: The Colonel William J. Hoynes Award, the Dean Joseph O'Meara Award, and the Farabaugh Prize. These honors represent the highest academic distinctions that the Law School bestows, proudly recognizing three outstanding students in the 2024 graduating class.

Christopher Ostertag
The Colonel William J. Hoynes Award

Named after Notre Dame Law School’s first dean, the Hoynes Award is the Law School’s highest honor. It is given to a graduating student who displays outstanding scholarship, application, deportment, and achievement.

While at Notre Dame Law School, Chris served as a staff editor for the Notre Dame Law Review, an oralist for the Seventh Circuit Team on the Moot Court Board, and as a student fellow for the Notre Dame Law School Religious Liberty Initiative.

During his first year summer, Chris was a judicial intern for the Honorable Stephanos Bibas of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. He spent his second year summer with Sullivan & Cromwell LLP.

Chris received twelve faculty awards for excellence, was a member of the Dean’s Circle for the 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 academic years, and was a Champions for Justice Medal recipient.

Beginning this fall, Chris will serve as a law clerk for the Honorable Julius Richardson of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.

Timothy Steininger
The Dean Joseph O'Meara Award

The Notre Dame Law School Class of 1964 established the Dean Joseph O'Meara Award to annually recognize a member of the graduating class for outstanding academic achievement.

While he was at Notre Dame Law School, Tim served as the executive notes editor for the Notre Dame Law Review, a student fellow in the Notre Dame Law School Religious Liberty Initiative, an assistant rector in Alumni Hall, and a teaching assistant for Professor A.J. Bellia in Constitutional Law.

During his first year summer, Tim interned for Chief Judge Sara Darrow for the Central District of Illinois and served as a research assistant for Professor Avishalom Tor. After his second year, he completed a summer associate position with Shook, Hardy & Bacon in Chicago.

Tim received eight faculty awards for excellence and was a member of the Dean’s Circle for the 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 academic years.

Post-graduation, Tim will clerk for the Honorable Paul V. Niemeyer on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.

William Clark
The Farabaugh Prize

First awarded in 1927, the Farabaugh Prize was established by Gallitzin A. Farabaugh, a local South Bend attorney, and meant to recognize a member of the graduating class who displays high scholarship in law.

As a student at Notre Dame Law School, Will served as executive managing editor for the Notre Dame Law Review, as treasurer and clerkship director for the Federalist Society, a student fellow in the Notre Dame Law School Religious Liberty Initiative, and was a brief writer for the Moot Court Board.

He externed for the Honorable Michael T. Liburdi of the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona during his first year summer and was a summer associate at Faegre Drinker in Indianapolis after his second year.

Will received two faculty awards for excellence and was a member of the Dean’s Circle for the 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 academic years, and was recognized with the A. Harold Weber Moot Court Award.

Post-graduation, Will will clerk for the Honorable Michael B. Brennan on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit.