2022 Recipient

My name is Mackenzie and I am 24 years old and from Phoenix, Arizona! I am finishing my last year of law school at Arizona State University. After graduation, I will be tackling the bar exam and returning to Nevada for my legal career. Before law school, I went to the University of Nevada, Reno where I double majored in political science and international affairs. Curiously, I did not meet Ryan in a poli-sci class or even on campus. Instead, I met Ryan while flying to Las Vegas for the last game of my college soccer season when I was a freshman in undergrad. Ryan and I just happened to be sitting next to each other on the plane. While it is a short flight, those 45 minutes did provide enough time to initiate a friendship with Ryan. For the next few years, I was able to get to know a thoughtful, witty, creative, and passionate individual. His love of learning was contagious.  And he was one of those people who inspires you to laugh harder, think more, and dig deeper.

I had the opportunity to bring these lessons with me through undergrad and into law school. And as I reflect on my time in college, I cannot help but take note of the time Ryan entered my life. Like many young people, I found myself amidst the uncertainty and anxiety of choosing a career path.  These worries were eroding my long-standing intent to go to law school; I had decided from a young age that I wanted to work in the profession. Yet, the flurry of suggestions and warnings battered me off the path for a bit.

Ryan urged me to get back on that path. He did so deliberately. He encouraged me to continue studying for the LSAT and to seek out internships in the legal sphere. More crucially, however, Ryan’s mere spirit was a strong impetus. Through his curiosity, Ryan reminded me that I should never cease learning. Nor should I shy away from hard questions, hard discussions, or hard endeavors. His playfulness reminded me that the joy lies in the learning, not the knowing. His (occasional?) stubbornness let me know that I could do all of this with confidence.

Of course, his love of learning and curiosity were only a few of his many gifts. But I think they were received in a season in my life when I was supposed to. I am so extraordinarily grateful for the Lipparelli family’s generosity and the opportunity to keep that gift alive. I am honored to finish this last lap of my education in his name. 

Mackenzie