25th Annual Harpole Awards

Amitav Kamani ’24 and Beth Englander

April marked the 25th anniversary of the Joyce Ann Harpole Awards. Past Harpole Scholarship recipient Akriti Bhargava ’22, flew in from Harvard to be the emcee for the evening and Dr. Robin Holmes-Sullivan, President of Lewis & Clark College, gave an inspirational keynote on the importance of work-life balance.

2023 Harpole Attorney Award

Beth Englander practices law at the Oregon Law Center where she is the statewide expert on administrative law and public benefits that, “for low-income people, can mean the difference between shelter and homelessness, food and hunger, medical care or chronic illness,” writes Emily Fox, her colleague at the Oregon Law Center. “Beth has put in long hours, counseling and advocating for countless clients in truly desperate circumstances. Although her work is emotionally heavy … Beth is best described as a happy warrior. She somehow maintains an upbeat attitude and a wry sense of humor through it all.”

2023 Harpole Scholarship

Throughout law school, Amitav Kamani ’24, has been a passionate advocate for environmental issues, as well as diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts. He is fully dedicated to anything he is involved with—including hobbies and friendships. One of his fellow classmates and roommate, Jaycie Thaemert ’24, says, “Amitav demonstrates a delight for life by taking law school seriously, but realizing that there is more to law school at the same time.” In addition to providing emotional support to his friends and studying law, he plays soccer, piano and video games. “Amitav tries (and succeeds!) at making everyone feel welcome and I don’t know anyone at the law school who would disagree with that statement,” says Thaemert.

To mark its 25th anniversary, the Oregon State Bar published an article in the April 2023 issue on the award.