The University of Wisconsin Law School emerged victorious over the UW School of Medicine and Public Health this fall in the 2006 Dean’s Cup competition between the two schools. The Law School tallied a final score of 214.5 points, compared with the Medical School’s 140.5 points.
Law School Dean Ken Davis accepted the trophy from Robert Golden, Dean of the Medical School, at a ceremony in the Law School atrium in October 2006. After remarking, “This is the only athletic trophy I will ever hold in my lifetime,” Davis added in a more serious vein, “This cup means a lot to me personally because it is a barometer of the level of student engagement we have at the Law School.”
The annual Dean's Cup competition between the schools of law and medicine originated in 1995, when a group of student organizers borrowed the idea from a similar competition at the University of Miami. The UW students added the distinctive Wisconsin element of a charitable component to the competition.
At the Law School, the Student Bar Association (SBA) takes charge of organizing students and promoting events. Scheduled competitions include a full range of sports and games including darts, bowling, football, euchre, and Mario Cart, to name only a few. SBA members Neil Layton, Adam Loomans and Sina Javaherian coordinated efforts with medical school organizers Joe Wildenberg and Teresa Diaz, both second-year medical students. Assistant Dean Mike Hall, Director of Admissions and a former SBA president himself, contributed countless hours to the effort.
As an innovation this year, the Law School named a male and female Most Valuable Player who embodied the spirit and attitude of the Dean's Cup. Second-year law students Dan Sperling and Brenda Mayrack were named MVPs based on participation in events and general enthusiasm for the Dean's Cup competition and the Law School. Sperling led the Law School to three victories as a captain and participated in almost every event. When not participating, he was always at the event cheering others on. Mayrack helped lead the Law School to wins in softball, soccer, and volleyball, and helped recruit women for all events.
The Dean’s Cup events foster camaraderie between the two schools while making important contributions to local charities. Traditionally, the Dean's Cup has helped to support the Ronald McDonald House and Madison Rape Crisis center. This year the Dean's Cup raised more than $2,000 to support those charities and, additionally, proceeds from the Change Drive and the upcoming Malpractice Ball will go to support a child in need through the Children's Organ Transplant Association. So far, the two schools have combined to raise more than $800 for a chosen transplant recipient.
Law School participants were delighted to welcome back the Dean’s Cup Trophy for the first time in three years.
Submitted by on November 6, 2006
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