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LOCAL UGA STUDENT HONORED AT GRADUATION [Melissa L. Gross]

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Friday, June 28, 2002

WRITER: Heidi Murphy, 706/542-5172, hmurphy@uga.edu CONTACT: Heidi Murphy, 706/542-5172, hmurphy@uga.edu

LOCAL UGA STUDENT HONORED AT GRADUATION

ATHENS, Ga. - Newport News, Va., native Melissa L. Gross, a May 2002 graduate of the University of Georgia School of Law, has received the law school's Ellen Jordan Award for Public Interest Law. The award recognizes exceptional commitment to and achievement in the practice of public interest law. It is named for the late Ellen Jordan, a former UGA law professor and associate dean who also served as associate vice president for academic affairs at the University of Georgia.

During her time in law school, Gross participated in several of the school's public interest offerings. She worked for four semesters in the Public Interest Practicum and was a fellow in the program last summer. She served in the school's Family Violence Clinic. As part of a civil clinic externship, she worked at the Hispanic Outreach Office of the Atlanta Legal Aid Society. In addition, she earned a fellowship to work at the Atlanta office of the ACLU.

In nominating Gross, a fellow student wrote, "For most of us, public service is something that we do when we have time and can spare the energy. For Melissa Gross, service is a central part of who she is. It's what she does naturally, without thinking, and eagerly."

Gross is a 1993 graduate of Peninsula Catholic High School. She holds a bachelor's degree in psychology from William and Mary and a master's in social work from Virginia Commonwealth University. She is currently working with Georgia Legal Services in Gainesville, Ga., as a staff attorney.

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