YLD Award of Merit
The YLD Award of Merit is annually bestowed upon an individual(s) whose contributions to the legal community have made a significant impact on the lives of young attorneys in this state or across the country. Tackling the issue of law school debt, volunteering for the mock trial program or working to ensure young lawyers have access to quality mentors are some examples of the dedication for which previous award winners have been recognized.
Past YLD Award of Merit recipients:
- 1975 – Allen Brennecke, Marshalltown
- 1976 – W. Don Brittin, Jr., Des Moines
- 1977 – Edgar Jones, Des Moines
- 1978 – John Shors, Des Moines
- 1979 – Mike Huston, Des Moines
- 1980 – Edgar Hansell, Des Moines
- 1981 – John Bickel, Cedar Rapids
- 1982 – Marvin Duckworth, Des Moines
- 1983 – Dennis Gray, Council Bluffs
- 1984 – George Fagg, Des Moines
- 1985 – Edward Jones, Des Moines
- 1986 – John Lloyd, Osceola
- 1987 – William Scherle, Des Moines
- 1988 – Carroll Reasoner, Cedar Rapids
- 1989 – Mary Lynn Neuhaus, Dubuque
- 1990 – Thomas Henderson, Des Moines
- 1991 – Lylea Critelli, Des Moines
- 1992 – Nan Horvat, Des Moines
- 1993 – Terrance Tobin, Des Moines
- 1994 – Kirk Hartung, Des Moines
- 1995 – Andrea Beacham, Dubuque
- 1996 – Joseph Thornton, Council Bluffs
- 1997 – Martha Fagg, Des Moines
- 1998 – Edgar Hansell, Des Moines
- 1999 – Alan Olson, Des Moines
- 2000 – James Carney, Des Moines
- 2001 – Roger Stetson, Des Moines
- 2002 – Patricia Notch, Indianola
- 2003 – Angela Lange, Des Moines and Deanna Clingan-Fischer, Ankeny
- 2004 – Elisabeth Reynoldson, Osceola
- 2005 – Emily Hughes, Chicago
- 2006 – Debora Neumeyer, Cedar Rapids and Gregory Neumeyer, Cedar Rapids
- 2007 – Timothy Semelroth, Cedar Rapids
- 2008 – Robert Livingston, Council Bluffs
- 2009 – Alison Werner Smith, Iowa City
- 2010 – Tracy Deutmeyer, Ankeny
- 2011 – Bridget Penick, Des Moines
- 2012 – Dawn Boucher, Des Moines
- 2013 – Matthew McDermott, Des Moines
- 2014 – Kathleen Law, Des Moines
- 2015 – Emily Anderson, Cedar Rapids, and Anna Mundy, Des Moines
- 2016 – Dr. Brian Farrell, Iowa City
- 2017 – Harry Shipley, Des Moines
- 2018 – Laura Folkerts, Waterloo
- 2019 – Kyle Fry, Muscatine and Kyle McEntee, Cary, NC
- 2020 – Chief Justice Mark Cady, Des Moines (awarded posthumously)
- 2021 – Gabe Walsh, West Des Moines and Abhay Nadipuram, West Des Moines
- 2022 – Christina Thompson, Des Moines and Joseph Ferrentino, Des Moines
- 2023 – Joseph Lubben, Clive and Mariah Sukalski, Des Moines
- 2024 – Malycki Manon-Sosa, Des Moines
- 2025 – Joshua Hughes, Des Moines and Jordan Nickerson, Ankeny
- 2026 – Aaron Jones, Des Moines, Olivia Brooks, Des Moines, and Ame Mapes, Des Moines
