27th Annual Harpole Awards & Ceremony

On April 2nd, members of the Joyce Ann Harpole Committee, supporters, friends and family of the Harpole recipients, celebrated another year of the Joyce Ann Harpole Awards, marking this the 27th year. Harpole Committee Member, Nellie Barnard ’12, was the emcee for the evening.

Retired Oregon Circuit Court judge Henry Kantor ’79 spoke and recalled his memories of his former classmate, Joyce. Keynote speaker, Oregon District Court Judge John Acosta, was ill but asked committee member Dana Sullivan to deliver his remarks describing ten take-away lessons for work life balance along with his memories of Joyce Ann Harpole, whom he met at Stoel Rives – in the Fall of 1987.

Dean Alicia Ouellette thanked the Harpole committee for its meaningful financial help for our students for the last 27 years. “Joyce Harpole scholarship exemplifies what our law school and law students stand for – the importance of community,” noting that recipients are nominated by their peers.

The 2025 Harpole Attorney Award recipient is Kristen West McCall ’06, a partner at Johnson McCall LLP, practicing in areas of elder abuse and neglect. ​​Often described by judges as “fierce” and “a delight,” her nominator wrote that she is both. Her professionalism and strong advocacy are inextricably bound. Her commitment to fairness lies in her commitment to stand up for those who have been hurt. [McCall] has taken cases that few will.” Her practice focuses on elderly victims and her motto is simply, “I don’t want this to ever happen to anyone else.”

Her nominator described how McCall is equally dedicated to her family and community life as well. In addition to managing her own firm and supporting her family, she does pro bono work and community service, and takes care of herself and her own mental health. Another nominator wrote, “Kristen manages this balance with careful planning and dedication. She works hard during work hours, and only in the rarest of circumstances bleeds work over into home and family time. She sticks to a schedule, and is routine-oriented, which allows her to draw and keep bright lines between work and home. She takes vacations throughout the year, and takes unplanned time off when circumstances indicate that she should.” In short, “Kristen shows us that discipline, routine, and boundaries are the key to this balance.”

The 2025 Harpole Scholarship Award recipient is Katie Jahangiri ’26, a 2L law student. During her 1L year, Jahangiri balanced a full-time role managing an international team of sales people while getting stellar grades. During her second year, she quit her paying job to serve as a certified law student at Metropolitan Public Defenders, working 30+ hours a week. One of her classmates overheard her say that she had six trials in one semester and that she’s “truly able to look her clients in the eye and say that she has done everything she can to protect their rights.” She is one of the Lead Article Editors for the 2025 Lewis & Clark Law Review. With all of this, though, Jahangiri noted that her most challenging and rewarding role is that of a parent. Her son is “lively, hilarious, and sometimes mischievous 10-year-old”

“Katie is one of the top students in our class,” wrote one of her classmates and co-nominator, “but you wouldn’t know it based on the humility with which she approaches every course and every study session. Nor does she hoard or gate-keep success. Katie is always the first to extend a hand and invite folks to join our study sessions.”

To contribute to the Joyce Ann Harpole Memorial Scholarship to support more students like Katie, please click here. To see more photos from the event, click here. For more information about all the past Harpole Award winners, click here.