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

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\u27s 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\u27s 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\u27s 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\u27s what she does naturally, without thinking, and eagerly. Gross is a 1993 graduate of Peninsula Catholic High School. She holds a bachelor\u27s degree in psychology from William and Mary and a master\u27s in social work from Virginia Commonwealth University. She is currently working with Georgia Legal Services in Gainesville, Ga., as a staff attorney. #