Medford Students Participate in Law Day With Sheriff

Twenty-one high school juniors and seniors from Middlesex County were honored for their commitment to public and community service and academic achievement at the annual Middlesex Law Day celebration, Middlesex District Attorney Marian T. Ryan and Middlesex Sheriff Peter Koutoujian announced recently.

The event highlighted civil rights under the theme “Realizing the Dream: Equality for All,” and discussed the civic duty of all citizens to end injustice, eliminate discrimination and put an end to violations of basic human rights.

Medford residents Nabonita Hoq from Medford High School and Austin Chinal from Matignon High School were among the recipients during the ceremony held at the Middlesex Superior Court.

“Middlesex Law Day is a great opportunity to show our young people what amazing opportunities can be found in public service,” said District Attorney Ryan. “I have been fortunate to spend my entire career working on behalf of the people of Middlesex County and I am so pleased to see such talented, civic-minded youth in our communities.”

“As Middlesex Sheriff – and a former assistant district attorney – I am incredibly proud of our criminal justice system in Middlesex County,” said Sheriff Koutoujian. “I hope some of the bright young juniors and seniors who were recognized on Law Day will pursue careers in this rewarding field.”

The students were selected to participate by their local school districts for displaying outstanding leadership, citizenship, academic and athletic accomplishments. District Attorney Ryan, Sheriff Koutoujian and Middlesex Bar Association President Philip Privitera presented the awards to the students. State Senator Sal DiDomenico also spoke at the event along with event honorees Judge Peter DiGangi, First Justice Probate and Family Court and Scott Wahle, educator/broadcasting personality. In addition, more than $10,000 in college scholarship money was awarded to students through the Francis P. Cullen Scholarships, donated by the Cullen family, and the Karen Lombard Memorial Scholarship, donated by former Middlesex District Attorney Gerry Leone.

District Attorney Ryan was appointed in April by Governor Deval Patrick. A dedicated public servant, District Attorney Ryan has spent her entire career with the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office, most recently serving as General Counsel and chief of the Elder/Disabled Abuse Prevention
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Unit. She is known not only for her prosecutorial skills and her courtroom experience having tried thousands of cases, but also for her dedication to victims, education, and violence prevention. District Attorney Ryan has fought to protect the elderly and developmentally disabled people who have been taken advantage of financially and physically abused and leads programs for school and college educators and administrators about safety, Title IX obligations to report and investigate gender bias and sexual harassment, and ways they can prevent bullying of vulnerable students.

Sheriff Koutoujian was elected to a four-year term as Sheriff in a special election last November, having previously been appointed to fill a vacancy in January 2011. A former Middlesex Assistant District Attorney and 14-year member of the state legislature from Waltham, he served as Chairman of the Joint Committee on Public Health. Since becoming Sheriff, he has implemented a series of reforms aimed at delivering needed support and services to Middlesex communities. He has also implemented programs designed to help protect seniors and children.

Middlesex County is the largest county in Massachusetts and one of the largest counties in the country with 54 towns and cities and 26 colleges in urban, suburban, and rural areas, comprising over one quarter of the population of Massachusetts. The Middlesex District Attorney’s Office has offices throughout the county, including communities such as Ayer, Cambridge, Concord, Framingham, Lowell, Malden, Marlborough, Natick, Newton, Somerville, Waltham and Woburn.

Pictured with Matignon High School student – and Medford resident – Austin Chinal are (from left) State Senator Sal DiDomenico, Middlesex District Attorney Marian T. Ryan, Middlesex Sheriff Peter J. Koutoujian, Middlesex County Bar Association President Philip Privitera and attorney David Lucas.

– Information and photo from Sheriff Koutoujian’s office