The USC Gould School of Law recently honored Stephanie Cirone of Thousand Oaks with the Mason C. Brown Award, which recognizes top law students involved in public service and trial work.

As vice president of USC Law's Public Interest Legal Foundation, Cirone traveled to New Orleans for a third time over spring break this year to offer legal advice to residents who lost their homes in the hurricane.

She also worked in the Orleans Public Defenders Office and in South Africa where she worked in nonprofit law focusing on women's empowerment, educational programs and AIDS counseling.

She has worked in USC Law's Post Conviction Justice Project and has been involved in Hale Moot Court.

The award is given to two students who show the greatest commitment to public interest endeavors, with a particular talent for trial work.

Cirone, who will graduate from USC Law this month, received her undergraduate degree in history and English from UCLA in 2005.