Alumna provides gift to create Public Interest Law Award Penn State alumna Christie Tillapaugh made a gift to Penn State Law in University Park to create the Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg Public Interest Law Award. Image: Dentons Cohen & Grigsby law firm Alumna provides gift to create Public Interest Law Award January 12, 2021 UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – A Penn State alumna has recently made a gift to Penn State Law in University Park students who participate in the Public Interest Law Fund’s Summer Fellowship program. This program promotes the practice of law in the public interest arena. Christie Tillapaugh earned her bachelor’s degree in international politics from Penn State, 1999 and her juris doctor from Dickinson School of Law, 2002, serves on the Penn State Law Board of Advisors and mentors law students — including those pursuing public interest law. Her $25,000 gift will create an endowment known as the Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg Public Interest Law Award at Penn State Law. Consideration for this award will be given to law students enrolled in Penn State Law who are participants in the Public Interest Law Fund’s Summer Fellowship Program for one academic year.