Anna Maria Sicenica honored with prestigious Louis Del Duca Memorial Award

Sicenica’s career as a student at Duquesne Kline has been met with success, and this is one of many honors she earned. Others include the CALI Award for the highest grade in Legal Research & Writing (Fall and Spring), Business Associations, and Immigration Law. She has excelled in her Business and Contracts classes, which have cultivated her passion for this field.

Additionally, Sicenica has served as a Teaching Assistant in Legal Research & Writing for Professor April Milburn-Knizner during the last two years at the Duquesne Kline School of Law. 

“Anna Maria could not be more deserving of this prestigious award. Not only has she excelled academically, Anna Maria never turns down an opportunity to serve, both here at Duquesne-Kline and in her community. She embodies our law school’s mission of promoting the highest ideals of our profession, and uniquely combines her superior legal knowledge and skill with compassion and empathy,” said Milburn-Knizner.

During this past year, Sicenica also served as President of the Appellate Moot Court Board, and the Production Editor for the Duquesne Law Review, and thrived in those roles.

“Working with 1Ls and 2Ls in these roles has been the highlight of my law school experience, as I have loved getting to know the students and seeing their progression in their writing and oral advocacy,” she said.

Sicenica, who is from Croatia, also has a heart for service. She has been volunteering with the Special Olympics since 2015 after receiving notification the Croatia team was down a volunteer. 

“After receiving that call, I flew out to LA to help during the World Games as one of Team Croatia’s Delegation Liaisons. Those weeks working and living with the athletes were the busiest–but most rewarding of my life. I served as an interpreter for the athletes, coaches, trainers, and Special Olympic coordinators, helped make sure the athletes had everything they needed, and coordinated events for the athletes outside of their events,” she said.

In 2019, Sicenica officially joined the National Federation of Croatian Americans Cultural Foundation (NFCACF), which is Team Croatia’s number one donor. Since, she has served as the NFCACF’s Secretary and co-chair for the Events Committee, working on Special Olympics fundraising events. 

“I’m happy to say that the NFCACF has raised more money this year than we have ever before. This push has been to help support the team which is heading to the Special Olympics World Games occurring in Berlin this June! If it wasn’t for bar preparation, I would fly to Germany and support them, but I nonetheless hope to visit the team when I go to Croatia later in the year,” she said. 

Her service extends far beyond the Special Olympics. She was drawn to Duquesne Kline School of Law for its Spiritan mission, and her passion for it has been reflected in her work. 

“The school’s Spiritan roots reflect an evident dedication to serving the city's disadvantaged. This mission continues today, as there is still a core commitment to helping and serving others. In particular, pro bono work is encouraged at the law school through its numerous clinics and volunteer opportunities. For example, through the school, I was able to take part in the Unemployment Compensation Clinic and directly work with clients in need of free legal services,” Sicenica said. 

After graduation and taking the bar, Sicenica plans on traveling with friends and visiting her family in Croatia. Then, in the fall, she plans to return to McGuireWoods in their Pittsburgh office, where she had her summer associate position last summer. 

“I am fortunate to learn from and work for the debt finance group at McGuireWoods and continue my pro bono work there,” she said.