George H.W. Bush Lifetime of Leadership Award

George H.W. Bush Lifetime Leadership Awardee

Carole Stanyar

  • Class
    1978
  • Induction
    2017
  • Sport(s)
    Basketball, Softball, Volleyball


graduated as the second leading scorer in the women's basketball program's history. She was the first captain of the volleyball team in 1978 and played softball in 1977 and 1978 as a club sport before it achieved varsity status. She hit the first home run in Yale softball history. Stanyar played volleyball, basketball, and softball at Yale. StanyarCarole M.

After graduation, Stanyar earned her JD from Boston College Law. Carole Stanyar is presently one of Michigan's most celebrated trial and appellate attorneys. She was awarded the "Champion of Justice" award by the Michigan State Bar for an extraordinary professional accomplishment that benefits the nation. She was lead counsel for the successful plaintiffs in DeBoer v. Snyder. which involved a historical trial challenging the ban on same-sex marriage, and culminated in the United States Supreme Court's decision declaring marriage a fundamental right for same-sex couples and outlawing marriage bans nationwide as unconstitutional.

Among her other prominent cases are an appearnace before the U.S. Supreme Court on a Fourth Amendment search and siezure issue (Michigan v. Chesternut) and the defense of a police officer accused of murder in the line of duty (People v. Walter Budzyn). In addition, she has done groundbreaking work in defending abuse victims and victims suffering from post-partum psychosis.

In 2016, she helped secure the release of three children jailed in connection with their parent's divorce case, in a case which ultimately resulted in the judge being disciplined for misconduct and violating the children's constitutional rights (Tshimhoni v. Tishmoni).

Carole Stanyar has shown deep commitment to public service, serving as a child advocate and working with groups in Michigan and elsewhere which focus on the prevention of discrimination.
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