NFPA Press Release
Susan Witherspoon, RP
PACE Coordinator
PACE@paralegals.orgApril 10, 2003
CIPRIANI AND CINCINNATI ASSOCIATION RECOGNIZED
The National Federation of Paralegal Associations (NFPA) is pleased to announce the selection of the Cincinnati Paralegal Association and its PACE Ambassador Reneé Rothweiler Cipriani, RP, as recipient of the 2003 PACE Ambassador Award. The award recognizes an NFPA member association that has made superior efforts in developing its local PACE Ambassador program to promote the Paralegal Advanced Competency Exam (PACE) to its members and its local legal community. The award was presented at NFPA's annual convention in Newport, Rhode Island.
Cipriani was one of the first two paralegals in the association to earn her RP designation, and she wrote an article which was published in the National Paralegal Reporter describing her study experiences. She has been her association's PACE Ambassador since 1998, developing study materials that have been shared with associations throughout the nation. The association has a library of PACE reference materials available to study groups and offers PACE scholarships. It has obtained a vendor sponsor for PACE marketing that has prepared PACE posters displayed at all association events. A brochure on PACE is included in each packet sent to a new member of the Cincinnati association. "Ms. Cipriani is a tremendous advocate of the PACE program, and her success is evident," wrote association president José Pedro Santos in the association's nominating letter. Among its 193 active members, the association has 14 Registered Paralegals, the highest number of any association in Ohio.
In her acceptance speech, Cipriani stated that she is fortunate to have as colleagues some of the brightest individuals in the profession: Carolyn Saenz, Deborah McKinney, RP, Kim Nichols, RP, and Betty Zimpfer, RP, whom she thanked for their leadership guidance.
NFPA developed the PACE exam to set a standard for our profession and to pioneer the expansion of paralegal roles. Cipriani wanted to be a part of that, and having served her association as its PACE Ambassador has given her that opportunity. Cipriani believes a national standard of competency is crucial to ensure the ongoing growth and strength of our profession. Education has been and should remain the central focus of NFPA and the PACE exam.
NFPA is a not-for-profit association with the largest number of individual paralegal members in the nation. NFPA is headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri. NFPA is the national voice and the standard for excellence for the paralegal profession through its work on the issues of regulation, ethics and education.
