The recipient of the 2009 LRE Citizen of the Year is Christopher Ryan Lowery of Columbia.

Lowery participated in the mock trial program while a student at Hand Middle School. As a high school student, he has dedicated his time to serving behind the scenes at state mock trial competitions. Lowery has committed countless hours to both the middle school and high school mock trial state competitions for the past four- and- a- half years.

Lowery will be graduating high school with a 4.3 GPA and has been accepted to Clemson University to pursue a degree in Landscape Architecture.

Each year, a South Carolina citizen who has either been nominated or self- nominated is awarded with the LRE Citizen of the Year Award. The recipient of this award is one who has fostered public understanding of the values of our legal and judicial system; stimulated a deeper sense of individual responsibility by helping students recognize their legal duties and rights; encouraged and supported effective LRE programs; and increased communication among students, educators and those working in the legal system.

The South Carolina Bar's LRE Division, which was developed to improve the ability of teachers to instruct law related education, has been a part of the Bar since 1976.