MABF - Scholars

2009 SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS

MABF General Scholarship Winners (L to R) Lisa Alarcon (UCLA '11),
Angela Belty (Loyola '11), Ginette Brown (USC '10), Jose Rodriguez (USC '11),
Joel Marrero (UCLA '10), Rolando Gonzalez (Southwestern '12), Jacqueline Serna (UCLA '10),
Denisse Gastelum (Loyola '11) and Janina Verano (Pepperdine '10)
with MABF Founding President Alicia Villarreal.

In Alphabetical Order:

LISA ALARCON SIDLEY AUSTIN LLP SCHOLAR
UCLA School of Law, Class of 2011
Lisa is a graduate of Stanford University who is the first in her family to graduate from a university or pursue post-graduate education. Her goal is to give back to the community using her attorney skills. Having worked as a housing specialist for a non-profit organization and a legal assistant in a law firm serving low-income clientele, she seeks to pursue a public interest career working on employment and civil rights issues. She is an associate editor of the Chicano/a Latino/a Law Review and a member of the La Raza Law Students Association.

MATTHEW BARRAGAN HERNANDEZ-STERN PUBLIC INTEREST SCHOLAR
UCLA School of Law, Class of 2011
A native of Delano, California in the Central Valley, Matthew graduated in political science from UCLA, where he was active mentoring Chicano students and interned in Senator Boxer’s office in Washington, D.C. He worked on both the Chicano/a Latino/A Law Review and the Journal of Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Law as well as volunteering for the Prisoner Re-Entry Clinic. He is very grateful for those who helped him as an undergraduate and law student and is fully committed to a future in public service.

ANGELA M. BELTY O’MELVENY & MYERS LLP SCHOLAR
Loyola Law School, Class of 2011
Angela is the first member of her family to graduate from a university and attend law school. She attended the University of California, San Diego where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science with honors. She was also a resident assistant and academic tutor in Biology, Algebra, History and Spanish. As a result of her studies, she developed an interest in immigration law and has studied international human rights issues abroad, including in Mexico where she volunteered at an orphanage. This summer, she will be studying in Costa Rica, volunteering at the Los Angeles Family Law Help Center and performing a judicial externship with the Honorable Fred J. Fujioka.

GINETTE BROWN O’MELVENY & MYERS LLP SCHOLAR
USC Law School, Class of 2010
Ginette is originally from San Antonio, Texas and has spent the majority of her life moving around as part of a military family. She earned her B.A. in Journalism from Middle Tennessee State University and then went on to complete her Master of Education degree at Arizona State University. Prior to Law School, Ginette taught middle school as part of Teach For America and worked for a public television station. She served as Co-Chair for USC La Raza and will serve as a 3L advisor to the organization next year. Ginette has a personal commitment to creating opportunities for youth and is an active member of USC’s Street Law organization. Ginette intends to pursue a career in litigation upon completing law school next year.

EDITH CASTANEDA
Loyola Law School, Class of 2011
Edith was her high school’s valedictorian in the Coachella Valley senior class of 505 students and the first in her family to attend college and law school. She graduated from Claremont McKenna College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Government and Sociology. While there, she participated in the Kravis Leadership Camp and Cultural Diversity Admissions Team. She was also awarded Miss Coachella in 2004. This summer she will be working full time at the Bet Tzedek Legal Center assisting senior citizens with law related issues.

JACQUELYN N. GARCIA PAUL, HASTINGS, JANOFSKY & WALKER LLP SCHOLAR
Loyola Law School, Class of 2011
Jacquelyn graduated cum laude from Loyola Marymount University, received the Golden Apple Award in Modern Latin American Studies and was awarded an academic merit scholarship to Loyola Law School. She is a first generation Columbian-American dedicated to becoming the first attorney in her family. She also volunteers as an after-school program tutor and companion/assistant to an elderly woman named Mary. This summer she will be studying abroad in Costa Rica, volunteering at the Self Help Program, performing a judicial externship with a Superior Court Judge in Rancho Cucamonga and working as a research assistant to Loyola Professor Michael Waterstone.

DENISSE O. GASTELUM WAL-MART STORES, INC. SCHOLAR
Loyola Law School, Class of 2011
Denisse attended University of California, Los Angeles and worked at a variety of jobs to assist her family after her father became seriously ill. While there, she was on the Dean’s List, served as President of Sigma Delta Sigma and volunteered at the Hollygrove Orphanage. At Loyola, she discovered a passion for corporate law and hopes to become an influential Latina attorney in the corporate law sector. This summer she will be working with a civil litigator gaining experience in the areas of personal injury, employment and contract law.

MARTHA GOMEZ
UCLA School of Law, Class of 2010
Martha knew that she “loved my Mexican culture, my family, my religious tradition and the idea of America.” She also realized that she was “going to make my parents proud and I would show my community that a life of dignity, opportunity, social mobility, and self-fulfillment did exist for us.” Little did she know that her personal initiative and hard work would lead to a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Loyola Marymount University, 2003, a Masters degree in Theology from the Harvard Divinity School, 2005, and the study of Law at UCLA. She has worked with homeless in Santa Monica, volunteered at Juvenile Hall in Los Angeles, and worked at the Greenling Institute on Public Policy issues. She is also interested in assisting the incarcerated and to serve as counsel to underrepresented communities.

ROLANDO GONZALEZ GIBSON, DUNN & CRUTCHER LLP SCHOLAR
Southwestern Law School, Class of 2012
Rolando is the first member of his family to graduate from a university and attend law school to leverage his experiences in engineering and advance to intellectual property law. Roland has an M.S. in Electrical Engineering from USC and a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from the University of California, Irvine. While attending law school, Rolando is a patent agent specializing in patent preparation and prosecution of domestic and international patent portfolios. Prior to his legal career, Rolando spent seven years as a digital design engineer in the aerospace defense industry working for Northrop Grumman and Mykotronx designing integrated circuits for advanced communication satellites. Rolando has aspirations in becoming a patent attorney and to continue empowering younger Latinos.

KEVIN M. KEELAND LATINO PROSECUTORS FOUNDATION SCHOLAR
Loyola Law School, Class of 2011
Kevin attended University of Southern California where he graduated cum laude and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree. While there, he was on the Dean’s List, a member of the Latino Honor Society, volunteered in many community organizations and was a rugby team member. Simultaneously, he worked as a student worker/law clerk for the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office where he developed an interest in becoming a prosecutor. This summer he will be a federal judicial extern to the Honorable Ronald S.W. Lew.

IAN LARSON
Southwestern Law School, Class of 2010
Ian attended UCLA where he received summa cum laude graduation honors for a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science with an emphasis in international relations. While attending UCLA, he spent a summer abroad developing his understanding of international governmental bodies such as NATO and The United Nations. As a result of his studies, he developed an interest and has continued to study international human rights issues. This fall, he will be participating in the Southwestern Law School Street Law Clinic where he will teach young adolescent students legal information that will assist them in a successful transition to adulthood.

GEORGINA LEPE ZOE C. PFAEFFLE MEMORIAL SCHOLAR
Southwestern Law School, Class of 2010
Georgina is the first member of her family to attend law school. She attended California State Polytechnic University, Pomona where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration, with an emphasis in business Law. While at cal Poly Pomona, she was a member of the Mock Trial Team and volunteered at the Pomona Self-Help Legal Access Center. At Southwestern Law School, she has been a Teacher’s Assistant and Research Assistant to Contract’s Professor Danielle Hart, and held an externship position at Universal Music Group. This summer she will be in Buenos Aires, Argentina completing an externship at the Federal District Court, and will continue conducting research.

JOEL MARRERO VERIZON WIRELESS SCHOLAR
UCLA School of Law, Class of 2010
Joel graduated from Columbia University in 2003, where he was active in Latino organizations. Upon graduating from Columbia, he worked three years as an investigator at the New York City Civilian Complaint Review Board and the New York Stock Exchange Regulation handling compliance and customer complaints. During this past year, Joel has served as co-editor-in-chief of the Chicano/a Latino/a Law Review. After law school, he hopes to work in government in a prosecutorial or regulatory capacity.

KATHERINE OJEDA STEWART HERNANDEZ-STERN PUBLIC INTEREST SCHOLAR
UCLA School of Law, Class of 2010
A graduate of Ohio State University, 2005, in Latino/a Studies and Spanish, Katherine obtained her Masters degree in ethic studies at San Francisco State University in 2007. She enrolled in the UCLA School of Law Critical Race Studies Specialization Program based on her background promoting the public interest, including immigrant and economic justice and combating violence directed against Latinas. She intends to pursue a career in legal public interest to ensure better legal access, advocacy and education for people of color and women. She begins achieving this goal this summer with an internship with the Harriet Buhai Center for Family Law in Los Angeles.

CHRISTINA PENA EDWARD ROYBAL AND ROMONA GODOY SCHOLAR
USC Law School, Class of 2011
Christina’s family is originally from Michoacan, Mexico and she is the first in her family to attend law school. She double majored in Comparative Literature and Spanish from UC Berkeley and has just completed her first year at USC Law. She volunteered with The Wage Justice Center assisting low income workers in recouping unpaid wages from exploitative employers and next year, she will be Community Service Chair for La Raza. This summer she will be externing with Justice Carlos Moreno at the California Supreme Court and plans on eventually dedicating her career to public service.

JOSE RODRIGUEZ SHEPPARD MULLIN RICHTER & HAMPTON LLP SCHOLAR
USC Law School, Class of 2011
Jose Rodriguez graduated from the University of California at Berkeley in 2008 with Bachelor of Science degrees in Nuclear Engineering and Mechanical Engineering. During his internships at General Electric, Jose developed nuclear reactor maintenance techniques, updated steam turbine piping, and researched patents with in-house counsel. When not enjoying casebooks, Jose rides sports bikes, reads technology blogs, and listens to good music.

ZARIEL RUIZ MARY A. CAMUNEZ-LONG MEMORIAL SCHOLAR
Southwestern Law School, Class of 2012
Zariel was born and raised by her single mother of four in East Los Angeles where she is part of the first generation in her family to attend a university. She earned her B.A. in Mass Communication with a minor in Creative Writing from the University of California, Berkeley. While at Southwestern Law, she has been honored as a recipient of the John J. Schumacher Minority Leadership Award as well as the Cali Law Excellence Award for achieving the highest grad in Contracts. Prior to entering law school, she worked in various entertainment companies including NBC Universal, Creative Artists Agency and Lifetime Television. She is currently a legal extern for Universal Pictures Music and will be studying abroad in Costa Rica this summer at the University for Peach in Ciudad Colon.

JACQUELINE SERNA GREENBERG TRAURIG LLP SCHOLAR
UCLA School of Law, Class of 2010
Jacqueline was an active member of MEChA and a mentor tutoring students in Latinas Guiding Latinas de UCLA as an undergraduate, UCLA 2006, before embarking on a path that she hopes leads to a career in public interest law. Born of Mexican immigrant parents, raised in Boyle Heights and attending Roosevelt High School in East Los Angeles, she comprehends that the tools of a legal education can be utilized to realize her community’s needs for representation in government and policy-making arenas and meet the great need to have more Latinos in the law where we can serve as advocates for the community. She hopes to utilize the law to effect social change and resolve human rights issues.

JULIA VAZQUEZ HERNANDEZ-STERN PUBLIC INTEREST SCHOLAR
UCLA School of Law, Class of 2010
Julia holds Bachelors and Masters of Education degrees from UCLA. During her two years at the UCLA School of Law, she has made time to be Co-Chair of the La Raza Law Students Association, Associate Editor of the Chicano/a Latino/a Law Review, a board member of the Immigration Law Society and volunteered at the El Centro Detention Center Clinic. She is dedicated to working for immigrants’ rights and aspires to utilize her legal education to be an advocate for justice in traditionally underserved communities.

RACHEL VAZQUEZ HERNANDEZ-STERN PUBLIC INTEREST SCHOLAR
UCLA School of Law, Class of 2010
Rachel is determined to use her legal education to make a difference. Determination is her guiding principle. Entered law school with a toddler in tow, she gave birth to her second child during her first year of legal studies. After participation in the Honors Program at the University of California, Santa Barbara, Class of 2004, she took some time off to work in telecommunications and start raising a family. She has been active in programs aiding Latinas and volunteered at the UCLA El Centro Legal Immigration Detention Clinic project. She intends to work on immigration and other issues affecting Latinos. She feels a strong responsibility to use the law to better her community.

JANINA VERANO WHITE & CASE LLP SCHOLAR
Pepperdine School of Law, Class of 2010
The daughter of Peruvian immigrants, Janina received her Bachelor’s degree in Sociology and History from UCR IN 2004. Ms. Verano spent one year of her studies at the University of Barcelona, Spain. A member of the Golden Key Honor Society, Janina worked as an Outreach Counselor in the Relations with Schools Department at UCR to outreach to socio-economically disadvantaged schools. Janino continued this work at CSUN where she partnered with the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund and the Hispanic Scholarship fund. During her legal studies Janina has received the Witkin Award for Academic Excellence and the Greenwald Endowed Scholarship. This summer, Janina will be an intern at the Hardcore Gang Unit of the District Attorney’s Office in Los Angeles, and plans to continue work in Criminal Law.

CINDY VILLANUEVA
UCLA School of Law, Class of 2010
Growing up in Los Angeles, Cindy graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the University of California, Irvine while living at home with her parents and commuting to school. As the daughter of Mexican immigrants and the first in her family to graduate from college, she is proud of her Mexican heritage and eager to put her legal education to work on immigration issues and assist vulnerable communities.

NICOLE VONGEHANGLOR
Southwestern Law School, Class of 2011
Nicole attended the University of California, Riverside where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration and a minor in Philosophy. While at Southwestern Law School, she has been honored as a recipient of the John J. Schumacher Minority Leadership Scholarship for the past two years. Nicole is looking forward to serving as Academic Affairs Director of the Southwestern Latino Law Student Association. This summer she will be working as a law clerk at the Children’s Law Center of Los Angeles.

2008 SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS

MABF General Scholarship Fund Winners (L to R) Veronica Gomez (USC '09),
Celida Miramontes (Loyola '09), Ashely Ruiz (Loyola '09), Sherrie Albin (Loyola '09),
Nidya Aldana (Pepperdine '09), Linda Echegaray (Pepperdine '10),
Miriam Ali (Southwestern '09), Franklin Jiron (Southwestern '09),
Sara Lee (Southwestern '09), Isela Barrios (Southwestern '09),
and Emma Gonzalez (USC '09).

In Alphabetical Order
* = repeat scholar

SHERRIE K. ALBIN
Loyola Law School, Class of 2009
Sherrie is the first person in her family to attend law school. She is one of four children raised by a single parent. She graduated from UC Irvine and received her bachelor’s degree in Criminology, Law and Society. She worked full-time in various fields since she was seventeen years old and never planned to pursue higher education. She intends to pursue a career as a public defender.

MATIAS ALCARAZ, JR. AKIN GUMP STRAUSS HAUER & FELD LLP SCHOLARSHIP
Loyola Law School, Class of 2010
Matias graduated Magna Cum Laude from California State University Fullerton in 2006 with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Criminal Justice. While there, he was on the Dean’s List and a member of the National Honor Society and Pi Sigma Alpha. He also participated in the College Legal Clinic. After graduation, Matias worked for the Los Angeles County Probation-Camp Rockey, in San Dimas where he developed his interest in the juvenile justice system. Matias’ future goal is to work as a public defender.

NIDYA P. ALDANA
Pepperdine School of Law, Class of 2009
Nidya attended Pepperdine University where she graduated magna cum laude with a double major in Religion and Intercultural Communications. Having interned at the Alliance for Children’s Rights, Nidya decided to pursue a career in law, to help fill the need in the community for Spanish speaking attorneys. Nidya has participated in the Latin American Law Students Association and her case note on special education law was published in the Journal of the National Association of Administrative Law Judges. Nidya plans to defend the educational rights of Angelino children of all races and physical/ mental abilities. This summer she will be working at Learning Rights Law Center.

MIRIAM Y. ALI
Southwestern Law School, Class of 2009
Miriam is the first member of her family to graduate from a university and attend law school. She attended Loyola Marymount University where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science in spring 2006 and co founded the LMU Pre-Law Society and Mock Trial Team. While at Southwestern, she has been honored as a recipient of the John J. Schumacher Minority Leadership Scholarship for the past two years. Last summer, she participated in the London Abroad Program where she studied International Entertainment Law. She externed for Universal Studios as a law clerk in fall 2007. Miriam served as Alumni Relations and Social co-chair of the Southwestern Latino Law Student Association this past year and looks forward to assuming her role as Co-President of the organization for the upcoming year.

*ISELA C. BARRIOS MARY A. CAMUÑEZ-LONG MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP
Southwestern Law School, Class of 2009
Isela is currently a second year law student at Southwestern Law School. This summer she will be working at Children’s Law Center of Los Angeles as a law clerk. In the past, she has clerked for the Los Angeles County Public Defender’s office and the Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles. Prior to going to law school, she worked at Ernst & Young LLP and Arthur Andersen LLP as a business research associate. She graduated from California State University, Los Angeles with a major in Business Administration and a minor in Economics. She was born in Guatemala and immigrated with her family to the United States when she was ten years old. She became a young parent just before graduating high school and is now the proud mother of 11 year old Melanie. Isela states, “Melanie continues to impress me with her academic achievements, especially her consistent honor roll performance.”

RUDOLPH E. BRANDES              SHEPPARD MULLIN RICHTER & HAMPTON LLP SCHOLARSHIP
Southwestern Law School, Class of 2009
In 2005 Rudy graduated cum laude from UCLA where he received a degree in Political Science with a concentration in International Relations. While in law school, he wrote an article entitled: "Who's Afraid of Universal Jurisdiction; the Fujimori Case." The article will be published in the Southwestern Journal of International Law and examines the international law implications of the recent Chilean Supreme Court decision to extradite Alberto Fujimori, former president of Peru. As vice president for the Tax Law Society (2007-2008), Rudy helped manage the completion of 130 tax returns for low-income people in the Los Angeles community. Rudy was also recently accepted into the 2008 Summer Honors Law Program at the Securities & Exchange Commission where he will serve as a law clerk in the Division of Enforcement.

LINDA R. ECHEGARAY
Pepperdine School of Law, Class of 2010
Linda is from Texas, and graduated from LSU in 2000 with a BA in English and Minors in Chemistry and Classical Civilizations. Linda volunteers as a Biology and Chemistry tutor for Webster Elementary, where her daughter attends school. Next year, she will act as Treasurer for the Latin American Law Students Assn. and PR Chair for the Women’s Legal Assn. at Pepperdine. Her past activities include an internship with the White House Council on Environmental Quality in 1998, State Public Affairs Committee Chair for the Junior League of Daytona Beach, and County Delegate for Flagler County Education Association. Linda plans to practice either Special Education Law or Environmental Law after graduation.

FELICIA A. ESCOBAR                                 NORTHROP GRUMMAN CORPORATION SCHOLARSHIP
UCLA School of Law, Class of 2010
Felicia received her B.A. in Sociology and Ethnicity, Race and Migration from Yale University and her Masters of Public Policy from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government with a concentration in Human Resources, Labor, and Education policy. Felicia served as a member of Senator Ken Salazar’s inaugural policy team. She also served as Associate Director of the Democratic Steering and Outreach Committee under former Senate Democratic Leader Tom Daschle and Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton. She also worked as a Policy Fellow for Senator Patty Murray. She is Executive Editor of the UCLA Chicana/o-Latina/o Law Review, External Relations Co-Chair of La Raza Law Students Association, and Events Co-Chair of the American Constitution Society’s Student Chapter.

JUAN JOSE GIL                                                                      O’MELVENY & MYERS LLP SCHOLARSHIP
Southwestern Law School, Class of 2009
Juan distinguished himself as a leader long before deciding to pursue a career in law. A Mexican immigrant, Juan attended the prestigious United States Naval Academy, earning a bachelor science degree in engineering, and attained the rank of lieutenant commander in the United States Navy. Juan combined his leadership qualities with a Master’s degree in Business Administration to achieve successful careers in the fields of engineering and corporate management. As a law student, Juan not only maintains an outstanding GPA, but also volunteers his time to serve the community and to tutor other law students.

MARTHA L. GÓMEZ                                   HERNANDEZ-STERN PUBLIC INTEREST SCHOLARSHIP
UCLA School of Law, Class of 2010
Martha was born in Compton, CA and attended Loyola Marymount University, where she obtained a B.A. in Psychology and a minor in Theology in 2003. She attended the Harvard School of Divinity in Cambridge, MA where she obtained her masters in Theology and Ethics. She then returned to California and taught Psychology and Religion at the high school level. Today she is pursuing her J.D. from UCLA School of Law, where she has worked as the Associate Editor for the Chicano/Latino Law Review and volunteered for the Violence Against Women Act Clinic. She was recently elected as the 2008-2009 Co-Chair of La Raza Law Students Association.

VERONICA E. GOMEZ
USC Law School, Class of 2009
Veronica attended UCLA where she was a sports reporter/anchor/producer for UCLA Television and received a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology in 2003. After graduation, she worked at Adelphia Communication in the regional office working in community affairs, events and sponsorships for the company. At USC, she has been a staff member on the Interdisciplinary Law Journal, Public Relations for La Raza Law Student Association, and Treasurer for the Middle Eastern South Asian Law Association. She also serves on the board of the Mexican American Bar Association as student trustee. She volunteered at both the Los Angeles County Public Defender’s Office and the Federal Public Defender’s Office in Los Angeles. This summer she will work at Stone, Rosenblatt, and Cha in Woodland Hills.

*EMMA ELIZABETH A. GONZALEZ
USC Law School, Class of 2009
In her second year of law school at the USC Gould School of Law, Elizabeth spent most of her time working in the USC Immigration Clinic. Elizabeth also served as the Recruitment Chair for the La Raza Law Students Association and as an Auction Co-Chair for the Public Interest Law Foundation. Her other activities include the Hale Moot Court Honors Program and the Legal Aid Alternatives Breaks Project, which enabled her to do legal aid work in New Orleans for a second spring break. After spending her summer at Loeb & Loeb LLP, she is looking forward to serving as the Student Admissions Representative on the USC Law Admissions Committee, in hopes of doing more to increase the numbers of law students of color at USC.

MARIBEL GONZALEZ                               HERNANDEZ-STERN PUBLIC INTEREST SCHOLARSHIP
UCLA School of Law, Class of 2010
An honors UCLA graduate and Masters in education from Pace University coupled with two years experience in Teach for America in New York City and tutoring children, would seemingly identify Maribel as a sure candidate to be a future leader in the education field. But her experiences being raised in a Mexican immigrant family in the inner city of Los Angeles and witnessing the results of institutional and educational neglect in her community Maribel was inspired to chose a legal career that will enable her to advocate for the less fortunate and improve the effectiveness of the legal system to serve all.

*VANESSA V. GUZMAN                                                                  VERIZON WIRELESS SCHOLARSHIP
Pepperdine School of Law, Class of 2009
Before entering law school, Vanessa was an instructor for people with developmental disabilities and became involved in the animal rights movement and became a member of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. In law school, Vanessa has become President of the Latin American Law Student Association and Vice President for Advocates for Public Interest Law. She has shown her commitment to public interest by working with domestic violence victims for the family law unit of the Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles.

FRANKLIN S. JIRON
Southwestern Law School, Class of 2009
Franklin was born in Nicaragua and immigrated with his family when he was seven. As a young boy he wanted to be a scientist, which eventually led him to attend Caltech. While at Caltech his dissatisfaction with tenuous laboratory work, coupled with the encouragement from a professor teaching an intellectual property law course made him decide on a career change. He is interested in practicing patent law, but has recently taken an interest in consumer class actions as part of his current employment at Kabateck Brown & Kellner. Franklin has been involved with groups such as the National Lawyers Guild, Neighborhood Legal Services, and the Puente Project.

ENRIQUE M. JUAREZ                                   LATINO PROSECUTORS FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIP
Southwestern Law School, Class of 2009
Enrique was born and raised in South Central Los Angeles to immigrant parents who instilled in him the passion for education and public service. After graduating from the University of Southern California, Enrique spent nine years working for elected officials serving as a liaison between disenfranchised communities and government agencies. Enrique holds a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from California State University Los Angeles. Before beginning his legal studies at Southwestern Law School, Enrique worked at a community based non-profit organization where he advocated for improved access to quality healthcare for uninsured populations. He intends to pursue a career with the District Attorney’s Office.

SARA J. LEE
Southwestern Law School, Class of 2009
Sara is the daughter of Guatemalan immigrants raised in the City of North Hollywood. She is also a wife and mother of a beautiful baby girl. As an undergraduate, she attended Cal State University Northridge where she received a degree in Business Administration. While at Southwestern Law School, she has been a member of both the Moot Court Honors Program and Law Journal. This summer, she will be a law clerk for Bet Tzedek House of Justice where she will assist in litigation against home equity theft. After law school, her goal is to become a public interest attorney.

*JOSE MACIAS                                                                                     WHITE & CASE LLP SCHOLARSHIP
UCLA School of Law, Class of 2009
Jose split his childhood between Jalisco, Mexico and downtown San Jose, California. He graduated Cum Laude from Santa Clara University and received a B.A. in Political Science and English. Last summer, he was a summer associate in the employment and general business litigation department of the Devito Law Group in San Francisco. Jose is currently the Editor-in-Chief of the Chicana/o-Latina/o Law Review and is in the process of writing a comment, documenting the rise of Latino Specialty Law Reviews. Also, he is Co-Chair of Recruitment for the La Raza Law Students Association. He hopes to pursue a career in general litigation while continuing his commitment to the Latino community.

CELIDA B. MIRAMONTES
Loyola Law School, Class of 2009
Celida was born and raised in Long Beach, California. Her parents immigrated from Zacatecas, Mexico in 1974. She graduated with honors from UC Irvine, and received the Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Research in 2002. After earning her social science teaching credential, she taught World History and U.S. History at Centennial High School in Compton. Last semester she completed an externship with the ACLU of Southern California. She is currently a law clerk for the Los Angeles County Public Defender's Office.

YOLANDA OCHOA                                                                           SIDLEY AUSTIN LLP SCHOLARSHIP
UCLA School of Law, Class of 2009
Yolanda is a first generation Mexican-American and the first in her family to attend college. She has lived in the City of Commerce for most of her life. She graduated from Stanford University in 2003 with a BA in Science, Technology, & Society, and an MA in Education. For her master’s thesis, she studied variables that affect attrition/retention rates of Latinos in college engineering programs. She is currently a managing editor for the Chicano/Latino Law Review. This summer she will be working as a summer associate for Sidley Austin in its Downtown Los Angeles office.

KATHERINE OJEDA STEWART             HERNANDEZ-STERN PUBLIC INTEREST SCHOLARSHIP
UCLA School of Law, Class of 2010
Katie attained her Master’s Degree in Ethnic Studies at San Francisco State University focusing on the intersection between welfare policy and immigrant women of color. She interned with an unpaid wage clinic at La Raza Centro Legal. Katie is also involved with INCITE! Women of Color Against Violence. This summer Katie will be traveling to New Orleans with a group of UCLA Law Students to volunteer at the Worker’s Center for Racial Justice. She will also begin her summer work with the Harriett Buhai Center for Family Law. Next year, she will sit on the boards of SHARE JD, La Raza Law Students Association, and the Chicano/a Latino/a Law Review. Katie plans on continuing with anti-violence work doing both direct service work and community empowerment through movement building.

*VILMA PALMA                                                                                 MAYER BROWN LLP SCHOLARSHIP
UCLA School of Law, Class of 2009
Vilma was born in El Salvador and raised in the Coachella Valley where her single mother worked in fruit and vegetable fields. She attended the University of California at Irvine and devoted many hours to COSMOS, a math and science program for high school students. Prior to starting law school in 2006, she was an intern in the Orange County Public Defender's Office. During the past Spring semester Vilma assisted a client in filing an asylum application and supporting documents through UCLA's Immigration Law Clinic. She is currently a Summer Associate at the Los Angeles office of Perkins Coie LLP. During the Fall semester Vilma will complete an externship in the chambers of Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Wallace Tashima.

CINDY PANUCO                                                                       WAL-MART STORES, INC. SCHOLARSHIP
Loyola Law School, Class of 2009
Cindy was the first in her family to go to college (USC) and will soon be the first attorney in her entire family of abuelos, tios, tias, primos and primas. After graduating from USC and before law school, she worked as a Legislative Assistant in the Washington, DC office of Congressman Xavier Becerra. At Loyola Law School, Cindy will serve as the Co-President of La Raza De Loyola. She is also a member of Loyola's Trial Advocacy Team which is nationally ranked #6 by U.S. News and World Report. Last summer Cindy volunteered on an almost full time basis with the Immigration Center for Women and Children and this summer she will be working in the Los Angeles office of the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund.

AURELIA MAYORGA RAZO                    HERNANDEZ-STERN PUBLIC INTEREST SCHOLARSHIP
UCLA School of Law, Class of 2010
Aurelia grew up in Santa Maria, California with her supportive parents Hugo and Dolores Razo, and caring siblings, Micaela and Hugo. She received her B.A. in English at the University of California at Irvine, with the Humanities Scholastic Merit Award. Aurelia has recently finished her first year at UCLA School of Law. She is also an El Centro Legal Clinic Immigration Detention Center volunteer, where she works with immigration issues and asylum seeking detainees. This summer Aurelia will be working as a law clerk for the Coalition to Abolish Slavery and Trafficking. “I would like to take this opportunity to thank my parents for the many sacrifices they have made so that I could reach my dreams.”

ASHLEY L. RUIZ
Loyola Law School, Class of 2009
Ashley grew up in Riverside California. After completing high school, Ashley went on to pursue a BA in Sociology at the University of California, Berkeley where she developed a great interest for serving the indigent population. Ashley is currently a rising 3L at Loyola Law School and plans to pursue a career in public interest work, primarily serving indigent youth and children.

JACQUELINE SERNA                                 HERNANDEZ-STERN PUBLIC INTEREST SCHOLARSHIP
UCLA School of Law, Class of 2010
Jacqueline is a native of Boyle Heights. She graduated cum laude from UCLA with a double major in History and Chicana/o Studies. While at UCLA Jacqueline was selected as the Chancellor's Blue & Gold Scholar. She also had the opportunity to study Spanish in Puebla, Mexico and travel throughout Europe. These experiences helped her realize she wanted to work as an international human rights attorney. She received the Cesar E. Chavez Leadership Award for Community Service in 2005 and the Student Bar Association Scholarship in 2007. Presently, she participates as an Associate Editor for the Chicano Latino Law Review. This summer she will serve as a legal intern for the Coalition to Abolish Slavery and Trafficking .

RACHEL J. VAZQUEZ                                HERNANDEZ-STERN PUBLIC INTEREST SCHOLARSHIP
UCLA School of Law, Class of 2010
Rachel is determined to use her legal education to make a difference. After participating in the Honors Program at the University of California, Santa Barbara, Class of 2004, she worked in the telecommunications industry and made time to raise her two children. Also, she volunteered at the UCLA El Centro Legal Immigration Detention Clinic Project and intends to continue working on immigration and other issues affecting Latinos. She states, “I am determined to fight for the dignity of my family and community. Being a mother, a Latina, a woman, and a member of the legal community, I have the responsibility to better my community and the lives of those around me.”

CINDY A. VILLANUEVA                                                                       TOM UNTERMAN SCHOLARSHIP
UCLA School of Law, Class of 2010
Cindy was raised in El Sereno and Granada Hills, CA. She is the middle child of two Mexican immigrant parents. She attended University of California, Irvine, and majored in Political Science, Chicano/LatinoStudies and International Studies. She graduated magna cum laude in 2006. This Fall, she will be a second year law student and is the co-recruitment chair of the La Raza Law Student Association. She is interested in pursuing a career in immigration law and will be a federal district court extern for Judge Gutierrez, this Summer.