 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
2005-2006 SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS
In alphabetical order:
Yvonne Ballesteros
YVONNE BALLESTEROS
UCLA School of Law, Class of 2006
Despite beginning school as an ESL student, Yvonne overcame insecurity and embarrassment to be on the Dean's List at UCLA all four years and to graduate with “cum laude” honors. At law school, Yvonne serves as Managing Editor of the Chicana/Latina Law Review, Co-Chair of La Raza Students Association and Vice Chair of the National Latino/a Law Students Association. She also volunteers at the El Centro Homelessness Prevention Clinic and El Rescate Political Asylum Clinic. Last summer she clerked with the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund (MALDEF). This summer she is splitting her time between the Farmworkers Division of Georgia Legal Services and Judge Robert Takasugi of the U.S. Central District. Yvonne hopes to become a civil rights attorney specializing in education of immigration rights.
UCLA School of Law, Class of 2007
Melissa's parents are immigrants from Columbia and Peru who instilled in her the belief that, “Much has been given to you. Much is expected of you.” Last year Melissa volunteered at El Centro Legal Asylum Clinic and interned for the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund (MALDEF). Melissa is currently serving as Articles Editor of the Journal of International Law and Foreign Affairs. This summer she will be working at Munger Tolles & Olsen while also working on immigration issues with the ACLU.
USC School of Law, Class of 2007
Javier was born and raised in Los Angeles and also graduated from UCLA as a Political Science major. Following his graduation in 2003, Javier went to Sacramento as a fellow in the California Latino Legislative Caucus for Public Policy, working on civil rights issures with the Attorney General's Office and working on education and public safety issues with the California State Assembly. Javier is currently a Board Member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity and a member of both La Raza and Black Law Students Associations. As the son of a Mexican immigrant father and an African American mother, he aspires to serve as a mediating force for the development of cultural and racial harmony in Los Angeles.
ROSINA HERNANDEZ
USC School of Law, Class of 2007
Rosina is a graduate of UC Berkeley. She is currently Co-Chair of the USC La Raza Law Students Association. She is also an active member of the Teen Court program sponsored by O'Melveny & Meyers. This project is an alternative to the juvenile justice system and allows student peers, under the superivision of a Superior Court Judge, to formulate a sentence geared toward rehabilitating the juvenile. She has joined with other students to take the program a further step by mentoring local high school students and providing them with much needed encouragement and assistance to pursue a college education. Despite these substantial extra-curricular activities, Rosina maintains an impressive academic record and will be an extern for a United States District judge this summer.
USC School of Law, Class of 2007
Rosina is a graduate of UC Berkeley. She is currently Co-Chair of the USC La Raza Law Students Association. She is also an active member of the Teen Court program sponsored by O'Melveny & Meyers. This project is an alternative to the juvenile justice system and allows student peers, under the superivision of a Superior Court Judge, to formulate a sentence geared toward rehabilitating the juvenile. She has joined with other students to take the program a further step by mentoring local high school students and providing them with much needed encouragement and assistance to pursue a college education. Despite these substantial extra-curricular activities, Rosina maintains an impressive academic record and will be an extern for a United States District judge this summer.
USC School of Law, Class of 2006
Despite being raised by a single mother in a poor rural Texas town with scarce resources, Oscar was able to attend Texas A&M and graduate from the University of Texas in Austin. With the same determination that served him through college, Oscar left Texas to go work in Chicago in an advertising industry. Despite early success and a promising career, Oscar elected to change careers to work for the betterment of low-income communities. At USC, Oscar served as Co-Chair of La Raza Law Students Association and for the Teen Court program, which seeks to expose inner-city youth to the workings of the juvenile justice system in the way that produces respect for the court as an institution. This summer Oscar will intern with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
GLADIS MOLINA
UCLA School of Law, Class of 2006
Since 1990, when her parents fled the civil war in El Salvador, until 2001, Gladis was an undocumented immigrant whose future in the United States was uncertain. During this time, Gladis worked side-by-side with other undocumented immigrant workers to help her parents to be able to go to college. Gladis recalls, “In my co-workers' eyes and their stories, I found the inspiration to face a difficult situation in my life with dignity and honor; they do it every day as ‘aliens.'” This inspiration has driven Gladis to become a leader, serving as Academic Co-Chair of the La Raza Law Students Association. She is also a member of the Chicano/a Law Review and a Coordinator for the Public Interest Law Fund Board. During 2002, Gladis received a Public Policy Fellowship from the Congressional Hispanic Caucus. It is no surprise that her goal is to be an advocate for immigrants' rights, which she views as the civil right movement of the 21st century.
UCLA School of Law, Class of 2006
Since 1990, when her parents fled the civil war in El Salvador, until 2001, Gladis was an undocumented immigrant whose future in the United States was uncertain. During this time, Gladis worked side-by-side with other undocumented immigrant workers to help her parents to be able to go to college. Gladis recalls, “In my co-workers' eyes and their stories, I found the inspiration to face a difficult situation in my life with dignity and honor; they do it every day as ‘aliens.'” This inspiration has driven Gladis to become a leader, serving as Academic Co-Chair of the La Raza Law Students Association. She is also a member of the Chicano/a Law Review and a Coordinator for the Public Interest Law Fund Board. During 2002, Gladis received a Public Policy Fellowship from the Congressional Hispanic Caucus. It is no surprise that her goal is to be an advocate for immigrants' rights, which she views as the civil right movement of the 21st century.
Southwestern University School of Law, Class of 2007
Coming from a traditional Mexican family, it took some convincing before Rebecca obtained her parent's blessing to leave the San Fernando Valley to attend college at U.C. Davis. While at Davis, Rebecca worked to help pay for her educational expenses. Despite this burden, she was able to qualify for the Dean's list all four years and graduated with Honors as a Sociology major. At Southwestern, Rebecca is a member of the Public Interest Law Association and the Latino Law Students Association. This summer she will clerk at Bet Tzedek Legal Services. Rebecca attributes her academic and personal success to her parents, who instilled in her a sense of independence and the drive to achieve her dreams.
Southwestern University School of Law, Class of 2007
Karla was born in the border town of Nogales, Sonora, and grew up as an undocumented person raised by her mother in East Los Angeles. Despite this beginning, Karla had the good fortune to secure a scholarship to the prestigious Ivy Legue prep school, Exeter Academy, in New Hampshire, where she was able to successfully compete and graduate with Honors. Karla then ventured to U.C. Berkeley, where she again graduated with honors, despite having to work to support herself. While attending Southwestern, Karla also works as a social worker for the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services. Karla is also a member of the Latina Law Student Association and the Asian Pacifiic American Law Student Association.
Pepperdine University School of Law, Class of 2007
Kassandra was the first Latina/o selected as Drum major for the 250-member Los Angeles Unified School District City Championship Band. Due to her outstanding accomplishments, Kassandra received a Presidential Scholarship which provided a full scholarship to California State University Northridge, where she majored in English Literature, while also being a dancer with the distinguished “Ballet Folklorico Aztlan de CSUN.” While at Pepperdine, Kassandra is an active member of Advocates for Public Interest Law and the Latin American Law Student Association. This summer, Kassandra will be interning with the California Women's Law Center.
Loyola University School of Law, Class of 2006
Patricia is the daughter of an immigrant family, but was primarily raised by her mother following the divorce of her parents. Patricia was awarded three gold medals in the 1998 Academic Decathlon competition and was selected as the commencement speaker for the 1998 Alhambra High School graduation class. At USC, Patricia continued to excel, including qualifying for the Dean's List and receiving several scholarship awards for her academic achievement. At Loyola Law School, patricia has qualified for the Dean's List while continuing to be active with extra-curricular activities, including serving as a volunteer on Loyola's volunteer tax preparation program. Patricia hopes to some day practice as a family law specialist.
Southwestern University School of Law, Class of 2006
Delmy grew up in El Salvador during the period of the civil war. At age ten, Delmy's mother passed away and she went to live with her aunt. Delmy was required to work to contribute to the support of the family. This meant selling vegetables in the market place, including sleeping in the streets of the Mercado. When violence of the civil war intensified into her community, she elected to join her unknown father in the United States. In the United States, she found herself struggling to survive in the inner-city community of Pico Union, with its large concentration of undocumented residents coping with gangs, drugs, poverty and discrimination. She found her escape through education. She graduated from U.C. Santa Cruz and worked as a teacher for the Los Angeles Unified School District for two years before deciding to go to law school. While attending Southwestern, Delmy volunteers at Central American Resource Center (CARECEN) working with immigrant clients. Delmy is also an active member of Latino/a Law Students Association and the Public Interest Law Society.
Southwestern University School of Law, Class of 2007
Jose is one of seven children of a Mexican immigrant family who grew up in the barrios of East Los Angeles. Jose recalls a childhood where he went door to door selling nopales to help support the family. Jose also recalls numerous instances of police abuse and harassment, including being handcuffed and pepper-sprayed. This experience motivated Jose to study harder and to become more involved in the Latino community. Jose has been a volunteer with Jovenes, Inc., including serving as coordinator in the “Summer 2004 Water Stations Project,” which set up water stations throughout the El Centro Desert in the hopes of saving the lives of immigrants attempting to cross the desert into the United States. This summer, Jose will be working for the Central American Resource Center (CARECEN) working with the immigrant community. Jose hopes to become a civil rights attorney to fight for social change.
UCLA School of Law, Class of 2006
Gladdys was born into an immigrant family and raised in the Santa Ynez Valley where she observed the extremes of wealth and poverty. After graduation from Occidental College, Gladdys returned to her community to work for People Helping People, the only non-profit agency in the area. Recognizing her limitations, she realized she needed more education and skills to be a more effective advocate for change. After her first year of law school, Gladys received a Cesar Chavez Felowship to work with the Learning Rights Project, where she assisted children with learning disabilities. This summer, Gladdys will be working with a Catholic Legal Immigration Network specializing in immigration rights issues. Gladdys is also Co-Chair of La Raza Law Students Association and Managing Editor of the Chicano-Latino Law Review.
