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.
