The Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF) announced the recipients of its 2019-2020 Law School Scholarship Program. Since its founding in 1968, MALDEF has awarded scholarships to law students committed to furthering our mission of promoting and protecting the civil rights of the Latino community in the United States.
“As is true every year, the caliber of applicants to our scholarship program predicts a bright future for Latino civil rights,” said Thomas A. Saenz, MALDEF president and general counsel. “Our scholarship committee has chosen a cohort of scholarship recipients who will become the legal leaders of tomorrow, and they will lead with compassion, creativity, and great intellect.”
The 2019-2020 Law School Scholarship recipients include: Jonhatan Aragon, University of California, Irvine School of Law; Ashley Alcantara Harris, University of Texas School of Law, Juan Esteban Bedoya, New York University School of Law; Evelin Caro Gutierrez, Yale Law School; Nicholas Paùl, University of San Diego Law School; Joana Peraza Lizarraga, University of California, Davis School of Law; Andrea Reyes, University of California, Davis Law School; Keuren A. Parra Moreno, Santa Clara University School of Law; Reginaldo Valdez, University of California, Berkeley School of Law; and Katherine G. Vasquez, Southwestern Law School.
“As is true every year, the caliber of applicants to our scholarship program predicts a bright future for Latino civil rights.”
Thomas A. Saenz, MALDEF
MALDEF’s Law School Scholarship application is open to any student enrolled at an accredited U.S. law school. The recipients are selected by a national Law School Scholarship Committee of leading attorneys.
In recent years, MALDEF has awarded five to 15 deserving students with scholarships of $2,000 each. This year, there are 10 recipients, studying law at the University of California at Berkeley, Davis, and Irvine; the University of Texas; New York University; Southwestern; the University of San Diego; and Yale. The recipients include the children of immigrants and DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) recipients who have a passion for immigration law and civil rights.
“It is an honor to recognize the exceptional talents of these students. MALDEF’s Law School Scholarship Program is proud to support this next generation of Latino legal advocates and leaders. Our country will benefit from their leadership and advocacy.” said José Sánchez, MALDEF board member, Deloitte Global’s Senior Managing Director and Americas Lead Counsel, and chair of this year’s committee. “We thank the major funders of MALDEF’s Law School Scholarship and the program’s committee members for their dedication to these scholars and to the future of our legal profession.”
The scholarship committee assesses applicants based on four factors:
- Personal background and financial need.
- Academic and extracurricular achievement.
- Demonstrated commitment to serving the Latino community, shown through academic, extracurricular, or professional record of
service. - Future plans to advance the rights of Latinos.
Applications for MALDEF’s 2020-2021 MALDEF Law School Scholarship Program, are available for download at MALDEF website, www.maldef.org. The deadline to apply is February 26, 2021.
Donations may be made to MALDEF’s Law School Scholarship Program here.
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