Chapman University School of Law
Sheba Saroia $2500
A graduate of UC San Diego, Sheba volunteered at a domestic violence clinic, which inspired her to attend law school and advocate on behalf of the economically disadvantaged. In law school, she has provided services to the homeless as a law clerk at Public Counsel and volunteered at law clinics that provide legal services to underserved communities. She is president of Chapman's Public Interest Law Foundation. After law school, Sheba intends to continue to advocate for those that are underrepresented in the legal system.

Matthew Justin Wechter $2500

Matt received a B.S. in biology from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. His legal public service work began prior to law school while working in the Orange County Public Defender's Office with indigent clients. In law school, Matt has continued volunteering with the Public Defender’s Office, and he also works part-time with the advocacy division of the Orange County Chapter of the Foundation Fighting Blindness. This past summer, Matt worked at the Washington, D.C., Public Defender Service, representing indigent clients facing parole revocation proceedings. Matt plans to pursue a career as a federal or state public defender.

Golden Gate University School of Law
Seth Lichenstein-Hill $2500
A graduate of the University of Washington, Seth has worked as a legal advocate at the Homeless Action Center, helping homeless and low-income people with severe mental and physical disabilities in the Bay Area. He has also worked as a research assistant at the Environmental Defense Fund, developing a proposal to amend California water law to allow for an environmental water right. He is a chairperson of Golden Gate’s Public Interest Law Foundation, and, after graduation, intends to continue his work as a legal advocate for the environment.

Loyola Law School
Neda Mashayekhi $5000
A long-time advocate for children, Neda has served as a mentor for emotionally disturbed group home residents and has assisted individuals in obtaining government benefits through the General Relief Advocacy Project. She worked on child welfare law issues at the Children’s Law Center in Los Angeles and this past summer interned at the Legal Aid Society, Juvenile Rights Division, in the Family Law Court in the Bronx, focusing on child protective and juvenile delinquency cases. Neda graduated from UC Santa Barbara.

Celida B. Miramontes $2500

A graduate of UC Irvine, Celida taught high school history in Compton before commencing her legal studies. Her first summer internship was with San Pedro Community Legal Services, a nonprofit organization that provides free legal services to domestic violence survivors. Last semester Celida completed an externship with the ACLU of Southern California, where she worked on day laborer free speech issues. She is currently a law clerk for the Los Angeles County Public Defender’s Office and intends to pursue public defense work after law school.

Cindy Pánuco $2500

While at the University of Southern California, Cindy interned at the Department of Veterans Affairs in St. Louis and in Congressman Xavier Becerra’s Los Angeles office, and after college, she worked on the congressman’s legislative staff in Washington, D.C. As a law student, Cindy has volunteered with the Immigration Center for Women and Children, assisting victims of domestic violence with obtaining immigration benefits through the Violence Against Women Act, and worked on civil rights litigation at the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund.

San Joaquin College of Law
Alicia L. Hinton $2500
Alicia received a B.S. from the University of San Francisco and a B.A. from San Jose State University. Prior to law school, she co-founded Binky Patrol, which donates comfort quilts to children in need. She will complete a dual degree program in 2009, obtaining an M.A. in Peacemaking and Conflict Resolution along with her J.D. Alicia has volunteered with Circles of Support and Accountability, a community-based sex offender re-entry program, and interned as a family law mediator, a victim-offender reconciliation mediator, and as a law clerk at the Fresno County District Attorney's office.

Santa Clara University School of Law
Molly Brennan $2500
After graduating from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Molly worked at the Law Foundation of Silicon Valley. She obtained an M.S.W. from Tulane University and works as a social worker with chronically homeless individuals while attending law school in the evenings. She also volunteers with the Katherine and George Alexander Community Law Center’s Workers Rights Clinic and with a housing rights legal service organization. After law school, she plans to apply her experience as a social worker to advocate for at-risk youth.

Southwestern Law School
Tiffany Woo $5000
Tiffany received a B.A. from UCLA and an M.A. from UC Berkeley in social welfare. Her volunteer experiences include student advocacy through the Alliance for Children’s Rights Special Education Project, counseling victims of child sexual abuse and their families, and teen mentoring. Before law school, Tiffany was a clinical social worker for special-needs foster children in a residential treatment facility. After graduation, she plans to continue her work with foster youth as a dependency court attorney.

Stanford Law School
Eunice Hyunhye Cho $7500 — Munger Tolles & Olson LLP Scholar
After graduating from Yale University, Eunice coordinated a U.S. migrant rights delegation to the 2001 UN World Conference Against Racism in South Africa and served as the education director at the National Network for Immigrant and Refugee Rights. In law school, she has volunteered with the Advanced Immigrants’ Rights Clinic and for the Korean Community Center for the East Bay and has interned at the ACLU Immigrants' Rights Project. This past summer, she interned at the Florence Immigrant and Refugee Rights Project and the National Immigration Law Center.

Yara Lomelí-Loibl $7500 — Seyfarth Shaw Scholar

A graduate of Mount Holyoke College, Yara served as an AmeriCorps volunteer, helping enroll low-income children in free and low-cost health insurance programs. In law school, she has worked with immigrant victims of domestic violence and with youth in juvenile hall and immigration detention. In addition to summer internships with the Florence Immigrant and Refugee Rights Project and Texas RioGrande Legal Aid, she has participated in the Immigrants’ Rights Clinic at Stanford. Yara spent this summer as a law clerk at Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund.

Jessica Oats $7500 — Milstein, Adelman & Kreger Scholar

After graduating from Harvard University, Jessica worked as a death penalty investigator and as a victim outreach specialist for the Southern Center for Human Rights. In law school, she has interned for the National Center for Lesbian Rights, Legal Services for Children, and the Southern Center for Human Rights. She currently works as a research and teaching assistant and is a certified clinical law student with Stanford’s Community Law Clinic. Jessica spent last summer working for the Neighborhood Defender Service of Harlem. After law school, she plans to continue working in the arena of criminal and social justice.

Alexa Van Brunt $7500 — Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P. Scholar

Alexa graduated from Brown University, where she served as a crisis volunteer in a domestic violence shelter and a social worker for at-risk youth. Alexa also studied in Ghana and conducted research in Lesotho on the impact of HIV/AIDS on children’s educational attainment. Alexa traveled to Namibia as part of Stanford’s International Human Rights Clinic and has interned at the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda in Tanzania and the Open Society Justice Initiative’s Citizenship and Equality program. She serves as a student board member and volunteer with Community Legal Services of East Palo Alto's immigrants' rights program.

Rachel Zwillinger $5000

Rachel received a B.A. in geosciences from Princeton University. Before law school, she taught children about water conservation, established a food-gardening program in South Africa, and worked in Environmental Defense’s Health Program to improve air quality. Rachel has interned with the U.S. Department of Justice’s Environmental and Natural Resources Division and with the Natural Resources Defense Council. She has also worked in Stanford’s Environmental Law Clinic and mentored low-income college hopefuls at a local high school.

University of California, Berkeley, School of Law (Boalt Hall)
Cheryl Andrada $2500
After graduating from Stanford University, Cheryl volunteered at Centro de los Derechos del Migrante in Mexico, worked on health and immigration policy for Congressman Rick Larsen, and promoted mother-tongue literacy as a Fulbright Scholar at the University of the Philippines, Diliman. In law school, Cheryl has been active in the California Asylum Representation Clinic, Pilipino American Law Society, and the Domestic Violence Clinic. This summer, she clerked with the Asian Law Caucus and conducted research for Boalt's International Human Rights Clinic.

Benjamin R. Botts $7500 — Cox, Castle & Nicholson LLP Scholar

A graduate of UC Berkeley, Benjamin has worked as an immigration paralegal, volunteered as a low-income tenant counselor for the San Francisco Tenants Union, and served as an adult ESL tutor. In law school, he has represented a Guatemalan asylum seeker and volunteers as co-director of the East Bay Workers’ Rights Clinic. This summer, Benjamin clerked at Legal Aid Society–Employment Law Center. After law school, he intends to continue his work as an advocate for underserved communities in employment or immigration law.

Lorraine Leete $5000

While at Oberlin College, Lorraine organized ESL classes with the Immigrant Worker Project. After college, she worked as a paralegal at the National Immigrant Justice Center, representing immigrants, and assisted in the development of Mercy Corps programs for displaced Iraqis in Jordan. In law school, Lorraine has interned with EarthRights International, using legal tools to hold corporations accountable for human rights violations. After law school, she plans to continue advocating for greater transparency in government and corporate practices.

University of California, Davis, School of Law (King Hall)
Neta Borshansky $2500
Neta, a graduate of Bryn Mawr College, has dedicated her time to issues of fair housing, disability rights, prisoner rights, and Hurricane Katrina disaster relief. She was a clinical student at the East Bay Community Law Center and the Civil Rights Clinic of UC Davis School of Law. Neta is also a co-founder of Humanitarian Aid Legal Organization, which organizes law students to assist communities in need during spring break. This summer, Neta interned at the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice.

University of California, Hastings College of the Law
Meredith L. Alexander $5000
Meredith graduated from the University of Massachusetts, where her volunteer work with underprivileged children and the homeless earned her the Shep Shepard award for academic excellence and community service. Before law school, she worked as a legal advocate for impoverished victims of domestic violence at 1736 Family Crisis Center in Los Angeles. This past summer, she interned at the Child Care Law Center in San Francisco. After law school, Meredith plans to continue her work as an advocate for underrepresented children.

Todd Daloz $2500

After graduating from Oberlin College, Todd worked for an environmental law organization, an international women’s peace organization, and an educational nonprofit. He also worked construction in Oakland, gaining a first-hand understanding of the plight facing many recent immigrant day-laborers. While in law school, Todd has interned at La Raza Centro Legal, representing unpaid workers, been active in the Hastings Public Interest Law Foundation, and coordinated an annual student trip to the Gulf Coast to provide legal aid to residents.

Raegan Joern $2500

Raegan Joern $2,500 A graduate of the University of Wisconsin, Madison, Raegan worked for six years as a case manager in San Francisco supportive housing programs for disabled and formerly homeless adults. While at law school, she has served as student co-president of the General Assistance Advocacy Project and interned with the East Bay Community Law Center. This past summer, Raegan interned at a nonprofit that provides legal services to disabled clients. After law school, Raegan hopes to work for a legal nonprofit to pursue her interests in poverty, disability, health, and immigration law.

Abby Sullivan $2500

While at Oberlin College, Abby taught English to immigrant elementary school students and tutored at-risk high school students. She spent her junior year studying in Costa Rica, interning with an organization providing childcare and nutritional education to poor families. After college, Abby worked as an education advocate for immigrant youth and helped provide legal services to caregivers of children in the foster care and delinquency systems. In law school, she has volunteered as a Spanish interpreter for asylum seekers and interned with Bay Area Legal Aid and the Federal Public Defender.

University of California, Los Angeles, School of Law
Moisés Roman Ceja $2500
A graduate of UCLA and a first-generation American, Moisés has concentrated his time and energy on working with immigrant communities. He has worked with the National Day Laborers Organizing Network, informing day laborers of their rights and researching anti-solicitation ordinances. Moisés spent last summer with the Puerto Rican Legal Defense and Education Fund, an organization that promotes the protection of voting, immigrant, education, and employment rights.

Jessica Langley $7500 — Jim Pfeiffer Scholar

Jess, a graduate of UC Santa Cruz, counseled incarcerated women and abused children, worked as a paralegal for the ACLU of the National Capital Area, and volunteered with Time Dollar Youth Court, a juvenile justice diversion program in Washington, D.C. She is currently co-president of UCLA’s Law Society for Children’s Rights, has chaired the Juvenile Detention Advocacy Clinic, and has interned with Public Counsel and the Los Angeles County Public Defender. This fall she is interning with the Federal Public Defender.

Jenny Macht $7500 — Dreier Stein Kahan Browne Woods George LLP Scholar

Jenny is a graduate of UCLA, where she volunteered as a tutor to elementary school students as a mentor to students at Camp Kilpatrick Juvenile Detention Center. In law school, she has tutored youth on probation to help them maintain their GPAs as part of their probation conditions and interned at the Public Defender’s Offices in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Alameda County. Last spring, she externed for Judge Stephen Reinhardt of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit.

Sarah Paule $5000

After graduating from NYU’s Gallatin School of Individualized Studies, Sarah volunteered with various community-led organizations focused on the rights of marginalized individuals, including detained immigrants, homeless LGBTQ youth, and indigenous women in Mexico. At UCLA, Sarah holds leadership positions in the Homelessness Prevention Clinic and the Journal of Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Law. She is also an editor for CRS Online, a Critical Race Studies online journal, and has interned with the Legal Aid Society.

Debra Weinberg $5000

After graduating from Tufts University, Debra spent five years providing direct services to children, homeless youth, and adults with HIV. She decided to attend law school to have a broader impact in changing her clients’ lives. In law school, she spent a summer at the Advocacy Center in New Orleans helping the elderly and individuals with disabilities access Medicaid benefits, worked at the Downtown Housing Clinic, and is active in disability rights organizations. She recently interned at the Public Defender’s Office in New Orleans.

University of San Diego School of Law
Brett Barley $2500
While a student at the University of Florida, Brett was a founding member of the university’s Homeless Council, where he helped indigent individuals obtain employment and regain their dignity. After graduation, through Teach for America he taught the fourth grade in a low-income neighborhood in San Jose, helping raise his students' academic performance. In law school, Brett has interned with the San Diego Public Defender’s Office. He is also an active member of and fundraiser for his law school’s Public Interest Law Foundation.

Julia Davis $5000

Julia graduated from UC Santa Barbara with a degree in anthropology and English. After college, she worked as an AmeriCorps volunteer with the San Diego CHOICE Program, doing case management for at-risk youth involved in the juvenile justice system. She also served as a case manager at the YMCA Turning Point Transitional Living Program, primarily working with young, homeless mothers and former foster youth. Julia spent this past summer advocating for abused and neglected children as an intern at the Children’s Law Center of Los Angeles.

Colin Donnelly $2500

Colin Donnelly $2,500 While at Harvard University, Colin worked as a mentor and tutor for Boston Refugee Youth Enrichment, which addresses the socio-educational needs of refugee youths. Upon graduation, he served as an academic tutor and track coach to youth in the San Diego area. During law school, Colin has continued to coach and tutor area student-athletes and has volunteered at the San Diego Public Defender’s Office, where he aspires to practice after law school. Ultimately, Colin would like to become a judge, ideally in the juvenile division.

University of San Francisco School of Law
Meredith Marzuoli $2500
A graduate of Colgate University, Meredith has volunteered with mental health crisis lines and worked in social services on housing and homelessness issues. In law school, she spent a summer in Mississippi at the Office of Capital Defense Counsel, working on death penalty cases, has represented clients in misdemeanor cases through USF's Criminal Law Clinic, and helped organize the Public Interest Law Foundation’s annual auction. Meredith interned at the Alameda County Public Defender’s Office this past summer and hopes to pursue a career in public defense work.

Marie Montesano $2500

Marie graduated from Hobart and William Smith Colleges. She has pursued her interest in human rights issues as a Human Rights Commissioner in Geneva, New York. In law school, she works as a legal research assistant researching issues pertaining to enemy combatants, detention without due process, and other post 9/11 issues. She also interned at the Cambodia Human Rights Action Committee in Phnom Penh, assisting with human rights issues in Cambodia. Marie intends to continue her work in international human rights advocacy after law school.

University of Southern California Gould School of Law
EmmaElizabeth Gonzalez $2500
After graduating from USC, Elizabeth worked in development and community relations for the Manhattan Theatre Club and Cornerstone Theater Company. Elizabeth also spent several years as a development associate at the ACLU of Southern California. In law school, she has interned at Public Counsel, worked with the USC Law Immigration Clinic, and volunteered with the Louisiana Justice Project in New Orleans. A native of Southeast Los Angeles, Elizabeth hopes to provide direct services to communities in need of access to the legal system. Ashley Nicole Johndro $2,500 At UC Berkeley, Ashley she served as a liaison between the Associated Student Body and the disabled student population. Her volunteer work includes advocating for the release of low-income individuals from jail on their own recognizance, working with the Prison Project and Community Outreach Team of the ACLU, and mentoring at-risk youth in the Oakland public school system. Ashley intends to continue her work as an advocate for diverse and economically challenged individuals in the criminal justice system after law school.

Ashley Nicole Johndro $2500

$2,500 At UC Berkeley, Ashley she served as a liaison between the Associated Student Body and the disabled student population. Her volunteer work includes advocating for the release of low-income individuals from jail on their own recognizance, working with the Prison Project and Community Outreach Team of the ACLU, and mentoring at-risk youth in the Oakland public school system. Ashley intends to continue her work as an advocate for diverse and economically challenged individuals in the criminal justice system after law school.

Rebecca S. Raizman $2500

Rebecca S. Raizman $2,500 As an undergraduate at Cornell University, Becky volunteered as a rape crisis counselor and was active in organizations dealing with sexual assault and gender-based violence issues. She worked at the Federal Trade Commission and volunteered at the Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless. In law school, she has volunteered at various community legal clinics and worked at Bet Tzedek Legal Services. Becky hopes to incorporate alternative dispute resolution into a family law practice serving low-income people.

Whittier Law School
Taylor Irene Dudley $2500
A graduate of California State University, Long Beach, Taylor volunteered for the Child Abuse Services Team of the Orange County District Attorney and coached a community cheerleading team. A member of Tri Delta, Taylor fundraises for children's cancer research, volunteers at Orangewood Children’s Home, and is a fellow at Whittier’s Center for Children’s Rights. Taylor spent this past summer at Public Counsel Law Center, where she coordinated teen legal clinics and assisted pregnant and parenting teens.

Sherin Larijani $2500

A graduate of UC Berkeley, Sherin is a founder of the nonprofit World-Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms (WWOOF-USA). Sherin has volunteered with the Hesperian Foundation, Cal’s University and Jepson Herbaria, and University Students Co-Operative Association. Prior to law school, Sherin worked at the Prevention Institute. This summer, Sherin interned at the Legal Aid Society of Orange County. After law school, she intends to work as in-house counsel for WWOOF-USA.