At its annual Amanecer Luncheon at the Dallas Bar Association, the Dallas Hispanic Law Foundation announced recipients of its 2019 scholarships and internships, part of a $100,000 annual campaign to aid Latino law students in Texas.
Addressing nearly 200 in attendance, Texas Supreme Court Justice Eva Guzman reminded them that by becoming lawyers they are inheriting an obligation to protect and enhance the Rule of Law.
She warned them that – particularly in times of great division – they will be confronted during their coming careers with excruciating decisions on questions that can create an internal conflict “between head and heart.”
“My father drilled into us one of his favorite expressions: ‘Character is borne in your heart,’ ” Guzman said, focusing not just on the students present. “Value your community – in the law and beyond.”
“As lawyers, we are guardians of the Rule of Law,” she said. “The choices we make will not only not only define our laws, they define our character.”
Recipients of the awards, announced by DHLF president Adrienne Dominguez of Thompson & Knight are as follows:
1L Scholarship Recipients
Giovani Pimentel-Galvan graduated from Texas A&M Commerce and will be attending SMU-Dedman School of Law. Giovani immigrated to the United States with his mother and twin brother when he was six, and he is passionate about immigration rights. He plans to become an immigration attorney to empower and represent underserved communities.
Raphael Navarrette graduated from The University of Texas El Paso and will be attending the Ohio State College of Law this fall. Raphael has extensive experience in state and local politics, and he is the first in his family to graduate from college. Inspired by his mother’s immigration story, he plans to practice immigration and business law in El Paso to improve the quality of life for the Hispanic community. He also aspires to run for public office in the future.
2L Scholarship Recipients
Marley Frazier, who attends UT School of Law. She graduated from Baylor and also received a Masters degree from the University of Texas LBJ School of Public Affairs. As high school junior, Marley was selected to meet Former FLOTUS Michelle Obama for an influential discussion on mentorship. As a future lawyer, she is committed to mentoring other students of color just as many mentors have supported and believed in her.
Cassandra Gonzalez attends Texas Tech School of Law. She graduated from the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. As a first-generation American and college student, Brenda plans to mentor other first-generation students interested in law and aspires to a career in international business and tax law.
Alysha Garcia attends the St. Mary’s School of Law. She graduated from Texas Womans’ University. Before attending law school, Alysha was a middle school and high school language arts teacher for ten years. As a future lawyer, she aspires to a career in education law with a particular emphasis on advocating for the Hispanic community in Texas.
John Zappia attends UT School of Law and graduated from the University of California Los Angeles. John decided to pursue a legal career after witnessing a lawyer help his parents through a difficult dispute with an insurance company. He aspires to be a zealous advocate for his clients, particularly immigrants in search of the American dream.
3L Scholarship Recipients
Jasmine Rios attends Texas Southern School of Law. Jasmine graduated from Texas A&M University Central Texas. Jasmine is the proud daughter of Mexican immigrants who were migrant farmworkers. In college, she became a certified court clerk and Spanish interpreter for the Belton Municipal Court. She plans to use that experience to pursue a career advancing the rights of immigrant communities in Texas.
Leidy Guilamo attends Texas Southern School of Law. She graduated from John Jay College of Criminal Justice. Leidy came to the United States from the Dominican Republic ten years ago, fresh out of high school. She taught herself English and put herself through college while working two jobs, including as a paralegal working on landlord/tenant matters in the Housing Courts of the Bronx and Brooklyn. That experience inspired her to pursue a career advocating for the rights of immigrant communities.
Brenda Ballie attends SMU-Dedman School of Law. Brenda graduated from State University of New York at New Paltz. As a daughter of Mexican immigrants, Brenda plans to clerk for a federal district judge on the U.S.-Mexico border before beginning her legal career as an advocate for the Hispanic community in North Texas.
Karla Pizarro attends Texas Tech School of Law. She graduated from the University of Texas at Austin. Karla grew up in El Paso’s East Side and is a first-generation law student. She plans to use her bilingual skills for educational advocacy among low-income Hispanic students and hopes to serve as a role model to them.
Bar Study Grant Recipients
The Foundation also awarded study grants to help pay for a bar review course for recent law school graduates. Several of these students have also received Foundation scholarships over their law school years.
Kimberly Rosales attends UNT Dallas College of Law. She graduated from The University of North Texas. Kimberly is passionate about immigration rights. After interning with Judge Irma Ramirez, she plans to pursue a career as a labor and employment lawyer while also helping immigrants with the naturalization.
Marcus Martinez attends University of Texas School of Law and graduated college from the University of Texas at Austin. Before law school, Marcus taught high school language arts and debate as a Teach for America fellow in the Rio Grande Valley and later in Brooklyn. He plans to work for a law firm after graduation and serve the Hispanic community through numerous pro bono initiatives.
Pauline Portillo attends St. Mary’s School of Law. Pauline graduated from the Univesity of Maryland. She aspires to be an immigration attorney in San Antonio representing immigrants facing criminal charges. She also hopes to be a mentor to first-generation Hispanic law students seeking to make a difference in their communities.
Araceli Vasquez attends Texas Tech School of Law. She graduated from Georgetown University. A native of south Texas, Araceli is passionate about immigration advocacy. She has extensive experience working with non-profit organizations providing free services to underserved and underrepresented communities, and she hopes to continue that important work as a lawyer.
Sara Dill attends UNT Dallas College of Law. Sara graduated from Baylor University and received her MBA from the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. Prior to law school, Sara was a teacher and coach for Dallas ISD. She plans to use her litigation experience in the US Attorney’s Office and Federal Public Defender’s Office to serve the Hispanic community as a trial lawyer in North Texas.
Kevin Hernandez attends Texas A&M University School of Law. Kevin graduated from Sam Houston State University and is a former Court Clerk for the Honorable Justice Eva Guzman. He has spent the last two years researching access to justice issues for Hispanics in Texas, and he is passionate about increasing affordable housing in North Texas. He plans to pursue a career in landlord-tenant and real estate law.
Judicial Internship Recipients
For the past seven years the Foundation has placed law students and recent law graduates in four-week internships with judges in Dallas County to gain real-life experience and training. Selection is competitive.
The Foundation will provide these students with a stipend of $2,000 to help pay for their expenses during their internship.
Marley Jada Frazer, whoattends the University of Texas School of Law and is interning with Dallas County Judge Paula Rosales.
Cassandra Gonzalez attends Texas Tech University School of Law and is interning with Dallas County District Judge David Lopez.
Jesse Guadiana attends the University of Houston Law Center and is interning with Dallas County District Judge Denise Garcia.
Megan Mendez attends UNT College of Law and is interning with Dallas County District Judge Tonya Parker.
Julio Nieto attends UNT Dallas College of Law and is interning with Dallas County District Judge Hector Garza.
John Zappia attends the University of Texas School of Law and is interning with Dallas County District Judge Maricela Moore.