Class of 2026 USLAW NETWORK Foundation Law School Scholarship Recipients

Ashley “Ada” Cruz | University of Florida Levin College of Law (Expected Graduation May 2027)

Hometown: Naples, FL

B.A., Harvard University, in Applied Mathematics, minor in Computer Science
Pursuing a concurrent Juris Doctor and Master’s in Criminology at the University of Florida
John Paul Stevens Fellow with the Northern California Innocence Project, analyzing shaken baby syndrome case data to uncover patterns supporting wrongful conviction claims
Legal intern with Southern Legal Counsel, supporting impact litigation on civil rights, housing, education, and disability justice across Florida
Treasurer of the Criminal Law Association and the OutLaw Association; member of the Restorative Justice Conference Planning Committee
Participant in the Inside-Out Prison Exchange Program and a Restorative Justice course at Lancaster Correctional Institution, studying alongside incarcerated students and correctional officers

“Last year I applied and was accepted to the master’s program in criminology & law, so I am now pursuing both degrees simultaneously. My thesis is on the impact of defense counsel’s race on their clients’ legal outcomes because I believe in underscoring the importance of diversity in our legal profession, especially among defense counsel. Inclusion to me means standing with communities the law marginalizes, whether through immigration status or criminalization.”

Jasmine Flores | Northwestern Pritzker School of Law (Expected Graduation May 2028)

Hometown: Compton, CA

B.S. in Criminal Justice and B.A. in Political Science, magna cum laude, California State University, Sacramento
Graduate Certificate in Applied Public Policy and Government, CSU Sacramento
Judicial Fellow and Program Coordinator, Los Angeles Superior Court, coordinating civic education programs like Teen Court and researching youth recidivism
1L Representative for the ACLU, CaliCon, Latino Law Student Association, and OUTLaw at Northwestern Law
Pro bono volunteer with the Community Violence Legal Network, the Greater Chicago Legal Clinic’s Expungement Project, and Street Law

“My combined experiences as a queer, Central American Latina from Compton have given me the strength to adapt, persevere through stigma and discrimination, and navigate uncertainty. Living at the intersection of my Latina identity and my queerness taught me how to build belonging in spaces that did not always make room for both. I am determined to use my lived experiences and resilience to help others overcome similar barriers. I hope to use my legal education to help build a legal system where LGBTQ+ people no longer have to choose between safety and authenticity.”

Maria Islam | Temple University Beasley School of Law (Expected Graduation May 2028)

Hometown: Brigantine, NJ

B.A., American University School of International Service, in International Studies, minor in Law and Society
Research Assistant with the Diversity in Public Interest Law Project (DPIP) at Temple Law, developing recruitment and retention guides for public interest attorneys of color
Former Legal Program Coordinator at Ayuda, supporting low-income immigrants in Washington, D.C.
Mentor with the Women’s Law Caucus and First Gen Law at Temple Law
Received a “distinguished class performance” notation in Legal Research & Writing at Temple Law; Fulbright ETA Bangladesh finalist

“I am committed to public service, teamwork, diversity, equity, and inclusion in the legal field because growing up, I never saw an attorney who looked like me or felt that anyone advocated for my community. So, my dream job is to work for the state of New Jersey as an attorney, the same community that I grew up in as a child. But this time, I want to be able to advocate for changes that make more people feel heard and included.”

Yulissa Jimenez | University of Southern California Gould School of Law (Expected Graduation May 2028)

Hometown: Los Angeles, CA

B.S. in Public Administration and B.A. in Psychology, summa cum laude, California State University, Dominguez Hills
1L Representative for the Latinx Law Student Association and First Generation Professionals
Graduate Fellow, AmeriCorps: JusticeCorps, advising self-represented litigants in family and housing matters
Organized an expungement clinic through the Pre-Law Society at CSUDH, helping community members clear eligible criminal records

“As I continue my legal career, I intend to use my law degree to broaden access to justice for families facing financial and language barriers. Through mentorship of first-generation students and leadership within professional organizations, I hope to strengthen pathways into the profession for those historically excluded from it. I aspire to provide affordable, culturally competent legal representation and advocate for families like mine, recognizing that my legal education carries a responsibility to serve those who have been, too often, unheard.”

Zion Lampley | Stetson University College of Law (Expected Graduation May 2027)

Hometown: Mobile, AL

B.S., Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University, in English Elementary Education
Law Clerk with the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice, and with the Innocence Project of Florida, reviewing trial transcripts for wrongful conviction claims
Fellow, St. Petersburg Truth, Racial Healing & Transformative Center
Vice President, Black Law Students Association at Stetson Law
Marched with Civil Rights Attorney Ben Crump and Reverend Al Sharpton at the Florida Capitol in protest of the state’s rejection of AP African American Studies

“Although I am proud of playing a role in supporting today’s youth’s access to education, the things my parents, alums of my alma mater, and I have faced in this system kept many students in disparaging educational circumstances. I am grateful that these experiences made me who I am today, increasing my drive to pursue law, one day becoming a voice for the voiceless and changing the status quo.”

Peter Lubembela | Howard University School of Law (Expected Graduation May 2028)

Hometown: Denver, CO

B.A., Howard University, in Political Science
Black Family Engagement Specialist, Denver Public Schools; Led the district-wide Black Education Advisory Council to advocate for Black students and staff.
Former Constituent Service Representative for U.S. Congresswoman Diana DeGette, handling casework and coordinating with federal, state, and local agencies
Founder and Director of 10for10, mobilizing 1,000+ volunteers to provide meals and care packages to over 10,000 individuals; organized workshops on social justice, immigration, and gun violence

“As a refugee and first-generation, low-income student, I have experienced firsthand the importance of diversity and inclusion in strengthening individuals and communities, and I plan to champion these values throughout my legal career… As a lawyer, I want my work to make people feel like they matter and give people opportunities to thrive.”

Daniel Moussa | Columbia Law School (Expected Graduation May 2028)

Hometown: Chittenango, NY

B.S., SUNY Geneseo, Business Administration, minor in Political Science
Co-founded Notify LLC, a cybersecurity automation company
Legal intern with the Monroe County Public Defender’s Office and The Legal Aid Society.
Member of the Black Law Students Association, Middle Eastern Law Students Association, and Coptic Lawyers Bar Association

“I also want to make the legal field more accessible to people like me. I am a first-generation American. My father is Coptic Egyptian, and my mother is Ethiopian. No one in my family had ever hired a lawyer or thought someone in our family could become one. During my internships at the Monroe County Public Defender’s Office and the Legal Aid Society, I worked with clients who reminded me of my own family. They were often intimidated by the system, did not know their rights, and thought the law was something that happened to them, not something that could help them.”

Gaelle Nelfise | Suffolk University Law School (Expected Graduation December 2027)

Hometown: Brockton, MA

B.A., magna cum laude, Lasell University, in Law and Public Affairs
Co-founded Lasell University’s first Black Student Association
Policy Assistant, Office of Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, researching local legislation and contributing to city ordinances and resolutions
Recipient of the National Bar Association’s Gateway to Success Award and the Massachusetts Black Lawyers Association’s Chief Justice Roderick L. Ireland Leadership and Juvenile Advocacy Award
Legal Assistant in the City of Boston Law Department, supporting Corporation Counsel and the Workers’ Compensation team

“Education and advocacy can be powerful tools for challenging inequity and expanding opportunity for others. Shaped by my Haitian heritage, my personal journey, and my commitment to community engagement, I am dedicated to advancing diversity and inclusion through the law. As an attorney, I will advocate for policies and legal protections that increase access to housing, education, and opportunity for families facing systemic barriers similar to those I witnessed growing up. Through public service, community advocacy, and policy development, I intend to dismantle barriers and help build systems that are more inclusive and responsive to the communities they serve.”

Sophia Polisar | Northeastern University School of Law (Expected Graduation May 2027)

Hometown: Arlington, VA

B.A., cum laude, University of Florida, in Political Science
Clinical student in the Civil Rights and Restorative Justice Clinic, investigating cases of racially motivated violence
Former paralegal with the Atlanta Legal Aid Society and Georgia Senior Legal Aid, providing legal advice and brief services to low-income seniors
E-Board member of Northeastern Law’s Queer Caucus; elected Student Representative to the National LGBTQ+ Bar Association Law Student Congress
Helped establish a Queer Clinic at Northeastern Law, expanding access to legal resources for the LGBTQ+ community

“All of these experiences have made it clear to me that representation is not merely symbolic; it is structural. When LGBTQ+ attorneys, first-generation lawyers, and professionals from underrepresented backgrounds are present and empowered within institutions, those institutions make better decisions, serve broader communities, and create more just outcomes.”

Daryn Rockett | Washington University in St. Louis School of Law (Expected Graduation May 2027)

Hometown: Long Beach, CA

B.A. with Distinction, Stanford University, in African and African American Studies and Sociology
Pursuing a joint Juris Doctor and Master of Social Work at Washington University in St. Louis
President, Black Law Students Association at WashU Law
Teaching Fellow, Marshall-Brennan Constitutional Literacy Project, teaching constitutional law to local high schoolers preparing for a moot competition
Incoming Midwest Region Vice Chair, National Black Law Students Association

“In my legal career, I intend to continue investing in programs that promote diversity and inclusion. As a future member of local bar associations and future financial contributor to programs that provide resources to students from diverse backgrounds, I will make a direct, tangible contribution to my community… I will continue to use my knowledge and power to increase and maintain opportunities for diverse law students to pursue their dreams.”

Blaine Samson | UCLA School of Law (Expected Graduation May 2027)

Hometown: Tustin, CA

B.A., Rice University, in Philosophy and Social Policy Analysis, with minors in Politics, Law, Social Thought, and Sociology
Specializing in Critical Race Studies and Criminal Law and Policy at UCLA Law
Erika J. Glazer Endowed CRS Scholar; 2025 Equal Justice America Fellow
Legal extern, U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, supporting federal employment discrimination litigation
Education Rights Co-Chair, El Centro Legal Projects, leading the Know Your Rights Project connecting law students with community advocacy; Alumni Relations Chair, Black Law Students Association
Former litigation intern, Disability Rights Education & Defense Fund

“My commitment to diversity and inclusion has always been about helping people navigate systems stacked against them, empowering them to speak for themselves, and using every tool I have to widen access for those too often pushed to the margins. I want to be the kind of lawyer who can identify those patterns early, challenge them directly, and use narrative with care and rigor in service of people whose lives are too often flattened by the legal system.”

Alejandra Tinoco Bonilla | Seattle University School of Law (Expected Graduation May 2027)

Hometown: San Jose, CA

B.A., cum laude, Brandeis University, in Anthropology, with additional majors in Latin American and Latino Studies and International and Global Studies, and minors in Legal Studies and Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies
Access Admissions Program Scholarship recipient
Judicial Extern, Tulalip Tribal Court, drafting bench memoranda and observing domestic violence and wellness dockets
Laurel Rubin Fellow, Northwest Justice Project Farm Workers Division, drafting a legal memo on H-2A worker rights and conducting statewide outreach on farmworker safety
Treasurer, Native American Law Student Association
First-Year Fellow, Access to Justice Institute; Calhoun Family Fellowship Fellow

“My commitment to diversity and inclusion is rooted in lived experience, strengthened through community work, and directed toward a legal career focused on expanding justice. I carry with me the lessons of my upbringing, the resilience of my community, and the belief that the law can be reimagined to protect those who have been historically excluded.”