About
It is critically important that the lawyers, leaders and public servants UVA Law trains both embrace and reflect the diversity of our nation and the globe. The Law School launched the Roadmap Scholars Initiative in February 2022 to help build a pipeline for undergraduate students from every background into the legal profession.
Purpose
The UVA Law Roadmap Scholars Initiative supports undergraduate sophomores interested in pursuing careers in the legal profession. The program’s goal is to expose participants to the law, law school and the legal profession, and to help them become competitive applicants to any of the nation’s top law schools. A strong preference is given to applicants who are first-generation college students, students with limited financial resources, and/or students who are interested in pursuing a legal career but lack access to opportunities to learn about law school, the admissions process and the legal profession. Qualified applicants will be selected from a national pool and must show a record of high academic achievement, convey a passion for being challenged as a learner, and demonstrate a commitment to community service.
Program Overview
Summer I: Introduction to Law School and the Legal Profession
The Roadmap Scholars Initiative brings the scholars to Charlottesville for three weeks of the summer prior to their junior year of college to introduce them to law school and the myriad career opportunities the legal profession offers. Students take mini-courses on a broad range of legal topics from the law school curriculum. They learn about the legal profession from alumni and other practitioners through talks, brown-bag lunches, and receptions, as well as during field trips to local and regional law firms, government agencies, private companies, and legal nonprofits. They take an intensive mini-course on critical writing and research. And they demystify the law school application process by working with administrators to help them develop a personal roadmap to law school. Roadmap Scholars live on Main Grounds at the University of Virginia, with room and board provided. Scholars receive free travel to and from Charlottesville and a stipend in the amount of $3,000 to defray living expenses during the course of the program and to substitute for foregone summer employment income.
Junior Academic Year: LSAT, Applications, and Mentoring
For those Roadmap Scholars who successfully complete the summer program and elect to continue, the Roadmap Scholars Initiative will provide a stipend for an LSAT preparation course during the junior year of college. As scholars prepare for the LSAT on their home campuses, the Roadmap Scholars Initiative will match each scholar with both a current UVA Law student mentor and a UVA Law alumni mentor. Each scholar will also benefit from the advice and counsel of a faculty mentor they identify at their home institution. The Roadmap Scholars Initiative director will hold monthly Zoom meetings with the scholars to maintain community within the cohort, to continue their exposure to law school and the legal profession, and to support scholars’ progress on preparing for the LSAT.
Summer II: Sitting for the LSAT, Finishing the Application, Legal Internships
Roadmap Scholars who sit for the LSAT and who submit drafts of the written materials for their law school applications to the program director before the end of their junior year participate in an additional summer of programming that following summer. The Roadmap Scholars Initiative provides a one-week application boot camp in Charlottesville. Scholars then move to a legal internship at a private-, public- or nonprofit sector employer, with travel, housing and stipends provided. During their time in Charlottesville, scholars will prepare and polish law school application materials and participate in an orientation for their internships led by legal employers and recruiters. Scholars then complete their internships in legal markets nationwide, with employers providing travel, housing and stipends to their interns as well as appropriate professional supervision.
Ongoing Support
The formal portion of the Roadmap Scholars Initiative ends prior to the beginning of the participants’ senior year of undergraduate study. We nonetheless anticipate and encourage continued contact between scholars, the program director, faculty mentors, UVA Law student and alumni mentors, and other Roadmap Scholars for advice and support throughout the law school application process. From selecting where to apply, to submitting applications, to deciding what law school to attend, the Roadmap Scholars Initiative will continue to be a resource and a guide. In addition to maintaining close ties with the Roadmap Scholars Initiative and scholar mentors, we expect scholars to help mentor succeeding cohorts. Our long-term vision is to create a community of scholars whose bonds remain strong across generations and who pay their experiences forward by becoming successful law students and lawyers and by acting as advocates for, and stewards and ambassadors of the Roadmap Scholars Initiative.
Faculty Director(s)
Mark C. Jefferson
Assistant Dean for Community Engagement and Equity
William Nichols
Assistant Director, Roadmap Scholars Initiative
Application
The Roadmap Scholars Initiative will begin accepting applications Sept. 1, 2024. A completed application, due Feb. 1, 2024, must include the following materials:
- Application
- 3 short essays
- 1-3 letter(s) of recommendation (emailed by your recommenders to @email)
- Academic transcript (unofficial is acceptable)
- Optional: a copy of your most recent Student Aid Report
- Optional: a copy of your SAT or ACT score report
Note: If you use the same link and the same browser, you should be able to work on the application in multiple sessions without losing your work. If possible, however, we suggest you pull together the materials you need, including responses to our short essay prompts, then fill out the application and attach the relevant materials in one sitting.
Information To Have on Hand
The application will ask for:
- Your parents’ level of education and colleges/universities attended (if applicable).
- Awards and honors you have received.
- Information about jobs you have held.
- Information about community service projects you have worked on.
- Information about your extracurricular activities and hobbies.
For more information: @email
A new pipeline initiative at the University of Virginia School of Law will offer a first-of-its-kind path to preparing first-generation and low-income students to become competitive applicants to the nation’s leading law schools.
FAQs
When does the Roadmap Scholars Initiative take place?
The summer program will run in 2025 from May 29 to June 21. Applicants who have conflicts with these dates due to the academic calendars of their undergraduate institutions are still encouraged to apply. The university will work with admitted scholars whose school years overlap with the start of the program.
How many Roadmap Scholars will be selected?
In the first three years of the program, about a dozen scholars were selected each year.
Who is eligible to become a Roadmap Scholar?
Students who are currently enrolled in their second year at a four-year college or university are eligible to become Roadmap Scholars.
How do I apply?
To apply, you must submit a completed application and an official or unofficial academic transcript, answer the essay prompts and provide at least one letter of recommendation (we will take as many as three letters of recommendation). You may also choose to submit SAT and/or ACT scores, as well as a recent Student Aid Report. Standardized test scores and a Student Aid Report are both optional additions to your application; these materials are not required for admission to the program.
How do I submit my application?
You can submit the application, along with most of the attachments, here. If you use the same link and the same browser, you should be able to work on the application in multiple sessions without losing your work. If possible, however, we suggest you pull together the materials you need, including the response to our essay prompts, then fill out the application and attach the relevant materials in one sitting.
Who should I ask to write my letter(s) of recommendation?
Your recommender should be someone who can speak knowledgeably about your skills, strengths and potential for success in this program. References from people who have taught you in a college setting are particularly helpful.
How should I submit my letters of recommendation?
Letters of recommendation should be submitted by the recommender directly to the UVA Law Roadmap Scholars Program by sending it to @email.
In addition to application materials are there any additional requirements?
Finalists for the Roadmap Scholars Initiative will participate in Zoom interviews with members of the UVA Law School community.
What are you looking for in a Roadmap Scholar?
We are looking for applicants who are interested in becoming lawyers, who are already demonstrating high academic achievement, and who have a history of community service and engagement. We are also looking for applicants who enjoy being challenged as learners and who are open to learning from and being challenged by different points of view and life experiences.
Does the Roadmap Scholars Initiative charge tuition? What financial support does the Road Map Scholars Initiative provide to scholars?
There are no tuition or fees attached to the Roadmap Scholars Initiative. For the first summer, we support roundtrip travel to Charlottesville, room and board during the summer program, as well as a $3,000 stipend to each scholar. For the second summer, we will again support travel, room and board in Charlottesville, and scholars will receive travel, housing and stipends or wages during their internships.
When is the application deadline?
The deadline for submitting application materials is Feb. 1, 2025.
When will I receive notification about whether I have been accepted to the program?
Applicants who have submitted their materials prior to Feb. 1 will receive a decision on or before April 15, 2025.
Contact
William Nichols
Assistant Director, Roadmap Scholars Initiative
@email
The University of Virginia School of Law launched a new program this summer aimed at leveling the playing field for college students who are interested in — but mostly unexposed to — the legal profession. Meet a few of the inaugural Roadmap Scholars.
Learn More About UVA Law
Explore the school’s academic programs, student life, career opportunities and more.
- Admissions
- Academics
- Career Development
- Student Organizations
- Student Affinity Organizations
- Diversity, Equity and Belonging at UVA Law
- Living in Charlottesville
Aspen Andersson
Hometown: Clayton, North Carolina
Undergraduate school: University of North Carolina, Pembroke
Who are your biggest influences and why?
My biggest influences are my parents and my extensive book collection. I have watched my mom and dad work tirelessly to raise and provide for my sisters and me; they have inspired me to chase my wildest dreams. I thank my parents for teaching me to lead with kindness and pursue happiness. As for my mini library, I have always been a daydreamer and a “nerd.” I am grateful to have had the opportunity to learn and grow from a variety of authors and stories throughout my life. My parents and my books have shaped me into the person I am today.
What's a fun fact or experience about yourself that you'd like to share?
My father is from Sweden, and he speaks Swedish to my sisters and me at home. I was fortunate enough to travel to Sweden when I was younger, and I hope to return to study abroad and practice my Swedish in the near future. Growing up in a multicultural household exposed me to many different perspectives and encouraged me to explore international law. I hope to couple my unique point of view and skills with a legal degree to pursue a career as a U.S. ambassador or as a lawyer for the United Nations.
Why did you apply to the Roadmap Scholars Initiative?
I applied to this program because I wanted to surround myself with a diverse group of individuals who are as passionate about the law and justice as I am. I also wanted to gain valuable insight on the law school admissions process by building interpersonal relationships and connections with the impressive faculty and staff at UVA. I knew this program would be an invaluable opportunity to gain experience and knowledge in the legal field while receiving financial support and establishing one-on-one mentorships with alumni and professors.
Why are you interested in becoming a lawyer?
“You could argue with a wall!” That was my mother’s favorite thing to say to me as a child. (I had a serious back-talk issue!) In retrospect, those little quarrels equipped me with a valuable set of skills for law school. I want to be a lawyer so I can use my knowledge and energy to empower and educate those around me. It’s one thing to pull up a seat to the table for yourself, it’s another to prop the door open and pull up seats for others. I believe law school will afford me the opportunity to elevate the voices of those in need and to fight for equity and justice for all. I’m tired of waiting for change — I’m ready to be it.
Makayla Bibby
Hometown: Roanoke, Virginia
Undergraduate school: University of Virginia
Who are your biggest influences and why?
My parents are my biggest influences. I can say confidently that my parents have been by my side through everything and they have supported me wholeheartedly my entire life. My parents have given and shared with me unwavering determination and faith, which has carried me through various experiences. They have shown me what it means to be kind, loving, caring and just with all people. I carry their example with me every day.
What’s a fun fact or experience about yourself that you'd like to share?
I love to laugh. Just about anything will make me crack a smile or cramp with laughter. Whether it’s through actual comedy or quirky conversations with friends, I will take any excuse to laugh. I find that it is important to realize and seize the moments of joy and happiness in life.
Why did you apply to the Roadmap Scholars Initiative?
The program is an excellent opportunity to gain some exposure to the law and an understanding of what is required in legal practice. I wanted to come away with a better understanding of what law courses would entail, what a legal career would look like in my area of interest, and how the law and legal reasoning is presented in everyday life.
Why are you interested in becoming a lawyer?
In the recent past, I have become increasingly interested in policy and the influence of the law in government and societal structures and behaviors. I am fascinated with legal rationale and the political application of the law. I believe that being a lawyer will allow me to balance my interests in policy and government with a deep and applicable understanding of the extent and potential of the law, to help create and maximize the law to address our nation’s most pressing concerns.
Cheyenne Butler
Hometown: Houston, Texas
Undergraduate school: University of Virginia
Who are your biggest influences and why?
My family remains my biggest influence. They’ve brought me up with so much love, patience and determination, all while cultivating a sense of leadership within me. It is through God and my family that I find the strength and encouragement to embrace my authentic self and turn my aspirations into accomplishments.
What's a fun fact or experience about yourself that you’d like to share?
For the spring semester, I volunteered with UVA’s VISAS (Volunteers with International Students, Staff, and Scholars) program. As a language consultant, I partnered with an international student to assist them with their English conversation skills on a weekly basis. I found the experience highly enlightening, as it allowed me to engage in cultural exchange while sharpening my skills in conveying information. As someone who aspires to work internationally, the experience provided me with a wonderful opportunity to practice engaging with someone of a different cultural background in a professional setting.
Why did you apply to the Roadmap Scholars Initiative?
As a Posse Scholar, I understand the value of community when it comes to having access to support in and out of the classroom. The Roadmap Scholar Initiative’s cohort-based structure provides a vibrant community of individuals who have similar career and education goals. Therefore, the opportunity to be a part of a program and support system specifically geared toward law school preparation immediately intrigued me.
Why are you interested in becoming a lawyer?
My interest in becoming a lawyer lies within my desire to help promote and protect the welfare of women and children internationally and domestically. I believe the law remains historically and presently a crucial mechanism for the protection of vulnerable populations. Therefore, I believe as a lawyer I will have the opportunity to serve as a problem-solver when it comes to gender-based issues within the law.
Carson Livingston Cross
Hometown: Columbus, Ohio
Undergraduate school: Lees-McRae College
Who are your biggest influences and why?
My grandfather is my biggest influence. The summer after my junior year of high school, my grandfather, despite having cancer, agreed to take me on a tour of the South to look at colleges that we thought would be the best fit for me. He died while we were on this tour. The last conversation I remember having with him was his advice to me to use the intellectual gifts that God has blessed me with to try to create change for people like us, the working class. Since my grandfather’s death, I have felt his hand on my shoulder with every choice I have made. I believe that he has guided me through college and into this program. It is my firm belief and hope that he will continue to guide me through my future.
What's a fun fact or experience about yourself that you’d like to share?
Since I’m from Ohio (the world’s most boring place), the only things to do for fun growing up were sports. I chose swimming as my sport and ended up swimming in college.
Why did you apply to the Roadmap Scholars Initiative?
For a long time, when I talked to people at social functions and told them I wanted to go to law school, they would react in one of two ways. If they wanted to go to law school, they would brag about what firm their dad worked for. If they didn’t want to go to law school, they would ask me if I knew any lawyers. I don’t know any lawyers, and I don’t have a dad, let alone one that works for a big law firm. My lack of connections in the legal industry made me feel as though I didn’t belong in the community. When I saw my college’s announcement about the Roadmap Scholars Initiative, I saw it as a way to gain the connections I would need to be successful in the legal field, and hopefully reach my goal of helping the working class.
Why are you interested in becoming a lawyer?
I would like to do something to help the middle and lower classes, although I’m not yet sure what that will entail.
Tamyah Johnson
Hometown: Anderson, South Carolina
Undergraduate school: North Carolina A&T
Who are your biggest influences and why?
I am most influenced by my family and my faith. My village is what motivates me to endeavor and strive for success. Christ is the source of my strength.
What’s a fun fact or experience about yourself that you’d like to share?
I danced ballet and played the violin for eight years.
Why did you apply to the Roadmap Scholars Initiative?
I applied to the Roadmap Scholars Initiative in order to fortify my future as a legal professional and experience the storied institution of the University of Virginia School of Law. This program has exceeded all expectations set forth and has been a blessing directly from above. My network has expanded through the relationships formed among the astounding legal professionals of this university and my gratifying fellow scholars.
Why are you interested in becoming a lawyer?
My aspiration in life is to create a means to excel for underrepresented and underserved individuals. As a future legal professional, I intend to initially focus on cases for the protection and wellbeing of children, along with special victims. My experience as a Roadmap Scholar has also reminded me of the importance of legal education and has inspired me to pursue academia at the latter end of my career.
Alan Macias
Hometown: Dallas, Texas
Undergraduate school: University of Virginia
Who are your biggest influences and why?
My biggest influence is my family. My mom and my two sisters have been with me every step of the way. They ingrained in me the importance of integrity and always doing the right thing, even when no one is looking.
What’s a fun fact or experience about yourself that you’d like to share?
I was in the U.S. Navy for five years. I value that experience a lot because it reinforced my passion for public service.
Why did you apply to the Roadmap Scholars Initiative?
I applied to the Roadmap Scholars Initiative because the idea of taking seminars from UVA Law School professors seemed like a no-brainer. I also work better with a team, so the idea of learning with a cohort seemed very interesting.
Why are you interested in becoming a lawyer?
I am interested in becoming a lawyer because I believe in public service and giving back to underprivileged communities. Historically the law has not been administered equally throughout minority communities and I want to play a role in changing that.
Samantha Navarro
Hometown: Hampton, Virginia, and La Ceiba, Honduras
Undergraduate school: Christopher Newport University
Who are your biggest influences and why?
My parents. They have played a pivotal role in shaping me into the person I am today. They influence me not to be afraid of my aspirations and always strive for success. Without their sacrifices and support, I would not be able to be here today.
What’s a fun fact or experience about yourself that you'd like to share?
I like scary movies.
Why did you apply to the Roadmap Scholars Initiative?
I applied to the Roadmap Scholars Initiative because as a first-generation, low-income and minority student, it renders me the opportunity to learn more in-depth about the legal profession and everything it has to offer. The program also provides ongoing support and aids students in navigating the law school admissions process, which would be advantageous for students like me who are interested in pursuing a legal career but lack exposure and access to learn about the process.
Why are you interested in becoming a lawyer?
Growing up in Honduras, a country where corruption prevails and justice is overlooked, made me realize the importance of a fair legal system. A career in the legal field can provide me with the opportunity to advocate for social equity, protect the rights of the most vulnerable and establish minimum standards of behavior in our society.
Dianey Navor
Hometown: La Puente, California
Undergraduate school: University of California, Los Angeles
Who are your biggest influences and why?
My biggest influences are my parents. They are the epitome of unwavering strength, who continue to overcome obstacles in the face of adversity. They influence me to continue the heavy fight and take up space in places my ancestors only dreamed of.
What’s a fun fact or experience about yourself that you'd like to share?
I love solving 1,000-plus-piece puzzles.
Why did you apply to the Roadmap Scholars Initiative?
I was drawn to the Roadmap Scholars Initiative by the unique commitment to guiding aspiring law students through firsthand exposure. The number of first-generation, low-income Latinas in law is very small, so I wanted to ensure that I was seeking opportunities and resources that would support me in the process of applying to law school. This program is one of its kind and as part of the inaugural cohort, I have found a community of students with similar aspirations for a career in law.
Why are you interested in becoming a lawyer?
As a lawyer, I will be actively involved in the development and advocacy of positive change by initiating intellectually generous conversations. I will be keenly equipped to interpret the language that sets the foundation of the rights of the people in this country and understanding the ways in which certain communities are affected by this language.
Diane Pfeifer
Hometown: Originally from Tooele, Utah; last 2½ years in Red Springs, North Carolina
Undergraduate school: University of North Carolina, Pembroke
Who are your biggest influences and why?
My grandmother was a divorced, single parent in the 1950s raising a daughter while working two jobs. She’d been raised in a religious culture that stressed the importance of a traditional family where the mother was a homemaker. In order to create a life for both her daughter and herself, she had to step outside of societal norms. It was because of her fortitude that I became passionate about working hard to become who I wanted to be, and recognized that I could be and do anything.
What’s a fun fact or experience about yourself that you'd like to share?
I’m a mother to four and a grandmother to five wonderful and amazing humans. I become a better person each day by seeing the world through their eyes, imagining their ideology of true equality is realized.
Why did you apply to the Roadmap Scholars Initiative?
As a first-generation and nontraditional college student, I strongly believe I need to demonstrate to both my children and grandchildren that they can achieve whatever they set out to achieve. I’ve dreamed of being a lawyer for as long as I can remember. Originally, I thought that dream was just beyond my grasp. When the Roadmap Scholars opportunity became available, I realized that dream was within reach. The mentoring, coaching and connections the Roadmap Scholars Initiative offers are instrumental to becoming an attorney.
Why are you interested in becoming a lawyer?
Through my both my professional and personal experiences, I’ve seen the injustices that happen to people through a breach of data privacy. I believe that I have an opportunity to make positive impacts in our future of technology by ensuring we have adequate and equal laws and rules to protect our citizens. By becoming a lawyer, I can help protect our future generations.
Kayla Richardson
Hometown: Little Rock, Arkansas
Undergraduate school: Hollins University
Who are your biggest influences and why?
My family, both blood and chosen, is my biggest influence. They encourage me to be better every day and I wouldn’t be who I am without them in my life. Because of them, I will always strive to push myself to be better so that I can make the world around me more positive. I continue to work hard so that one day I can possibly be able to give back even half of what they have given me.
What's a fun fact or experience about yourself that you'd like to share?
I’ve lived in five states and I wasn’t a military kid.
Why did you apply to the Roadmap Scholars Initiative?
I knew that Roadmap would provide not just short-term benefits, but long-term as well, whether that be in the form of LSAT preparation, connections or getting an overall better understanding of law school and what I want to do with it. Longevity is something that was unique to this program.
Why are you interested in becoming a lawyer?
I'm interested in becoming a lawyer because I want to represent the underrepresented and I recognize that I need to be the change that I want to see.
Blessing Roland-Magaji
Hometown: Arlington, Texas
Undergraduate school: Scripps College
Who are your biggest influences and why?
My grandmother has described her grandchildren as being her wildest dreams come true. As a woman who came from colonization to living in America, she has taught me to not let my circumstances or the narrative of my life define me, but to embrace who I am, work hard and keep faith, and I am so grateful to her for doing that for me. Nina Simone taught me similar lessons on embracing who I am, but she also taught me to feel beautiful and to feel all my emotions about the past and the future. While I still am chasing the freedom she describes as having “no fear,” I am grateful that she has taught me through her words and as a representation of Black women everywhere that your value cannot be defined by [other] people, and freeing yourself from that is a beautiful thing. As I journey the world with my identities and continual experiences that have put me in places I wouldn't like to be, Black women and nonbinary folks have inspired me by pursuing the life and the world they want to see, and I hope I can do that for the rest of my life.
What’s a fun fact or experience about yourself that you’d like to share?
A fun fact about me was that I was an Irish dancer for years in Ireland, and I think that my big blonde Irish wig — which felt glued to my head — is the reason we won a championship when I was 7. I’ve competed in every traditional Irish sport or tradition (dancing, rugby, hurling and Gaelic football).
Why did you apply to the Roadmap Scholars Initiative?
I applied because I wanted to be able to understand whether becoming a lawyer was going to be an option for me. Also, mentorship and community support has carried me through all levels of schooling and life in general. As I navigate my experience at a predominately white institution and being a first-gen student, I longed to be in a program where I am surrounded by supportive people and a place where I didn’t feel like I was “missing anything.” I also was really excited about the idea of exploring different areas of the law to help solidify my interests.
Why are you interested in becoming a lawyer?
When I entered college, I had a skewed view that the only way to uproot my family from poverty was to pursue medicine. In high school, I did much volunteering in a medical hospital. What I enjoyed was assisting people in reading their paperwork or calling their providers to help advocate for better materials. I didn’t realize at the time that my interest in medicine was from the standpoint of understanding the discrepancies in medical access and medical care, along with a lack of accommodation for people’s needs. In the last two years, I have started to look at these concerns through the lens of the law. As a result, I became interested in looking at the law as an avenue to address the medical malpractice and scientific theft that not only damages people but also has a significant disparate effect on BIPOC [Black, indigenous and people of color] communities.
Jonah Vazquez
Hometown: New York City
Undergraduate school: Vanderbilt University
Who are your biggest influences and why?
Albeit a bit cheesy, my mom has had the greatest influence in my life. A woman robbed of opportunity by systematic inequity, she inspires me on every step of my journey to do not only what I love, but to do it well. With everything I do, I carry the knowledge that she deserved better from the system. I’m working to one day fix that system.
What's a fun fact or experience about yourself that you'd like to share?
In high school, I got CTE-certified in AutoCAD [software used for modeling construction, electrical and other diagrams]. I thought I wanted to be an architect before deciding law was the field for me!
Why did you apply to the Roadmap Scholars Initiative?
I knew it was for me when I read about the long-term support from not only UVA Law, but from my fellow Roadmap Scholars. I’m a Posse Scholar and Posse has made me absolutely cherish what it means to have a group of peers support you. I wanted, from the bottom of my heart, to bring that same familial love to the Roadmap Scholars Initiative. Thankfully, I’ve gotten so close to a lot of my fellow Roadmap Scholars and I wholeheartedly wouldn’t have chosen to spend this summer any other way. I’ve met loving, passionate, intelligent and inspiring individuals to learn, laugh and even sometimes cry with. I applied to the Roadmap Scholars to create family built on shared passion. Without a doubt, I’ve found more than that. I’ve found leaders of tomorrow who I can say I love and am so thankful to have gotten to know!
Why are you interested in becoming a lawyer?
There’s change to be made and I’m tired of waiting. Undoubtedly, “We, the people...” deserve so much better. I'm here to make it happen.
Clementina Aboagye
Hometown: New York
Undergraduate school: Colgate University
Who are your biggest influences and why?
My biggest influences are my brothers. My brothers have had a profound impact on the way in which I treat those around me and the importance of empathy and compassion in everything that I do. My brothers also serve as a reminder of what it means to have a strong support system of people who show unwavering love and continue to give me room to grow and learn every day.
What’s a fun fact or experience about yourself that you’d like to share?
I have been taking French since my freshman year of high school, so I have been learning the language for about six years now. Often many immigrants who are in jeopardy of being deported do not have the financial capacity to hire an attorney, no less one that can accommodate their individual needs by speaking their language. This is what motivated me to start learning a third language during high school. I chose French because it is spoken by a lot of people in West Africa. Many West Africans leave their homes in search of opportunity and refuge, and need legal protection in the process. With my love of learning new languages and building a cultural understanding, it is my aim to represent these individuals through my work as an immigration attorney or an international lawyer for the United Nations.
Why did you apply to the Roadmap Scholars Initiative?
I was very excited to apply for the Roadmap Scholars Initiative because of the emphasis it placed on accessibility for first-generation and low-income students interested in law. Becoming a lawyer is not just going to be a function of my life that I have yet to get to. It is a dream and a goal that I have been pursuing from a young age. With the Roadmap Scholars Initiative, I will get the opportunity to gain hands-on experience and be motivated to contribute toward meaningful action that can create an impact on a grand scale.
Why are you interested in becoming a lawyer?
I grew up in Ghana, West Africa, as the oldest of four siblings and immigrated to the United States in 2012. My interest in law started early when I recognized that the economic disparities paralleled in my Ghanaian and Bronx neighborhoods created legal injustices for poor people. With the dynamics of changing presidential administrations, I became interested in immigration policy and immigrant rights. I realized that lawyers have the power to be agents of change – a responsibility that needs introspective, empathetic, patient and knowledgeable advocates.
Jacob Butler
Hometown: Clayton, North Carolina
Undergraduate school: University of North Carolina, Pembroke
Who are your biggest influences and why?
My family is and always will be my biggest influence. Everything I believe in and stand for came from my family. My father taught me to be strong and to push forward in difficult times. My mother taught me to be kind even when others are not. My brother taught me that I am never alone. My family is the reason I am here today.
What’s a fun fact or experience about yourself that you'd like to share?
I interned at the Lumbee Tribe Cultural Center in North Carolina, helping to restore indigenous materials. Most memorably, I recreated a tribal canoe that will be placed in a museum.
Why did you apply to the Roadmap Scholars Initiative?
I applied because I saw it as a gateway into the legal field. It was a chance to learn about various legal practices in a safe learning environment that would also help me network. I was most looking forward to meeting other aspiring law students that had similar goals. I knew this program would be the best option for my future!
Why are you interested in becoming a lawyer?
My community inspired me to become a lawyer. While I grew up in Chadbourn, the area is called New Hope. Growing up, I saw the place I called home crumble and become a place I hardly recognized. This made me want to act for my community. While I originally wanted to specialize in [health care] law, after this program I believe politics is a better place for me and my goals for the future.
Stephany Lindo Batlle
Hometown: Barranquilla, Colombia and Virginia Beach, Virginia
Undergraduate school: Christopher Newport University
Who are your biggest influences and why?
I have been blessed with two beautiful human beings: my mom and dad. They have shaped me into who I am today and established the foundation for my dreams to come true. Throughout my life, they have shown me that love and hope are key to a happy life, even through difficult times.
What’s a fun fact or experience about yourself that you'd like to share?
I once read five novels in a week.
Why did you apply to the Roadmap Scholars Initiative?
This program piqued my interest the moment my co-worker and friend Sam, a scholar from the first cohort, told me about it. I saw the Initiative as an opportunity to learn more about the career I wanted to pursue while making meaningful connections with other students who shared similar interests.
Why are you interested in becoming a lawyer?
Growing up in Colombia was an experience I would never trade for anything in the world. The culture, people and atmosphere of such a vibrant country will forever be part of who I am. However, the governmental corruption made me dive into the complexities of being a litigator in Colombia. Despite the risks and poor reputation that follow lawyers, I was determined to demonstrate that lawyers could be the change. That and I watched every episode of “How To Get Away With Murder” and “Suits.”
Sarah Beddingfield
Hometown: Dunlap, Illinois
Undergraduate school: Liberty University
Who are your biggest influences and why?
Definitely my family, especially my parents and grandparents. My mom instilled in me a love for learning early on in life, but beyond that, she demonstrated what it looks like to steward every opportunity and talent that God gives us — such as education — to serve for His glory. My dad instilled in me a faith that drives everything I do, such as my passion to pursue public interest law. My grandparents didn’t have advanced education, but they worked harder than anyone I know and their faithfulness reminds me daily that it’s not about the titles or status, but about living out your calling. They’re all my biggest cheerleaders and have always reminded me of who I am — and whose I am — through every step of the journey.
What’s a fun fact or experience about yourself that you’d like to share?
Last year I broke three bones in my arm jumping in a bouncy house and didn’t realize it for six months! Yes, my arm was in pain, but I was adamant that it was fine. (Mostly because I didn’t want to go to the doctor.) I ended up spending my birthday in the emergency room getting it examined and braced. Wouldn’t recommend!
Why did you apply to the Roadmap Scholars Initiative?
Law school has been a dream of mine for years, but it’s an incredibly complex and often expensive process. This opportunity offered me access to LSAT prep, mentorship, career opportunities and guidance that I would never have been able to receive on my own. And the courses during my first summer gave me the chance to see what law school is like and find out if it’s what I truly want to do. It didn’t take me long in my first few classes to absolutely fall in love with the coursework and confirm that this was the path I wanted to take!
Why are you interested in becoming a lawyer?
I was inspired by a few different life circumstances to enter the legal field, but most recently, I was inspired by my younger siblings who joined our family through foster care. In our current justice system, children are overlooked and given little to no voice. Often there is little to no penalty for harming a child while harming another adult will have serious consequences, and cases play out for years on end with the children suffering the consequences of instability in the meantime. I saw this play out time and time again with each of my family’s foster placements. Their stories, as well as the work of the assistant attorneys assigned to their cases, really inspired me to join the legal field. The plan right now is to work as a prosecutor handling foster care cases or work in a public interest role in constitutional law. Either way, I just want to use my qualifications to serve and protect others.
Morgan Gaspar
Hometown: Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Undergraduate school: University of Nebraska, Lincoln
Who are your biggest influences and why?
My biggest influences have been the people I have had the opportunity to work with at various jobs throughout my high school and college experience. Forming relationships with individuals whom I may otherwise be unlikely to meet has influenced the way I view the world, because each of them has provided me with a perspective that was unfamiliar. Being exposed to such a range of people has challenged the way I think and allowed me to grow.
What’s a fun fact or experience about yourself that you’d like to share?
I am a nerd about sparkling water.
Why did you apply to the Roadmap Scholars Initiative?
I value working in a group, especially with those who have backgrounds different from mine. I knew that being able to learn from both the professors at UVA Law and from my peers would provide me with knowledge and new ways of thinking that will be invaluable in law school.
Why are you interested in becoming a lawyer?
Because I know it will better enable me to engage in activism while simultaneously improving the lives of individual clients.
Alexandra Held-Villasenor
Hometown: Brooklyn, New York
Undergraduate school: University of Virginia
Who are your biggest influences and why?
My biggest influences are my parents, whose unwavering support and hard work have provided me with so many opportunities they were never afforded. The values and lessons they instilled in me have motivated me to contribute to and create the change I want to see in the world.
What’s a fun fact or experience about yourself that you’d like to share?
I love both making and studying art! When it comes to my art, my favorite forms are calligraphy and watercolor painting.
Why did you apply to the Roadmap Scholars Initiative?
I have always had a passion for social justice and activism and was interested in exploring how that passion could take the form of a legal career. In a stroke of good luck, I heard about this program from two scholars in the inaugural cohort, who happened to be in a group project with me. Roadmap is an amazing, one-of-a-kind opportunity that gives under-resourced students insight into all aspects of applying to and attending law school, as well as the various career pathways that exist beyond.
Why are you interested in becoming a lawyer?
My experiences as a native New Yorker and as the daughter of two immigrants has guided my ambition to become an immigration lawyer in the United States.
Cindie Huerta
Hometown: Chicago
Undergraduate school: Mount Holyoke College
Who are your biggest influences and why?
My mom, younger brother and grandparents are my biggest influences. They are the pillars of my life and my greatest support system. They instill in me the importance of hard work, perseverance and unwavering effort.
What’s a fun fact or experience about yourself that you’d like to share?
I am a black belt in Taekwondo.
Why did you apply to the Roadmap Scholars Initiative?
My exposure to law school and the legal profession was limited; however, Roadmap’s mission was to change that for students like me. Thus, I was encouraged to apply. The thought and effort the faculty put into the program was clear throughout the application process. Because of that, I knew the experience would be valuable and help me develop me into a more confident and adept pre-law student.
Why are you interested in becoming a lawyer?
While I do enjoy the intellectual challenge of reading and interpreting the law — and “thinking like a lawyer” — at the core of it, I want to use my education for good and change unjust systems. My dad was incarcerated my freshman year of high school, and that direct exposure to the legal system inspired me to make a difference. Outside of criminal justice, my passions have also grown and into environmental and housing advocacy, which are all often intertwined. I look forward to using my legal education and degree to be an advocate and a steward of change.
Sohyoung “SJ” Jeong
Hometown: St. Paul, Minnesota
Undergraduate school: Vassar College
Who are your biggest influences and why?
My biggest influence is my little sister and, in a roundabout way, me as a child. My sister is close to my heart, always caring for me through encouraging reminders and phone calls. She also reminds me of myself at her age, [so] my younger self pushes me and everything I accomplish is for her.
What’s a fun fact or experience about yourself that you'd like to share?
I was born missing a tooth.
Why did you apply to the Roadmap Scholars Initiative?
As an Asian American immigrant student, I’ve learned throughout college that resources and connections are not readily available for the marginalized in the U.S., especially for those aspiring to a career in law. Roadmap Scholars is an amazing program that supports students in ways institutions rarely do, really prioritizing accessibility to education.
Why are you interested in becoming a lawyer?
My identity includes a very specific experience with the law, being an immigrant. I’ve always been fascinated by it and learning more at Roadmap has only grown this interest. Even though I don’t know exactly what kind of law I want to practice, I know that at the core of it is my desire to serve underrepresented clients in their quest for justice.
Karen Lau
Hometown: Norwich, Connecticut
Undergraduate school: University of Connecticut
Who are your biggest influences and why?
My parents are, without a doubt, my biggest inspirations. They overcame poverty, xenophobia and illiteracy to provide for my future. My father was the youngest child in his family to immigrate to the U.S. from a rural village in China. At age 16, he was the only child eligible to attend school while his siblings and parents washed dishes at restaurants, cleaned bathrooms and sewed clothes at garment shops. At age 24, my mother immigrated to the U.S., giving up a fulfilling career as a respected kindergarten teacher to work first as a secretary and then a card dealer. Because of my parents’ sacrifices, I’ve never worried about going hungry and I have the privilege of nourishing my mind and cultivating my passions. Their resilience motivates me to keep swimming against the current of injustice and to represent my culture and heritage with pride and gratitude.
What’s a fun fact or experience about yourself that you'd like to share?
I traveled to the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt last fall as a UConn@COP27 Fellow, where I had the rare opportunity of witnessing negotiations between countries and hearing from plaintiffs who sued their governments in climate trials. This experience inspired me to devote myself to environmental justice and learn more about climate and energy policy.
Why did you apply to the Roadmap Scholars Initiative?
I applied to the Roadmap Scholars Initiative to join a community of aspiring attorneys, advocates and leaders who could support each other on our journeys to law school. Roadmap has thoroughly demystified the academic environment of law school while setting the bar for a rigorous, thought-provoking curriculum and school culture centered on our common humanity, social justice and equity. I hoped to learn more about education law and policy, racial justice and the law, and the federal court system, and this program has exceeded my hopes by miles.
Why are you interested in becoming a lawyer?
I see the law as the most effective way to correct racial and socioeconomic disparities, empower communities to exercise and defend their rights, and protect the voiceless. I want to serve my community, especially youth, immigrant workers and labor unions, as an education and labor lawyer. Education policy can give agency to marginalized students, empowering them to succeed intellectually and economically, but it can also be weaponized to dehumanize their histories and identities. To me, education is the greatest defender of democracy. As a future attorney, I will pursue litigation to reduce the achievement gap and to ensure that all children have access to the education they deserve.
Michelle Law
Hometown: Manassas, Virginia
Undergraduate school: University of Virginia
Who are your biggest influences and why?
My dad and my community. My dad was a government investigator, and he would always talk about the way lawyers helped people. My Manassas community is full of immigrants, including my own family. (I’m a fifth-generation American on my dad’s side, but my mom immigrated here from China.) While seeing my friends worry about deportation, I learned the law isn’t always as fair or accessible as I had always imagined.
What’s a fun fact or experience about yourself that you'd like to share?
Although I’ve always said I want to be an “attorney” someday — because I prefer the clean, strong sound of the word instead of “lawyer” — I also joke that my ultimate goal is to start my own law firm with other family members, so that we can be the “Law, Law & Law Law Firm.” Or maybe I’ll write my own legal dictionary, “Law’s Law,” or textbook, “Law on Law”? Ironically, “Law” is probably not our family’s original name. We think immigration officials changed it, and my father’s papers were all lost in a San Francisco earthquake.
Why did you apply to the Roadmap Scholars Initiative?
To confirm my passion for the law and to finally figure out whether I should take a gap year. When I was reading about this program, I really enjoyed the idea of building a community of people who have similar aspirations and will push each other to thrive.
Why are you interested in becoming a lawyer?
When I was 4, my family lost some land through the government’s exercise of eminent domain. I just thought that seemed unfair, so I told my dad then that I wanted to be “an attorney” someday. I want to help people, and the legal field just called to me. Plus, with my last name, I kind of have to — even if I take on a married name, I can reassure my clients by saying, “Don’t worry, Law is literally my middle name.”
Magally Ortiz-Rojas
Hometown: Lumberton, North Carolina
Undergraduate school: University of North Carolina, Pembroke
Who are your biggest influences and why?
My little brother and my community! He has always believed and supported me throughout my life. His unique perspective of the world continuously inspires me to be a better version of myself. I grew up here in Robeson County, so I spent K-12 here and I currently attend college here. I have met so many individuals throughout my life who have opened doors for my success. I could not be any more grateful for the countless opportunities, support and guidance.
What’s a fun fact or experience about yourself that you'd like to share?
I have eight dogs and I am an animal lover! I would love to run an animal sanctuary in my older years
Why did you apply to the Roadmap Scholars Initiative?
I wanted to gain a greater understanding of the legal field and networking opportunities. I am a first-generation student in college so navigating the application process and the first year was extremely challenging. I wanted to be prepared to make better choices when choosing an area of law and the law school I will attend.
Why are you interested in becoming a lawyer?
I come from a family of immigrants and have seen the system continuously fail to provide an attainable pathway to citizenship. I want to help others navigate the system and hopefully be able to change the way the system works.
Terrell Pittman
Hometown: Emporia, Virginia
Undergraduate school: University of Virginia
Who are your biggest influences and why?
My biggest influences in my life are my mother and my four older siblings. I’ve watched my mother go through so much, and seeing the tremendous amount of resilience she possesses has been my number one reason to keep going. Being the youngest of five, my siblings are also a huge source of inspiration for me, as I’ve had the pleasure of watching each of them flourish into the young adults they are. Lastly, a huge shout-out to the village! Their unwavering support has inspired me to keep striving for greatness every single day.
What’s a fun fact or experience about yourself that you'd like to share?
In the fall, I will be going abroad for the Semester at Sea program. I’ll be traveling to 11 different countries over the course of 105 days, while taking classes with students from all over the world. As someone who has never traveled, I’m really looking forward it!
Why did you apply to the Roadmap Scholars Initiative?
I have known for a long time that I wanted to become a lawyer, but I never had a concrete plan on how I would get there. So, what really attracted me to the Roadmap Scholars Initiative was the overall structure it provides. Without Roadmap, I would not have access to the LSAT prep, mentorship, application support, internships and networking opportunities the program provides. Roadmap gives me the law school blueprint that I would have otherwise had to figure out for myself. It also really piqued my interest that the program exposes students to many different areas of law.
Why are you interested in becoming a lawyer?
The first time I thought about being a lawyer was when I was falsely accused of committing a felony at the age of 13 years old and my court-appointed lawyer suggested that I accept a bargain pleading guilty to a misdemeanor — despite my innocence and a clear lack of evidence connecting me to the crime. Had I taken the plea, the chances of me being where I am today would have been little to none. That firsthand experience of not feeling seen and heard within the court system sparked my interest in law, and ever since that moment I have aspired to be the lawyer who helps the next innocent Black boy just like me. With my genuine passion for helping others, I truly know law is my calling. I really want to help those who cannot help themselves.
Ali Smith
Hometown: Alexandria, Virginia, and Oviedo, Florida
Undergraduate school: University of Virginia
Who are your biggest influences and why?
My biggest influences are my aunt, who is a teacher, and other teachers scattered throughout my life. Education is the only reason I am where I am today, and my outstanding teachers have been great supports in both the academic and personal realm. My aunt nurtured a love of education — focused on reading, analyzing and problem-solving — from a very early age and is inspiring in countless ways besides.
What’s a fun fact or experience about yourself that you’d like to share?
I have a superpower: built-in earplugs. Also, I can wiggle my ears. Because of “Matilda,” I always thought I would discover my telekinesis abilities one day (any day now), but my real superpower is that when I squeeze my ears up, loud sounds get quieter and quieter sounds get drowned out by a thunder-like rumble, basically a built-in earplug.
Why did you apply to the Roadmap Scholars Initiative?
I have been interested in the legal profession for many years but have always been vehemently discouraged by lawyers who do not like their jobs [telling me] to choose a different profession. I applied so that I could find a community of people who, like me, had not had many positive experiences (if any) with the legal system and profession yet still found their calling in the law.
Why are you interested in becoming a lawyer?
Barack Obama said it best, “Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. […] We are the change that we seek.” And there is much change to be had.
Cydne Swanson
Hometown: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Undergraduate school: University of Virginia
Who are your biggest influences and why?
Throughout my life, my mom has always encouraged me to experience new things that allow me to connect and meet with new people who challenge and teach me new things. She made sure to put me in spaces that she did not have the opportunity to occupy. Without my mother, I would not be the woman I continue to grow into today. Without my mother, I would not be a Roadmap Scholar.
What’s a fun fact or experience about yourself that you'd like to share?
I think I might be addicted to rom-coms!
Why did you apply to the Roadmap Scholars Initiative?
Because I am a first-generation student with a dream of going to law school but I don't know the steps to get there. The Roadmap initiative provides those steps for students like me. I wanted to be surrounded by professors who were willing to teach me more about law and give me advice on how I could reach my goal. Being a part of this program has given me that and so much more.
Why are you interested in becoming a lawyer?
I believe in community investments that enact change across all systems, especially our legal ones. With my law degree, I hope to practice criminal defense at my own law firm, specializing in justice for Black communities and employing [former] felons. I know that I, as a singular individual practicing law, cannot abolish the entire system. However, I hope to be a part of the slowly but surely progressing movement to free those imprisoned who were systematically failed from the start.
Ayxa Agraz
Hometown: Nyeland Acres, California
Undergraduate school: California Lutheran University
What is a fun fact or experience about yourself that you would like to share?
I spent my spring break volunteering abroad in Guatemala, where I focused on initiatives such as constructing wooden stoves to reduce lung cancer among Indigenous women in rural areas. For many of the women I assisted, these stoves were not just a vital health intervention, ultimately extending their lifespan, but also a rare possession and an opportunity for autonomy, something not frequently granted to the Indigenous women in Guatemala.
Why did you apply to the Roadmap Scholars Initiative?
Ever since I was a little girl, I dreamed of going to law school. Growing up, I was often told that law school was too expensive and too difficult to achieve, especially for someone like me — a Latina and the first in my family to pursue higher education. Despite these discouraging messages, my passion for law remained unwavering. When I learned about the Roadmap Scholars Initiative, I saw it as the perfect opportunity to transform my aspirations into reality. I applied to the Roadmap Scholars Initiative because it offers the support and resources I need to overcome the challenges associated with applying to law school. The Roadmap Scholars Initiative believes in empowering students like me by providing the essential skills, knowledge and exposure necessary for success in law school.
Why are you interested in becoming a lawyer?
For me, the answer lies in the desire to create change within a system that is often unjust and lacks proper representation. Growing up, I witnessed firsthand how marginalized communities are disproportionately affected by legal inequities. As a lawyer, I can advocate for those who are often voiceless in the system. I am committed to using my career to fight for social justice, support underrepresented communities and help build a legal system that truly serves all its constituents. Becoming a lawyer is not just a career path for me, but a calling to make a tangible difference in the world.
Zonna Amin
Hometown: Fairfax, Virginia
Undergraduate school: University of Virginia
What is a fun fact or experience about yourself that you would like to share?
I have a twin sister who is also really passionate about law!
Why did you apply to the Roadmap Scholars Initiative?
I value inclusive opportunities and I believe the Roadmap Scholars Initiative is definitely one that will help make my legal journey more accessible. This program promotes diversity of thought and experiences, and I am eager to learn from this invaluable opportunity alongside my determined peers.
Why are you interested in becoming a lawyer?
A profession in law would give me the chance to better the lives of those who seek not only justice but also reformation. I am passionate about continuous learning and want to use my education as a stimulus to reform our current legal frameworks, promoting reliable justice and positive reformation for future generations.
Sammy Bracy
Hometown: I was born and raised in Portsmouth, Virginia, but have been living in Portland, Indiana, for the last 10 years.
Undergraduate school: Indiana Wesleyan University.
What is a fun fact or experience about yourself that you would like to share?
I love skateboarding! I’ve been skateboarding for a little over three years now and enjoy going to as many parks as possible to meet new people.
Why did you apply to the Roadmap Scholars Initiative?
As a first-generation, low-income college student, I found a variety of barriers out of my control that make law school not easily accessible. The Roadmap Scholars Initiative provides the direction and support for helping me actualize my dreams of entering into the legal field.
Why are you interested in becoming a lawyer?
Promoting the common good is a biblical principle that I feel commanded to adhere to. Law is the very process in which order is established, evil is punished and justice prevails. I feel that God’s hand can be seen moving in the legal field and its promotion of justice, a process that I feel called to engage with.
Momore Del-Davidson
Hometown: Burtonsville, Maryland, and Houston, Texas
Undergraduate school: University of Virginia
What is a fun fact or experience about yourself that you would like to share?
Because of the scary “momo” character on the internet during my elementary school days, my entire name was banned from being searched on district servers.
Why did you apply to the Roadmap Scholars Initiative?
I was able to speak to Roadmap alumni who encouraged me to apply. They all had great experiences with the LSAT prep resources, the faculty and staff they interacted with, and other members of their cohort. Based on all the positive things I heard, I knew Roadmap would be a place where I could thrive and feel supported.
Why are you interested in becoming a lawyer?
I fell in love with the intellectual challenges of being a lawyer through the TV show “Scandal.” I knew that I wanted to solve difficult problems and stretch my mind to do it. I also have an interest in disability rights and advocacy. I want to combine my passion for problem-solving with disability rights, a field of policy that has improved but still requires much work to achieve equity.
Juleydi Franco-Ramos
Hometown: Crossville, Alabama
Undergraduate school: University of Alabama
What is a fun fact or experience about yourself that you would like to share?
I have a total of 31,649 photos in my camera roll. I can guarantee you that over 50% of them are pictures of my cat. I also enjoy capturing every moment; it’s my way of preserving memories.
Why did you apply to the Roadmap Scholars Initiative?
I discovered the Roadmap Scholars Initiative through my university’s pre-law association. Upon reading about the program’s objectives, I immediately knew I had to apply. The initiative’s goal of helping undergraduate students learn about the legal profession and become competitive applicants strongly interested me.
Why are you interested in becoming a lawyer?
When I was young, I wanted to become a lawyer because my name contains the word “law.” You might be curious about where the word “law” appears in “Juleydi.” Well, when translated into Spanish, “law” becomes “ley,” which I took as a sign to pursue a legal career. Now, as I have grown older and gained a deeper understanding of the legal profession, I now aspire to advocate for individuals facing injustices and contribute to efforts aimed at eliminating existing inequalities.
Daniela Garcia Montoya
Hometown: Queens, New York
Undergraduate school: Furman University
What is a fun fact or experience about yourself that you would like to share?
I can sing most genres of music, like opera, pop, traditional Colombian songs and others. It’s one of my favorite pastimes!
Why did you apply to the Roadmap Scholars Initiative?
It was evident to me that following a career in law would be an uphill climb — seeking resources and knowledge that could only be attained through time and connections. The initiative was an ideal solution that provides these resources to students with the drive to succeed.
Why are you interested in becoming a lawyer?
My greatest career goal is to provide others with the safety, protection and resources necessary to flourish. Nothing in life has filled me as serving others has and I want to dedicate my skills to that purpose.
Mariama Kargbo
Hometown: Woodbridge, Virginia
Undergraduate school: Norfolk State University
What is a fun fact or experience about yourself that you would like to share?
In 2020, during COVID, I started a braiding business after I couldn’t get a job due to the lockdown and stay-at-home orders.
Why did you apply to the Roadmap Scholars Initiative?
I applied to the Roadmap Scholars Initiative because of the pathway the program established for students aspiring to go into the legal profession. As a first-generation college student, I knew the process of applying to law school would be intense, but the Roadmap Scholars Initiative gives students access to the resources they need to navigate that process.
Why are you interested in becoming a lawyer?
I’ve always wanted to become a lawyer, but the pandemic helped me really understood why. Witnessing the marches and riots during that time, made me realize that simply advocating for change from the sidelines wasn’t enough. If I wanted to make a real difference, I needed to be in a position where I could actively implement change. Becoming a lawyer would give me the platform and the tools to do just that. I want to be able to use the law as a means for social justice, to help those who have been marginalized or oppressed, and to fight for a more equitable society.
Grace Lee
Hometown: Atlanta
Undergraduate school: Vanderbilt University
What is a fun fact or experience about yourself that you would like to share?
I have a twin sister who is one minute younger than me who also goes to Vanderbilt. Though we are twins, we are opposite in every way.
Why did you apply to the Roadmap Scholars Initiative?
The moment I laid eyes on what the Roadmap Scholars Initiative offers, it was very evident that they pour so much support and attention into their students. It would be an honor for me to grow under such an encouraging group of administrators, faculty mentors and fellow scholars aspiring toward similar dreams. I know that there is a whole new world out there for me to discover, and this program will be the one to guide me into the world of law and get a head start.
Why are you interested in becoming a lawyer?
I’m a Korean American who is fluent in Korean and also proficient in Chinese. I’ve been taking Chinese classes for years because the process of learning a new language that initially has no meaning and then gradually unveils its significance is so attractive to me. In the same way, law is like another intricate language that I want to master. This would be a language I can use to serve others in my community, represent those in need of support, and be a change-maker for the better.
Tanisha Liang
Hometown: Boston
Undergraduate school: Mount Holyoke College
What is a fun fact or experience about yourself that you would like to share?
I met Coach Bolton from “High School Musical” in eighth grade after watching “SpongeBob: The Musical”!
Why did you apply to the Roadmap Scholars Initiative?
After researching the program itself and what it entails, I knew that the Roadmap Scholars Initiative was something that could benefit me in ways many other programs couldn’t. As someone who was interested in the law field but didn’t have a clear understanding of what to do to get to law school or what to do with a law degree, I was compelled by Roadmap’s emphasis on expanding students’ knowledge on the questions I had been asking myself. Furthermore, the support that the program offers with LSAT preparation and law school applications was something that urged me to apply. As someone who will be the first in my family to pursue a law degree, having the opportunity to forge my path to law school with the support of the Roadmap Scholars Initiative was something I knew I could not pass up and had to apply for.
Why are you interested in becoming a lawyer?
During my senior year of high school, teachers began to protest by wearing red shirts as a result of not receiving a contract since the 2019-20 academic year. As a result, many students, including me, followed their lead in support; on weekends, we would join them outside of the school holding signs and on Fridays the hallways were flooded with red shirts. Since then, my interest in union representation within the legal field has grown. Currently, I am on the labor management committee for Mount Holyoke’s RA Union and have seen the firsthand effects of the importance of a contract and successful negotiations. By obtaining a law degree, I hope to represent labor unions like the ones my teachers are a part of and help to fight against systems of injustice that silence workers’ voices.
Eden McMillan
Hometown: Springfield, Virginia
Undergraduate school: Christopher Newport University
What is a fun fact or experience about yourself that you would like to share?
I have a pet frog. She is almost 4 years old.
Why did you apply to the Roadmap Scholars Initiative?
I first learned about the incredible opportunities offered by this program through my friend Stephany, a scholar from the second cohort, whom I got to know well over the past year. Steph’s guidance and insights into the program were instrumental in my decision to apply. Although I have long aspired to be a lawyer, I have often been uncertain about the right steps to achieve this goal. This program will not only affirm my passion for the field of law by helping me navigate the path to law school but also provide a support system of fellow aspiring attorneys who share similar experiences and goals.
Why are you interested in becoming a lawyer?
As a first-generation college student, I am deeply motivated to achieve significant milestones and make a meaningful impact in my community. My personal experiences have instilled in me a strong sense of resilience and determination, driving my desire to break down barriers for future generations. I aspire to combine these experiences with my professional goals to create a positive and lasting impact on society. Becoming a lawyer will enable me to serve as a role model and mentor for other first-generation students, demonstrating that with hard work and dedication, it is possible to overcome obstacles and achieve one’s dreams.
Francisco Paulino
Hometown: Santiago, Dominican Republic, but raised in the Bronx, New York
Undergraduate school: Vanderbilt University
What is a fun fact or experience about yourself that you would like to share?
I only have one wisdom tooth, and no, I have not taken it out yet.
Why did you apply to the Roadmap Scholars Initiative?
I first heard about the Roadmap Scholars Initiative when I was a freshman and it was because of a Junior Posse member and Roadmap Scholar. As I started to navigate my collegiate environment, I noticed that it is easy to become a small fish in a big pond. I applied to the Roadmap Scholars Initiative to expand my knowledge regarding law school and what’s expected of me, but to also where to start. As a first-generation college student, I don’t have any lawyers in my family, so without programs like the Roadmap Scholars Initiative, this process would 100% be 10 times harder.
Why are you interested in becoming a lawyer?
Growing up in the Bronx, I noticed many things that were going on that shouldn’t. Whether it was in the health care, educational or policing system, there were a lot of problems that everyone there grew accustomed to. All of this mainly became clear when I went to college and would see the differences between all my peers. I want to become a lawyer because I want to change the system that accustomed me to the insecurity and injustice at home, in whatever field I later decide.