Fellows

Isis Abou El Ghiet
Hinkley High School
Hastings College

Isis Abou El Ghiet was diagnosed with autism at the age of three. She began ABA therapy to help her overcome some of her social insecurities. For seven years, until she moved from Wisconsin to Colorado, Isis had intensive at-home ABA therapy. When Isis was four, her mom was starting her career as a teacher, working three jobs, and her dad was working odd-minimum wage jobs until he was told that he had to leave the country or he would be deported. Since then, Isis has only had one active parent in her life.

In high school, Isis was in the National Honor Society, National Art Honor Society, and the founder and president of A Novel Society. Isis received her Associate Degree of the Arts alongside her High School Diploma. The diversity in her high school has inspired her to learn more about different cultures and languages. However, Isis would like to apply that beyond just a translator and become a lawyer that works internationally.

In college, Isis plans to major in music and minor in political science at Hastings College in order to participate in her hobbies yet still have the skill set she needs to go to law school. Isis is happy about being in the LAW SCHOOL… Yes We Can program because she believes it will help her overcome her social insecurities and give her extra help that might not be needed for someone without autism. When she graduates from law school, she hopes to become a human rights lawyer and a court justice in the United Nations.

Xavier Ada
Pueblo East High School
University of Denver

Xavier Ada was born in Pueblo, Colorado. At the age of five he and his family moved to the island of Saipan located in the Northern Marianas Islands. Throughout his childhood in Saipan, he connected to his heritage by embracing and surrounding himself with all that his home had to offer. At the age of thirteen, Xavier and his family moved back to Pueblo, Colorado where he attended the rest of his primary schooling. Being the oldest of three siblings, he wanted to set a good example for his brothers to highlight the power of education.

Xavier graduated from Pueblo East High School in 2020. During high school, Xavier began to notice the ways in which policymaking and the law has an integral role within everyday life. While maintaining his position within the top ten of his graduating class, Xavier was involved in numerous activities such as choir, band, theater, and National Honors Society. For his freshmen, sophomore, and junior years of high school, Xavier represented the city of Pueblo as part of the Colorado Youth Advisory Council, which was made up of a board of students from all districts in Colorado. The program aimed to introduce policy proposals to the Colorado legislature at the end of each term.

Xavier is currently finishing his third year at the University Denver, where he is double majoring in Socio-Legal Studies and Criminology with a minor in Leadership. Xavier has held various leadership roles within his activity in the Pioneer Leadership Program. In addition, Xavier will be spending his summer of 2023 in being a congressional intern in Washington D.C. In learning more about law and policy, Xavier hopes to attend law school to work towards his dream of being an immigration attorney. With the help of LAW SCHOOL… Yes We Can, Xavier is excited to begin his journey towards a bright future.

Angel Amankwaah
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Early College
North Carolina Central University

Angel Amankwaah was born in Ghana, Africa, and moved to the United States at the age of five to Brooklyn, New York. Over the course of her childhood, she lived in four different states and attended over 11 schools. She had to learn how to constantly adapt to a new school, new curriculum, new community, and new city. Statistically, students who move a lot perform lower in school, but she surpassed this statistic. Every time she had to move, she was reminded how hard she had to work in school to ensure herself a life different from the one she grew up in.

Angel completed her Associate of Arts from the Community College of Aurora in Fall 2022 and will be graduating from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Early College with a 4.3 GPA this Spring. While in high school, Angel participated in many extracurriculars such as Denver Urban Debate League, Young Aspiring Americans for Social and Political Activism, Minds Matter Colorado, African American Young Ladies Summit, and Medical Career Collaborative Internship at Children's Hospital Colorado, and although she finished this internship unsure about a future career in medicine, she found an interest in health law. Working in a hospital and seeing first-hand inequities in patient care, sparked interest in her going into law and improving outcomes for historically underserved populations. By going into health law, Angel hopes to create policy changes that inform best practices and help individuals receive the care they deserve. 

In the fall of 2023, Angel will be attending North Carolina Central University double majoring in political science and public administration on the Cheatham-White Scholarship. Angel is more than thrilled to become a LAW SCHOOL...Yes We Can! Fellow to receive mentorship, guidance, and a network that will aid her in her journey to becoming a medical malpractice attorney.

Claire Babcock
George Washington High School
Colorado College

Claire Babcock was born and raised in Denver, Colorado and attended George Washington High School. During her time there she completed the IB program, joined many clubs, and was a swimmer. In addition, she was involved in mock trial and the Marshall Brennan Constitutional Literacy Project where she went to DC and was a national semi-finalist. Throughout High School, Claire juggled a part time job, school, sports, extracurricular activities, and taking care of her multiple autoimmune conditions. 

Claire credits a lot of her personal growth in high school to her experiences with law programs. Growing up, Claire was incredibly shy, didn’t know how to stand up for herself, and lacked confidence when handling her various autoimmune conditions. She credits mock trial and moot court as a huge help in her learning how to take care of herself.

Next year, Claire will attend Colorado College in Colorado Springs, where she plans on double majoring in Psychology and Economics, and minor in Anthropology. She hopes to join Model UN and Mock Trial to pursue her passions for international law. She is ecstatic to participate in LSYWC to explore law and meet likeminded individuals with similar goals. Claire hopes to become and international human rights lawyer of some sort someday, so she can help people feel free and able to pursue their own passions.

Yazzkhara “Serena” Bity Martinez
Emily Griffith High School
University of Colorado at Boulder

Growing up in a family of eight, Yazzkhara “Serena” Bity Martinez experienced first-hand the importance of hard work and grit. Her parents are great mentors and persevered through many struggles to achieve the American Dream. Her identity and cultural values are important to her as a first-generation college student, an adult learner, and a daughter of immigrants are what have shaped her identity today.

Serena uses she/her/ella pronouns and is from Aurora, Colorado. She is a first-generation Latina college student pursuing a degree in political science at the Community College of Aurora (CCA). During her time at CCA, she achieved a 3.9 GPA and has taken leadership roles in clubs and organizations such as, as the Student Government Association as Senator of Inclusive Excellence, President Phi Theta Kappa Honors Society, Member of Rotract Community Service Club, Delegate of Model United Nations, Leader of the LatinX Student Alliance, and work-study position in TRIO SSS Program as a Student Office Assistant. These organizations have aid her personal growth by letting her engage with individuals from various backgrounds. It has provided her with valuable knowledge and experience in interacting with different students, as well as a deeper understanding of the challenges and barriers that individuals encounter.

As a recent graduate, Serena will be transferring in the fall of 2023 to the University of Boulder to finish her bachelor’s degree in Ethnic Studies and minors in Leadership Studies, Political Science, and Spanish. She plans to apply to Harvard University to obtain an Immigration or Civil Rights Law degree. Because law is a predominantly white, male industry, there is a need for greater representation, especially from individuals in marginalized and minority communities. Women in law experience prejudice and encounter stereotypes, and she wants to change that by challenging systems that oppress marginalized communities. Serena is grateful and excited for this great opportunity being a fellow LAW SCHOOL...Yes We Can where she will have her dream attending law school become a reality.

Dominick Damper Kanuho
Holbrook High School
Fort Lewis College

An Arizonan “maverick,” Dominick Damper Kanuho is a humble and rising, diligent and inquisitive undergraduate majoring in political science and minoring in pre-law at Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colorado. His career goal is to rise through the ranks of the legal profession so that he may meaningfully contribute to the law.

Much of Dominick’s life experience reifies his resolve to become a contributing member of the legal community. A life-long learner, he desires a career that is stimulating and challenging. Accordingly, he wishes to specialize in constitutional law, although criminal and tribal law are also of interest.

As the Chief Justice of his college’s government, he is uniquely positioned to gain practical experience. As a justice, Dominick adjudicates parking appeals, serves as a student advocate for peers when it comes to grievance procedures or disciplinary hearings, and currently works on “court craft.” Because the student court is a new addition to Fort Lewis’ student government, as chief he is working to establish the court; creating forms so that students and faculty alike can have their day in court, adopting practices for court operations, and working with the legislative and executive to clarify the court’s power so that possibilities of arbitrary or capricious behaviour, by the justices, is lessened.

As a Fellow, Dominick is fortunate to be part of a cohort who share similar legal ambitions. He looks forward to what the future holds, and he is thankful for a program like LSYWC that will prepare him with the skills and competencies needed to succeed on the LSAT but, more richly, that serve him for the rest of his life.

Nallely Diosdado
Mitchell High School
Metropolitan State University of Denver

Nallely Diosdado was born in Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, México, and later migrated to Colorado Springs, Colorado. Law school has captured her interest due to the unique perspective and personal experiences she has undergone. Nallely has been fortunate to have been a recipient of the Dream.US Scholarship. This incredible opportunity provided her with the support and financial assistance necessary to pursue higher education. Nallely became a first-generation college student at MSU Denver, where she pursued her Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychological Sciences. During her time studying psychology, Nallely delved deep into the workings of the human mind and behavior. She developed a profound understanding of the complexities that shape our society and the need for a strong legal system to safeguard the rights and well-being of individuals. As an immigrant, Nallely has personally experienced the challenges and obstacles faced by those who come to this country seeking a better future. This personal experience has ignited a passion within her to advocate for the rights of immigrants and work towards a more just and inclusive society.

Nallely is immensly grateful for the opportunity to be a part of the LAW SCHOOL… Yes We Can program. Nallely believes this program will provide her with invaluable mentorship and guidance, allowing her to explore the intricacies of the legal field and gain a comprehensive understanding of what it takes to succeed in law school. With the support of LAW SCHOOL… Yes We Can, Nallely is confident that she can make an informed decision about pursuing law school and embark on a transformative journey towards a career in law.

Laura DuFresne Duarte
Castle View High School
University of Denver

Laura DuFresne Duarte was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, to a white father and a Nicaraguan mother. Growing up, she struggled to find her place, feeling too white to belong in Hispanic spaces and not white enough to belong in white spaces. 

As she navigated these spaces alongside her multi-ethnic family, she had a front-row seat to witness how society treated her brown mother and brother differently from her white father and her white presenting self. In watching these injustices play out in her own life, her desire to belong was replaced by the realization that her purpose was not to belong; it was to combat the racism and inequities that alienate people and communities from one another. 

Her passion for civil discourse and interest in the structures that reinforce inequity in the lives of minority groups led her to pursue an education at the University of Denver. She is currently a rising senior majoring in Political Science and minoring in Art History. She also works for DU’s Interdisciplinary Research Institute for the Study of Equality (IRISE). Laura is excited to be a LSYWC fellow because she looks forward to having support from knowledgeable professionals who can help guide her journey in the field of law into one that is fulfilling and helps make the world a better place. 

Brianna Flores Chavez
Lakewood High School
Regis University

Brianna Flores Chavez was born and raised in the Denver metro area. She was raised by two Mexican immigrants that came to the United States from Nayarit and Guerrero, Mexico. As a proud first-generation student, she graduated from Lakewood High School and now attends Regis University, pursuing a double major in Politics and Peace & Justice Studies.

As a part of her upbringing as a daughter of immigrants and as a person with undocumented family members, Brianna understood the injustices that the immigrant community faces from a young age. After seeing family members go through the system, she knew she wanted to become a lawyer to defend her people.  Brianna grew up surrounded by strong and inspiring women all her life.  She finds motivation in the hope that someday she will be able to give back

Today, Brianna is very involved in advocating and serving her community through her work at the Center for Service Learning in Regis College and for the Colorado Youth Justice Collaborative. She believes in the importance of hearing all voices in an attempt to achieve justice, which is why she wants a career in law. Brianna is constantly looking for ways to be involved, seeking to create a support network that will sustain her in her career as an attorney one day.  Brianna is extremely grateful and excited for the opportunities that are to come as an LSYWC fellow.

Paola Garcia-Moreno
KIPP Denver Collegiate
University of Denver

Paola Garcia-Moreno was born in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, and raised in Denver, Colorado. She is a first-generation undergraduate student studying Socio-legal studies with minors in Critical Race, Ethnic Studies, and Leadership. Paola's passion for the law comes from witnessing the injustices of the immigration system in the United States. Her first-hand account fosters her passion for making a difference one day as she understands her parents and her community's struggles and sacrifices due to their immigration status.

Paola is excited to be part of the LSYWC program as it will help her achieve her dream and goal of being an immigration lawyer.

Xavian Geiger
Cherokee Trail High School
University of Colorado at Denver

Xavian Anthony Geiger was born in Denver Colorado; he grew up in Southeast Aurora with his little sister and was raised to have a deep respect for his fellow humans. His mother and father have been instrumental in instilling that respect and also giving him confidence that would act as a spark for his continual development. His parents had to work full time while pursuing their higher education due to lack of financial resources, as a result they stressed the importance of opportunities that would provide financial assistance. He has earned scholarships through Delta Eta Boule and CU Denver Honors Program. They also instilled a simple love and desire for education in general, garnering Xavian’s interest in history and particularity American History.

Xavian went to Cherokee Trail High School and graduated in 2021. It was here that he found his desire to help the less fortunate by being a part of the National Honors Society, completing many hours of volunteering at the Food Bank of the Rockies. He started to deepen his knowledge of the social issues that have long been a part of American history; recognizing many demographics have been denied their rights as American citizens without due cause. That knowledge was further expanded when he reflected on the times he had experienced racism from classmates on account of his mixed racial background. This combination of knowledge and experience lead him to develop a critical perspective towards the legal system and institutions ofthe United States, seeing them as an object he could truly reform to have the most impact.

Xavian is very excited to work with LSYWC as the opportunities for workshops, networking, and mentorship will help him reach his ultimate goal of being a Constitutional Lawyer. He has a deep passion for the law and believes that one of the key assets that can be used to reform the United States legal system is its founding document, the Constitution. The principles behind that document must be expanded throughout the US population; doing this will be instrumental in fulfilling the promise that America is supposed to be the land of the free.

Mia Gutierrez
Gateway High School
Colorado State University at Pueblo

Mia Gutierrez was born and raised in Denver, Colorado but her family roots go back to Zacatecas, Mexico. Mia highly values family and community, this stems from growing up as the oldest sibling in a Hispanic household. These values have pushed Mia to always offer a helping hand and be an active member of her communities. Mia’s experiences have inspired her to begin her journey in becoming an immigration lawyer.

Her career choice is driven by her own family’s experience as immigrants. She has seen firsthand how the current systems in place treat immigrants unjustly and aspires to be the change the immigrant community desperately needs. To begin this path, Mia will attend CSU-Pueblo in the fall and pursue a Creative Writing and Spanish double major with a Legal Studies minor. 

 Mia is excited for all the opportunities that will come as she becomes a first-generation college graduate and eventually, a first-generation lawyer. With the support of LAW SCHOOL… Yes We Can!, Mia looks forward to connecting with like-minded peers and mentors to achieve her lifelong dream of becoming an immigration lawyer and giving back to her community. 

Ashley Hernandez
Centaurus High School
Metropolitan State University of Denver

Ashley Hernandez was raised in Lafayette, Colorado. Ashley is the daughter of parents who immigrated to this country, seeking better opportunities. Ashley grew up in a quiet city where she constantly felt safe by law enforcement. However, she deferred with her relatives when law enforcement was the topic at the dinner table. Ashley is a first-generation student who attends MSU Denver.

Ashley went to Centaurus High School, which is located in Boulder Valley. She became interested in law when she signed up for concurrent enrollment at Front Range Community College. She knew she wanted to be involved in the criminal justice system; however, she didn’t exactly know how she wanted to be involved. After doing court simulations, Ashley discovered a true passion for courts and law. She then realized she wanted to become a prosecutor and later become a federal judge.

Ashley is currently going on to her senior year at MSU Denver. She is majoring in Criminal Justice and Criminology with a minor in Trauma Studies. She is a student worker at the University Advancement and Foundation Department at MSU Denver. Ashley also voluntarily gives speeches to raise more funding for her university, and she loves being a voice that represents students at MSU Denver. As a first-generation student, Ashley struggled to navigate higher education. She was able to use the resources that her school offered, which led her to apply to the LAW SCHOOL… Yes We Can program. She is thankful that she gets to form part of the LAW SCHOOL… Yes We Can program because she knows that she will receive the support and guidance to get into law school and become a successful prosecutor.

Deven Kukreja
Chatfield Senior High School
University of Colorado at Boulder

Deven Kukreja was born in Thornton, Colorado, and raised down the street in Littleton. Deven is determined to honor the sacrifices that all of his family members made to support him and all his ambitions. Whether trivial or life-defining, his family has stood by his side throughout life’s ups and downs. By becoming a college graduate at CU Boulder and pursuing a career in the legal field, Deven is hopeful that he will make all of his family, friends, and supporters proud and honor his Latino heritage.

At Chatfield Senior High School, Deven worked hard to prove himself to his peers and teachers as he was one of only a few minority students in the whole school. Deven pushed himself every day to be as well-rounded as possible, participating at national-level competitions in business-oriented clubs like DECA and Future Business Leaders of America, holding leadership positions in those clubs as well as the Chatfield Bagging for Homelessness club, and participating in the Chatfield Mock Trial team. He graduated Salutatorian of the Class of 2022.

These experiences led to a passion for the law and the legal field, as previous internships with the Colorado Public Defender’s Office and experience with the Mock Trial team solidified that interest. Deven will be returning to CU Boulder for his Sophomore year, where he will be majoring in Political Science and Japanese. Alongside schoolwork, Deven works part-time at the CU Law School Library, serves as an advisory board member for the CU College of Arts and Sciences, and is the student assistant to Dr. Kate Fischer, the Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Smith Hall, the Honors Dorm on campus. Deven knows that being a Law School…Yes We Can! Fellow will aid him immensely on his journey to becoming a lawyer. The opportunities, guidance, and support that the LSYWC program offers helps to lower the barriers to attending law school for students of underprivileged backgrounds. Deven knows that this path will not be easy, but with the support of his family and LSYWC, he knows he can achieve his goals.

Briana Maddox
Oak Grove High School
Jackson State University

Briana N. Maddox was born and raised in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. She moved to Denver, Colorado in 2023. Briana’s mother passed away in 2011 when she was thirteen years old. After her mom’s death, she moved to a new city, grew up in a new environment, and had to start a new life. She believes this has made her stronger, wiser, compassionate, and resilient. Briana graduated with her A.A. from Pearl River Community College in the spring of 2018. After transferring she finished her education at Jackson State University where she graduated with honors and obtained her B.A. in Political Science in December 2020. 

She believes representation matters in the legal field because Black lawyers and people of color deserve to be in spaces where we do not see people who look like us. The legal field is a white male-dominated profession, and we need people of different backgrounds to bring unique ideas, ideologies, perspectives, identities, and experiences to the culture and community. We need Black lawyers who are disabled, LGBTQ+, and understand the prejudice that comes with being different in this field because they have lived it.

Itzel Marcial Sanchez
Bear Creek High School
Claremont McKenna College

Itzel Marcial Sanchez was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico and raised in Denver, Colorado. Her parents have worked hard to accomplish the “American Dream” after leaving Mexico as young adults. Thanks to their sacrifices, Itzel and her siblings were born and raised as Mexican-Americans. So many different vignettes already fill Itzel’s short life memoir. Some are small and seemingly insignificant on the surface, others -- like her dad’s deportation, her brother’s traumatic accident, her mother’s hustle, and her sacrifices -- are pretty worthwhile. 

Itzel graduated with honors from Bear Creek High School in 2021. She is a first-generation student currently attending Claremont McKenna College in Claremont, California. Throughout her years at Claremont McKenna, Itzel has been active in numerous clubs and organizations as well as taken insightful academic courses that have honed her leadership and management skills. Through her participation and involvement, she has harnessed her strengths to overcome any challenge she may face.

Due to her passionate interest in immigration law, at a young age Itzel promised herself that when she got older she would do everything in her power -- by continuing her education and becoming knowledgeable about the laws and structures -- to help individuals. She strives to give individuals like her father and families hope, but she is also determined to work vigorously in order to inspire others to assist those in need. Itzel’s life experiences catalyzed her decision to double major in Government and Chicanx-Latinx studies in order to prepare herself for law school. She is confident that forming part of LAW SCHOOL...Yes We Can, will help her cultivate the skills and relationships that are necessary to overcome academic and social disadvantages and challenges and allow her to thrive progressively in order for her to become the person she aspires to be in the future.

Michael Martinez
Alameda High School
University of Colorado at Denver

Michael Martinez was born and raised in Denver, Colorado, growing up in the Westwood, Denver area. As a middle child with two brothers, he strived to set himself apart from the cyclic nature of previous generations. With the goal of pursuing secondary education, Michael became the first person in his family to attend college, making him a first-generation college student.

Through his time at the University of Colorado Denver, Michael has gained a strong commitment to knowledge and education while acquiring an unwavering dedication to his community and those alike.  Driven by the curiosity of scientific exploration, Michael has conducted and presented scientific research in Psychology at various undergraduate conferences, in hopes of motivating and laying the path for others in the community. In addition to academic accolades, Michael was a trusted peer mentor who provided guidance and support to his fellow students in similar positions.

Michael is currently a senior in college majoring in Psychology, he recently completed his legislative internship at the Colorado state Capitol during the 2023 Colorado General Assembly session. As he obtained invaluable knowledge and experience from his internship, seeing the impact that legislation has on marginalized communities and specifically the ones he comes from has fueled his desire to pursue law and represent those who need it most even more. Michael is grateful to be a LAW SCHOOL…Yes We Can Fellow because of the opportunity and guidance that come with the fellowship, from the academic and morale support, to the connecting and networking, this fellowship will provide him with the necessary tools and resources to achieve his goal of being a successful lawyer and unity within the community.

Danielle McKnight
Grand Junction High School
Community College of Aurora

Danielle McKnight was born and raised in Grand Junction, Colorado. She grew up with a large close-knit family. Although her father never completed high school, he taught her early the importance of education and hard work. Therefore, Danielle and her family were very excited when she was accepted into Regis University fall of 2016. She later graduated from Grand Junction High School in 2017 and relocated to Denver, Colorado to be the first in her family to attend college.

During this year at Regis, she was able to get involved in different community service programs to serve diverse communities. However, this is when Danielle learned that as a first-generation student, sometimes hard work wasn't enough. After her first year and without college savings, her education was put on hold due to finances. Although this was devastating news to Danielle, she didn't let this stop her from chasing her dream.  She instead searched for ways to build experience through community and professional work ultimately landing her a position as a Legal Assistant for a large corporate firm downtown.  

Danielle also became a mother to a beautiful daughter – this is what inspired her to return to school. She felt the need to make her dream career a reality in order to provide for her family but also to make college an absolute standard for her daughter's future. Danielle returned to school starting at Community College of Aurora (CCA) and is currently working on completing her Paralegal Certification before returning to a university. During her time at CCA, Danielle has been able to build a new community in education through involvement in various different programs like Latinas First Foundation, TRIO, and Student Parent Success Program. She also represented CCA in the last two National Model UN Conferences in NYC. Danielle is excited to become a fellow of LAW SCHOOL.. Yes We Can as it ensures she is one step closer to making her dream a reality and becoming a role model to her daughter. 

Pilar Meléndez-Ruiz
Glenwood Springs High School
University of Colorado at Boulder

Pilar Meléndez-Ruiz, a Colorado native raised in the Roaring Fork Valley, has a strong affinity for the outdoors, as well as a passion for pickleball and cycling. As a first-generation student, Pilar is driven to excel academically and pursue higher education, motivated by her parents.

Currently an undergraduate at the University of Colorado Boulder, Pilar is majoring in Political Science with a minor in Communications. Actively involved in the Honors Scholar Society and the Miramontes Arts and Sciences Society (MASP) at CU Boulder, Pilar also serves as a third-year scholar for the Latina's First Foundation and the L.S. Woods Foundation.

In the forthcoming years, Pilar plans to integrate personal and academic interests into research, culminating in an honors thesis. This thesis will explore the intricate relationship between politics, the education system, and interpersonal communication, with a specific focus on cultural wealth.

Pilar's deep-rooted passion for justice fuels her endeavors, addressing areas where empowerment and justice are lacking. With aspirations of attending law school and becoming a lawyer, Pilar envisions a future in the legal sector where she can utilize her knowledge and resources to advocate for equity and equality. Pilar's ultimate goal is to contribute to the betterment of the world, not only for herself but also for future generations.

As Pilar navigates through life, she aims to sow seeds that cultivate a better world. Drawing inspiration from her childhood, where she strived to be a compassionate leader guided by kindness and love. 

Ruth Ochoumare
Montbello High School
Colorado State University

Ruth Ochoumare is originally from West Africa, specifically, Cotonou, Benin. Being the youngest of two siblings and the only family member born in Denver, Colorado, Ruth felt she had a lot of expectations and success that awaited her. Growing up in an African household, Ruth’s parents wanted their children to be rich in their culture and always instilled the values and traditions that they once learned as children. Which in turn, led them to encourage them to pursue higher education and reach the goals and dreams that they sacrificed so much for, and never got the opportunity to achieve themselves. These lessons and affirmations are those that Ruth will forever be grateful for and continue to hold close to her heart as she begins shaping her life and career.

Ruth graduated from Montbello High School in 2023 with an AA degree. Throughout her four years in high school, Ruth had an abundance of exposure to the legal field and its intricacies through contact with professors and mentors through the school’s concurrent enrollment program. Though the most impactful part of high school was her first African-American History class taught by the only Black teacher Ruth had up to that point. It not only revealed the lack of representation of other cultures in our education system but also emphasized the importance of uplifting her community when no one else would. From then on, Ruth knew she desired to ground her purpose in her culture to work towards minimizing the effects of history and its hold on her community.

In the fall of 2023, Ruth will be attending Colorado State University, majoring in Sociology with a concentration in Criminal Justice, and is looking into minoring in forensic psychology. Ruth looks forward to the experiences that LAW SCHOOL… Yes We Can will provide the next few years, and she can’t wait to meet all the amazing people that dedicate their time to being a part of it!

Ariadna Olivas
Smoky Hill High School
University of Colorado at Boulder

Ariadna Olivas was born in Colorado and raised in the city of Aurora. From a young age, her parents, born and raised in border city Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico, have instilled in Ariadna the tremendous value of education and have always been incredibly supportive of her and her older sister’s goals to achieve higher education. She has since felt immensely grateful for the opportunities she has been granted, and aims to do the very best with what she is given.

For as long as she can remember, Ariadna has always been very involved in the communities she proudly identifies with. Whether it be through her Catholic parish, her high school’s Student Government, or CU’s Center for Student Involvement, she has come to deeply enjoy putting on events in hopes of building a stronger community and raising funds for future development or charities. Ariadna also enjoys painting, long distance running, and biking.

Ariadna recently completed her first year at the University of Colorado Boulder! She is pursuing a double major in Philosophy and Sociology with a minor in Spanish. Ariadna is set on aiming high in her education and her pre-law career through her motivation and mentorship. The mentorship she has been granted in forming a part of LAW SCHOOL.. Yes We Can! will be an invaluable addition to her undergraduate career.

BrenSean Riley
Gateway High School
University of Colorado at Boulder

BrenSean Riley was born in Denver raised nearby in Aurora, Colorado, but also tied to Texas. BrenSean is the middle child of two other siblings, parented by their multi-ethnic single mother. Like many others stemming from the similar upbringing, at a young age he knew of the many adversities placed within our society. Hearing the words of his mother stating that we need change she quickly became his inspiration to do just that. To help create the change that many of us need and want to see.

As the summer is beginning BrenSean stands with Gateway High School’s class of 2023 as graduates! During his time spent at Gateway he found his interest in law, social justice, and politics to grow. Here he began to enroll in classes with a focus of more “real world” discussions and joined several extracurricular activities. Through these groups he would find other like-minded individuals in the since of change, but also having different ideas, perspectives, and opinions. 

In the fall of 2023, BrenSean will move into his first year of college at the University of Colorado Boulder. He is majoring in political science as well as being a student under the McNeill academic program. BrenSean is eager to be a LAW SCHOOL…Yes We Can Fellow, because as well as being around others with similar career interests, he will also have the support of others before him that’ll help him on becoming the advocate he wants to be for this community.

Adrian Sanchez
Sunset High School
Colorado State University Pueblo

Adrian Sanchez was raised in the bustling San Francisco, Oakland Bay Area, his path to higher education seemed uncertain due to marginal grades and financial constraints just before high school graduation a high school academic counselor offered their advice that maybe college was not for him. Despite being marginalized he was determined to break free from the barriers of the Barrio (Neighborhood), Adrian made a life-changing decision—he would join the military.

Initially, he only planned to serve for two years before pursuing college, but destiny had a different plan in store. For an incredible 26 years, Adrian dedicated his life to serving in multiple Army Special Operations units. As retirement beckoned, he sought purpose in his life and experimented in new industries other than defense, in the insurance and information technology industries, only to realize that his true passion lay elsewhere. With the help of his brothers-in-Arms, he discovered a deep desire to serve his fellow veterans. This realization propelled him to act, recognizing the need to blend his life experiences with a solid educational foundation.

Adrian embarked on his collegiate journey at Pike Peak State College, eventually transferring to Colorado State University at Pueblo. With unwavering dedication, he pursues dual bachelor's degrees in history and political science, complemented by minors in Spanish Language, Chicano studies, and Legal Studies. While uncertain about his specific area of law, advocating for veterans holds a prominent place on his list as he works towards a Juris Doctorate.  Beyond academia, Adrian finds solace and joy in baseball, proudly embracing his role as a devoted San Francisco Giants fan. He actively participates in extracurricular activities, volunteering within the Military and Veterans Community at CSU-Pueblo and embarking on a journey to become a Court Appointed Special Advocate. Together with his wife, Adrian aspires to foster a nurturing environment for children in need. Currently in his sophomore year at Colorado State Pueblo, Adrian carries the torch of a first-generation college student. Taking a quote from -Nelson Mandela “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”

The prospect of becoming a LAW SCHOOL… Yes We Can Fellow fills him with anticipation, knowing that the invaluable guidance and support from mentors and peers will shape his journey towards becoming a veteran’s advocate.

Samantha “Sam” Searfoss
Lone Star High School
University of Denver

Samantha “Sam” Searfoss was born in Greeley, Colorado, and was raised in the DFW area of Texas. She graduated from Lone Star High School in 2021 and is currently a sophomore student at the University of Denver. At DU, she is an active member of the Colorado Women's College Leadership Scholars as a peer mentor and a member of the executive board. Through this experience, she has discovered an interest in social work from a legal and political perspective.

In the fall of 2023, Sam will enter her third year of college and is majoring in Political Science with honors and minoring in Leadership Studies. She hopes to use her education to advocate for social justice and continue to work within her community. Sam is eager to become the first lawyer in her family. Because of this, she is honored to become a fellow at LAW SCHOOL…Yes We Can! for the opportunity to build a strong network and foundation to become a successful lawyer.

Laura Zabaleta
Thomas Jefferson High School
University of Colorado Denver

Laura Zabaleta was born and raised in Colombia's capitol, Bogota. Along with her parents, she decided to move to the United States in quest of better chances for her future and the well-being of her family. Emigrating at the age of 17 and encountering the obstacles of being an immigrant inspired her to seek a legal career to aid her parents and compensate them for the sacrifices they made for her. Her experiences with the legal system have given her yet another reason to become an immigration attorney, and she aspires to create a support system to assist undocumented families in navigating the complicated path to residency and citizenship, but most importantly, to support them in achieving stability, peace, and a sense of belonging in the United States.

Laura is currently a student at the University of Colorado Denver, where she is majoring in Criminal Justice with minors in Pre Law Studies, Honors, and Leadership. She is a member of the Latinx Student Alliance and Pre-Law Society as well as the university's honors program. Her love for community service has led her to work with the Conflict Center, where she works with individuals in restorative justice, assisting them in re-entering the community following their release from the criminal justice system.

With a 4.0 GPA, she aspires to attend Harvard Law School, one of her dream institutions. She is very thankful and ecstatic to be an LSYWC fellow to continue fighting for her aspirations and one day achieve her goal of owning a law firm; she is aware that with the help of her mentors and peers, she can continue to grow as a person and as an amazing lawyer.

Neharika “Neha” Arora
George Washington High School
Colorado College

Neharika "Neha” Arora was born and raised in Punjab, India. She moved to the United States with her family at 14. Upon moving to the U.S., Neha was bullied for her Indian accent and brown skin. The culture shock and intense family responsibility significantly affected her mental health growing up. Getting diagnosed with multiple mental health disorders has allowed her to become more outspoken about the stigma around mental health in her brown community. In high school, Neha stepped out of her comfort zone and joined many clubs that allowed her to embrace her Asian identity and her brown skin. Neha graduated from George Washington High School in Denver, Colorado, in 2020.  
 
Neha currently attends Colorado College, majoring in Psychology and double minors in Feminist and Gender Studies and Film and Media Studies. At Colorado College, she is involved in the National Alliance on Mental Illness, South Asian Student Association, and many other clubs. Throughout high school, Neha took various pre-med courses, completed internships at local hospitals, and went to nursing school. However, Neha’s experience in the Feminist and Gender Studies field made her realize that she is passionate about more than just medicine. She desires to combine her love for advocacy, medicine, and Feminist and Gender Studies. She hopes to lead her community in empowering ways and revolutionize the health law field. Neha dreams of practicing health law in the future, specifically for the women of color in our country who are victims of racially motivated medical malpractice. Neha will be interning at Hall, Render, Killian, Heath & Lyman, a health law firm, in the summer of 2022.  

Neha believes that one’s dream job or envisioned impact should not be limited because of family income, gender, or race. Neha is willing to learn from the resiliency and ambition of the law industry. She believes that being a part of LSYWC will bring her closer to her goal by providing opportunities to build an impressive skill set. It will also allow her to learn from her mentors in the field and help her gain exposure to the legal field. LSYWC invests in the future of individuals with great minds and dreams; Neha hopes to become a lawyer for herself and her community.  

Alyssa Avila
Arrupe Jesuit High School

Alyssa Avila was born and raised in Denver, Colorado, specifically in the Sunnyside neighborhood, often referred to as the Denver Highlands. Alyssa is an only child but comes from a large extended Mexican family. She watched her family never hesitate to help others which instilled in her a desire to help others just as much. Alyssa is third generation in her family and will be the first in her generation to attend college and receive an undergraduate degree. She will be the fourth in her entire extended family to graduate from college. Alyssa looks forward to being a trailblazer for her younger cousins and a reminder to her parents that all their sacrifices were not made in vain.

Alyssa graduated from Arrupe Jesuit High School in May 2022 with first honors. In high school, Alyssa discovered a love for volunteering and volunteered at Girls Inc. of Metro Denver, where she served as a mentor to elementary school girls. She also participated in several extracurricular activities throughout high school, including Mock Trial, where she was captain of the team, and Yearbook Editor in Chief. Alyssa will be attending the University of Denver in the fall of 2022. She has received a full-ride scholarship and intends to major in Journalism and a double minor in Spanish and Business Administration.

Alyssa’s lifelong dream has always been to become an attorney. She was first introduced to the legal world through her mom’s fascination with crime scene investigation shows. Alyssa was captivated by the confidence the attorneys exuded and aspired to be like them. She knows that being a LSYWC fellow will help her by providing guidance, wisdom, and a support system that will allow her to fulfill her lifelong dream of becoming a criminal attorney.

Samuel Bojorquez
Pueblo Central High School
Colorado State University Pueblo

Samuel Bojorquez was born and raised in Pueblo, Colorado. He is the middle child of two siblings and grew up on the lower-income side of Pueblo. Samuel is very passionate about giving back to his hometown and believes it is essential to take advantage of all opportunities that he is presented with and give back to the community that raised him. Samuel’s ethnic background as a Latino is very important to him, and he carries it with pride.  

Samuel graduated from Pueblo Central High School in 2019 as an honors student. From a young age, Samuel understood that college was a pivotal necessity to open many doors for his future. In fall 2022, Samuel will enter his fourth year at Colorado State University-Pueblo. He is pursuing a double major in Criminal Justice and Computer Information Systems with a minor in honors.

Samuel had always been fascinated with law and how it provoked different perspectives and discussions. His passion for helping others and his interest in law drove him to aspire and attend law school and pursue a career in the legal field. This year he has had the pleasure of interning and being mentored by Joe Koncilja & Melissa Esquibel at the Koncilja & Koncilja criminal defense and civil law firm in Pueblo. Samuel is very excited to become a LSYWC Fellow because he knows that it will be an excellent fit for him and will provide him with the necessary guidance and tools to succeed on his path toward becoming a lawyer. To invoke change and diversify different career areas and communities, it takes a group of members with the drive, heart, and true passion for wanting to do so, and he believes that LSYWC sets that standard.  

Eunice Callejas Solano
Aurora Central High School
Metropolitan State University

Eunice Callejas Solano was born in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico. Her family moved to Colorado about 15 years ago. Eunice is proud to be Hñähñu from Hidalgo. 

Eunice has spent most of her life trying to be the best student she could be to go to college and find a career that would enable her to support her family in the future. Being first-generation limited her knowledge of the college application process, and being undocumented limited her options for financial aid, yet she was able to receive two full rides to receive her Associate's Degree and later her Bachelor's Degree. Eunice was the first member to form part of the debate team at MSU Denver when it was restarted and served as president of the team in her final year. Eunice graduated Salutatorian from her class at Aurora Central High School and Summa Cum Laude from MSU Denver with a 4.0 GPA with the support of her parents and brother.  

Eunice is working full-time in education, helping high school students plan for college and their future. She hopes to attend law school to help her family and make legal aid more accessible to all communities. 

Gisselle Cervantes Holguin
Adams City High School
Colorado State University

Gisselle Cervantes Holguin was born and raised in Denver, Colorado. She takes pride in being the first-born of immigrant parents.  Her role as a leader, role model, big sister, and daughter quickly taught her the importance of pursuing higher education and continuing the legacy her parents have created for her.  

She graduated from Colorado State University in 2021 with a bachelor’s in Human Sciences. She began to take an interest in the law and social justice during her first year of college. The extracurricular activities and classes she took inspired her to pursue a career in law. In college, she also met amazing mentors and professors who encouraged her to take a leap of faith toward her interest in the law and join the Pre-Law club. Throughout her college career, she became aware of the impact she could make on her surroundings as a Latina first-generation student. She realized she could make an even more significant impact in her community as a bilingual Latina on the road to becoming a lawyer.  

Gisselle is beyond excited and grateful to be a Fellow of LSYWC and continue her passion for the law with the help of mentors and those passionate about helping first-generation students like herself. She looks forward to meeting her mentors, peers, and those with whom she will build connections that will contribute to her success in the program. To one day become a part of the two percent of Latina lawyers in the U.S. and achieve the American Dream her parents worked so hard for is what motivates her every day to keep going.  

Ellen Clark
North High School

Ellen Clark was born and raised in Denver, Colorado, and attended Denver North High School. During high school, she put a lot of emphasis on her education and extracurricular activities, serving as varsity Cheer Captain, Student Council Secretary, National Honor Society President, first chair flute, and participating in Key Club, Spanish National Honor Society, Tri-M Music National Honor Society, mock trial, speech and debate, varsity lacrosse, pit orchestra, a part-time job, the Denver Mayor’s Youth Commission, and completing a total of 11 A.P. classes and six college classes, for which she received college credit.  

Ellen was raised by her two parents, who went to college, and part of her inspiration for becoming a lawyer came from her mother, who works as a therapist. After reading “Just Mercy” by Bryan Stevenson, she decided she wanted to become a public defender to make it easier for people, especially those who cannot afford their lawyers, to receive accurate and fair representation in court. Her interest grew while participating in programs like mock trials, speech and debate classes, A.P. Government, and two college courses on Political Science and Criminal Justice. As her interest in social justice and resolving inequity grew, she became committed to learning more about marginalized groups and what she could do to help create a better, more just society.  

Next year, Ellen will attend the University of Denver, where she plans to double major in Political Science and English and minor in Spanish. She plans on participating in the University of Denver cheer squad and the mock trial team. Her dream is to attend Yale Law School after graduating from college. She is beyond elated to have the opportunity to be a LSYWC Fellow to continue to grow her interest in law and receive support as she works to achieve her dreams of helping people through law.  

Michael Diaz-Beltran
Lakewood High School
Metropolitan State University

Michael Diaz-Beltran was born and raised in Denver, Colorado, for most of his life. He was the youngest of two brothers. Growing up, he did not know what career he wanted to pursue. As time progressed, he knew he wanted to give back to his community in an impactful way. By the time he turned seven, he was first diagnosed with autism. Since then, things had not gone the way that he and his family had hoped. He was treated differently compared to other students, others disrespected him, and he struggled to fit in.   

Despite the setbacks Michael endured, it did not stop him from graduating from Lakewood High School as part of the class of 2017. After that, he did not know what his next steps would be. He felt like he had reached the end of the road as a high school graduate with autism. Most of his family did not want his story to end this way. They encouraged him to apply to college even though he heard voices in his head saying that it would be difficult and that he would never make it. Thanks to his family’s support, he was accepted to Metropolitan State University of Denver. This experience has opened doors to numerous opportunities, and his passion for helping and serving others has been invigorated. Thinking about how others are treated with hate and discrimination tore his heart thinking about how they must go through the trauma and are often unable to hold others accountable for their actions. It became a wake-up call for him to act. 

While at the university, he faced new challenges he never thought he would have. With most of the grades depending on exam performance, he had second thoughts about entering college. However, his family never gave up on him. As he looked for help using the resources offered on campus, it gave him a sense of relief and taught him a valuable lesson to never be afraid to seek help when you need it the most. He is about to graduate from Metropolitan State University of Denver with a major in Political Science and a minor in Business Management. He knows law school has significant challenges from the application process, the LSAT exam, and the academic standards. It can create significant challenges for people on the autism spectrum, but with guidance from professional attorneys and current law school students through LSYWC, anything is possible. Civil rights leader Caesar Chavez created the phrase “Si Se Puede” because anything can be achieved.      

Sammiah Ebadi
Kipp Northeast Denver Leadership Academy
University of Colorado Denver

From an early age, Sammiah Satara Ebadi was taught by her parents that education was the only way to build herself a successful life, and to be the best in school and academics was the only way to free herself from the hardships of being an immigrant. Because of this, Sammiah viewed her education as the only opportunity to make herself, her parents, her family, and her relatives genuinely proud. As the eldest daughter of her immigrant family, there have been many struggles that she has faced on her own, mistakes that she has learned from, and lessons she has learned the hard way, whether it has been academically or personally. However, because of this, she can take any challenge head-on today on her own. This has taught her to view challenging situations or experiences positively, rather than thinking negatively and without determination.

Being close to graduating high school and handling the college application process was extremely difficult with nothing but her family’s support and her dedication and courage. Nevertheless, she received many acceptance letters from different institutions despite the stressful situations she was juggling on her own. Despite these hardships, she now looks back and sees that she has learned many valuable lessons that she will carry for the rest of her life. The positions she has been in and the hardships she has gone through, all on her own, may have been tense and never-ending, with a lot of weight on her shoulders. But like Dolly Parton once said: “If you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain,” and that is what she has truly lived by. Of course, she knows going to college and handling her personal life and academics all at the same time will be challenging, but she has plenty of support and wisdom to support her no matter what obstacle life throws at her. She would like to acknowledge that programs like LSYWC have brought to light the various opportunities and paths available for her to become successful through college and law school, as well as provided her mentors to educate and guide her further on what she can accomplish in the future.

Serene Ferjani
Smoky Hill High School
University of Colorado Boulder

Serene Ferjani was born and raised in Aurora, Colorado, and lived with her family of six, with two older brothers and oneyounger brother. As a child of Tunisian parents who immigrated to the United States to give their children a chance at a better life through higher education, she grew up holding her education as the number one priority.

While attending high school, Serene began to explore the story of her parents and those in her community through the lenses of philosophy, politics, and law. Serene dove deeper into understanding her life by developing a more globalmindset. She began getting more involved in serving her community in high school and college by planning community service projects and helping youth in her community apply for college and scholarships.

Serene is in her second year at the University of Colorado Boulder, pursuing a double major in Political Science and International Affairs. Serene works in CU's Student Government in the Executive Branch and is also a student intern at the police department on campus. She likes to travel, read, go to concerts, and spend time with her close family and friends in her free time. Serene is excited and honored to be a LSYWC Fellow because she wants to surround herself witha community of other leaders and emerging lawyers who are committed to supporting each other, growing together, andmaking a difference in the legal community of Denver.

Ashley Garcia Torres
Gateway High School
Regis University

Ashley Garcia Torres was born and raised in Denver, Colorado, and moved to Aurora in her early teens making the city her home. Coming from a family of immigrants, she understood from a young age that working hard does not guarantee survival. As minoritized individuals, there are obstacles to fight that many others will never have to face.  

Ashley lived in an underserved community in Aurora and attended an underfunded school. Nevertheless, she graduated from high school in 2021 and now takes her experiences as a driving force and motivation for her activism towards equity.  

As a first-generation college student, Ashley is entering her sophomore year of higher education at Regis University, majoring in Politics with a minor in Pre-Law. With this degree, she intends to work through the lens of social and racial justice to ensure that the people are represented in conversations of law and policymaking. It is her home that has created her foundation; it is where she is going that is building her future. Ashley is grateful for LSYWC for being one of the founding steps in building her future.  

Monserrat Garcia-Rincon
Arrupe Jesuit High School
University of Denver

Monserrat Garcia-Rincon was born and raised in Denver, Colorado. Her parents came to the United States from a small town in Zacatecas, Mexico. She is a first-generation Mexican-American Latina. As a child, she experienced first-hand what it means to deal with the difficult and complex immigration system. Because of this, Monserrat strives to be a voice not only for her parents and younger siblings but also for her community. Her values revolve around those honesty, goodwill, and treating everyone as an equal.

Graduating class of 2022 at Arrupe Jesuit High School, she was part of the top ten in her class, graduated with honors, and was the first person in her family to graduate high school. At Arrupe Jesuit, she was involved in Mock Trials, volunteered in her community, and even started her club, where the main focus was on inclusivity, equity, and support for her community.

Ever since she was a child, Monserrat knew that she wanted to help her community but was unsure of how she would be able to do so. After joining the Mock Trial team and leading her club, she knew she wanted to be an attorney.

Monserrat will start her first year at the University of Denver in Fall 2022, where she will double major in Psychology and Political Science with minors in English Literary Arts, Business Analytics, and Leadership. She is excited to be a LSYWC Fellow and to join a community of people who will support her education.

Terris Griffis
Thomas Jefferson High School
HBCU Harris Stowe State University

Terris Griffis recently graduated High School from Thomas Jefferson High School in Denver, CO. He will be attending HBCU Harris Stowe State University in the fall, where he will be studying Political Science. 

Terris hopes to build meaningful and lasting relationships with his LSYWC mentors. He is aspiring to learn and develop new skills from the offered skill-building workshops and to be a part of the LAW SCHOOL…Yes We Can professional network.  

In his free time, Terris enjoys playing football, attending concerts, and traveling with his family.

Daniela Guadana Huizar
Arrupe Jesuit High School
Georgetown University

Daniela Guadana Huizar is the proud daughter of two immigrants from Mexico. She was born in Brighton, Colorado, and raised by loving parents who inspired her with the sacrifices they made coming to a foreign country. As a first-generation student and an older sister, she strives to be a leader for those in her Latinx community.  

Daniela is part of the graduating Arrupe Jesuit High School class of 2022, where she has been very involved with her community. Her desire for justice awakened her involvement with community service projects in systematically oppressed communities. Daniela became captivated by the legal system through her experience in her high school mock trial team, which she was captain, and her internships at a law firm and the Colorado House of Representatives. 

In the fall of 2022, Daniela will attend Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. She will pursue a business degree in Marketing and a minor in Psychology. With the help of LSYWC, she hopes to one day attend law school and become a lawyer advocating for underserved communities.  

Marisol Jara-Amparan
Canyon Spring Leadership and Law Preparatory Academy
University of Denver

Marisol Jara-Amparan was born and raised in Las Vegas, Nevada. She moved to Colorado to attend the University of Denver. Her primary motivation for attending college was to continue her education and make the most of the sacrifices her immigrant parents made for her to succeed. As a first-generation Latina, honors high school graduate, and now a third-year college student, she pursues a major in the Accounting Four-Plus-One program, with a minor in Data Analytics.

Marisol always knew that she had a passion for law. When she attended a leadership and law magnet high school, she was able to explore not only classes in constitutional, civil & criminal law, and mock trial classes but also formed part of the eight-year-running district’s first-place We the People team senior year. Attending a high school, Marisol took the role of Vice President in the TRIO/GearUP Program at her school, helped students on their college journey through application assistance and FASFA workshops, and built a sense of aspiration for higher education. She fought and kept the program at the high school after a cut in funding and programming, and she knew that it was an excellent resource for her community that they could not lose.

Currently, in her third year at DU, she anticipates graduating at the end of summer 2023 with a Bachelor of Arts and a Master’s in Accounting. She has explored the legal field through internships and legal work, particularly in immigration. Marisol is excited and grateful to be a Fellow of LSYWC because it will provide the guidance that she has not previously had on her path to law school.

Christian Marquez
Floresville High School

Christian Marquez is from Texas, where he graduated with his Bachelors in 2021. Christian went into college to study Biology and Psychology to become a brain surgeon. While he studied, he worked at the local county hospital in the operating theater. While working at the hospital, he learned through first-hand experience that greed prevented honest doctors who wanted and were able to help from being able to provide adequate care. This discouraged him from pursuing his dream of being a brain surgeon and left him with no direction, lost at sea.  

After soul searching, Christian found his passion in providing for the homeless and examining the condition of suffering while volunteering at St. Francis Center in downtown Denver. Before graduating, Christian accepted a temporary position with the Colorado State Public Defender, where he learned about providing representation to the most vulnerable. He worked on multiple projects like data review and assisting attorneys in preparation for trial. Christian was accepted into a permanent position with the Public Defender and has gained invaluable experience on the front line, with first-hand experience of what it is like to be poor and not speak the language in this type of justice system.  

Christian is dedicated a la causa for the cause of the least of these. Christian lives by a quote from Cornell West “We must engage in a fallible quest for truth, and the condition of truth is to allow the voice of suffering to speak, so you look at the world through the lens of the most vulnerable to try to get outside of yourself.” Christian tries to manifest this quote into true revolutionary, humanitarian action. 

Christian dreams of becoming an attorney to represent and fight for those who have no one standing up for them, those who are tossed aside in our justice system. He stands with the workers who are essential for society but are still given wages that do not support life, for those who are being treated as criminals but have deeper problems like addiction plaguing them, and those who are treated as illegal in their own land. Christian stands in solidarity with the oppressed people of the world. 

“No, we are not satisfied, and we will not be satisfied until justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream.” – Martin Luther King Jr.  

Isabelle Martinez-Aguilar
John F. Kennedy High School
University of Colorado Denver

Isabelle Thalia Martinez-Aguilar is a first-generation Mexican-American student born and raised in Denver, Colorado. She is the oldest child; therefore, growing up, she always wanted to set an excellent example for her younger sister. She is also a mother to a one-year-old; giving her a better life than she had is her ultimate priority, and the best way to do that is by getting a higher education. After she graduated in 2018 from Kennedy high school, she set her mind on becoming a lawyer so that she could be the voice for people who do not have one.  

During undergrad, she became a sister of Sigma Lambda Gamma National Sorority Inc., maintained a 3.72 GPA in school full time, and worked at Chase bank, all while raising her daughter. She is determined to be the first lawyer in her family, break generational curses, and do it all while remaining true to who she is and where she comes from. Her parents and daughter have been her most significant motivation behind what she does and why she works so hard. All that she is and hopes to become is for them.  

She plans to finish her undergraduate education at the University of Colorado Denver, studying Sociology with a concentration in Criminology and Criminal Justice and a minor in Political Science. She is excited about what she will learn and what opportunities will be presented to her as a LSYWC Fellow. While she knows she may not be able to change the world, she hopes to change the lives of all the people she helps.  

Mi Nai San (Minnie)
Hinkley High School
University of Denver

Mi Nai San (Minnie) came to America when she was five with her family fleeing war back home in Burma. She was born in a Thai refugee camp on the border of Thai and Burma. Minnie has lived most of her life (15 years to be exact) in the U.S., raised in Denver, Colorado. She is the second out of five kids, the second to graduate high school, and the first in her family to graduate college with two bachelor's degrees. Minnie is a trailblazer for her three younger sisters. When they start their college journey, she will be there to guide them through every step of the way, which is the guidance she never received as a first-generation student pursuing higher education.  

Minnie attended and graduated from Hinkley High School in Aurora, CO, with honors and was top 20 out of 450 students. At Hinkley, she was involved in numerous clubs, and she was editor of the yearbook class and left a foundation for the girls’ varsity softball team to build on. During high school, Minnie would go to Washington, D.C., for a week to learn how the U.S. government worked up close and in action. When she returned, she was inspired to get involved in politics and law. Minnie was a part of the Executive Internship Program, where she interned for an Aurora mayoral candidate and a small family immigration law firm. These experiences helped her decide that this was the field her heart was set on.  

Minnie just finished her second year at the University of Denver, and she is double majoring in Political Science and Criminology. Minnie is an active member of the Muslim Student Alliance and held an executive board role in the South Asian Student Alliance. She also plays an essential role at the Lamont School of Music, working as a Lead Stagehand for her work-study, ensuring the shows and recitals run smoothly. Minnie is excited to be a LSYWC Fellow and can’t wait to take this first step toward her dream of becoming an immigration and criminal lawyer to give back to her community.  

Bedha Neopaney
Gateway High School
University of Denver

Bedha Neopaney was born as a refugee in Nepal. He is no stranger to adversity. Bedha watched his grandfather wrongfully convicted because of a corrupt system. Since then, he has aspired to be an attorney to change the unjust ways of the justice system. He wants to open his own law firm in the future and help those who have been wronged. 

When Bedha’s family immigrated to the U.S., he did not know the culture or language, but through his hard work and determination, he quickly learned and adapted. In high school, he was one of the founding members and president of the mock trial club. His desire to become an attorney only grew stronger through time, and participating in mock trials reinforced this.

He graduated from high school among the top 10 of his class. Bedha is currently in his second year at the University of Denver. He is in the dual degree program at D.U., majoring in International Business and pursuing a law degree. Bedha is excited about being a LSYWC Fellow because he will have access to the opportunities and resources he will need through college and law school to become a criminal trial attorney and eventually start his law firm to help others. 

Ana Ortega
Dundee Crown High School
University of Denver

Ana Ortega is from Chicago, Illinois. Her parents could not attain a high school education due to financial restraints in Mexico. Both parents immigrated to the United States to give their children a better life. Ana uses this as a motivation for becoming a first-generation high school graduate and currently a first-generation Latina at the University of Denver.  

Her passion for writing and helping her community is why she is currently majoring in Journalism and International Studies with minors in Writing Practices, Marketing, and Critical Race and Ethnic Studies.  

Ana was motivated to become a lawyer through her work in journalism. Her investigative pieces had her face-to-face to hundreds of stories of racial inequalities, human rights violations, and many more horrors that individuals face daily. She knew she wanted to do more to help these people, so she began her journey to pursuing law school.  

Thankful to have been given the opportunity to be a LSYWC Fellow, Ana is thrilled to be presented with so much guidance along her law school journey.  

Susmitha Ponnapalli
Rock Canyon High School
University of Colorado Boulder

Susmitha Ponnapalli was born and raised in Highlands Ranch, Colorado, and originally from Hyderabad, India. She attended Rock Canyon High School in Highlands Ranch and is now a Junior at The University of Colorado at Boulder. As far as her academic path, Susmitha is double majoring in Political Science and Sociology with a minor in Philosophy and a certificate in Social Innovation. Susmitha always valued academic excellence, striving to become a well-educated member of society who can positively impact the world. 

From a young age, Susmitha was interested in social issues, keeping up with current events and educating herself on the sociopolitical situation surrounding her. As a second-generation immigrant, she soon found that the nation we live in is not fair or equal to people of all identities and backgrounds, and she strove to combat this in any way she could. However, she realized that simply talking about these issues with the people around her was not initiating the change she had hoped to see. As she approached college, she then decided to pursue law school with the hope that attaining a higher level of education in the field of law would allow her to put herself in a position to enact the fundamental social changes she sought.  

Susmitha now works at a non-profit political organization to work towards her goals and is also a small business owner of her henna art business, Henna by Susmitha. She is extremely excited to be a Fellow of LSYWC and cannot wait to see how this incredible program will help her pave her path toward fighting for social justice.  

Dailynn Quintela
York International High School
Metropolitan State University

Dailynn Quintela recently graduated from the Metropolitan State University of Denver and received her bachelor’s degree in Political Science. She was born and raised in Denver, Colorado, by her parents, Lisbeth Vargas & Jeziel Quintela. She attended high school in Thornton, Colorado, at York International. Before her college career, Dailynn was a competitive gymnast for 15 years and was recognized as Colorado's #1 Beam state champion, being the lead in her age category. In high school, she found a deep passion for debate, leading her to her academic path as a Political Science student.

Dailynn was a part of the Urban Leadership Program at MSU Denver and served as the president of Ignite National at Auraria. One of her biggest passions includes increasing women's political and civic engagement and leadership on college campuses. She dedicates her time to issues on higher education, environmental justice, and criminal justice issues. During her senior year, she worked as a government relations intern, advocating MSU Denver’s strategic vision with legislators by supporting the development of key messaging around policy priorities. After graduating, she plans on attending law school at the University of Denver to pursue a career as a prosecutor. Dailynn is currently getting a jump-start on a career in public service, thanks to a new internship program offered by MSU Denver and the Hart Center for Public Service, a center at the university dedicated to inspiring and preparing future leaders in public service.

Dailynn will be working as an intern with Dianna DeGette's office in Washington, D.C. She will be moving there in the summer of 2022 with the program's first cohort. This is a highly competitive program, and Dailynn was among many students chosen for this federal internship. Dailynn is excited to have been accepted as a Fellow with LSYWC. She is excited to be a part of a community that uplifts future legal professionals. Dailynn takes pride in being Latina and hopes to inspire other Latinas through her work.

Gabriela Ramirez Sanchez
George Washington High School
Community College of Denver

Gabriela Ramirez Sanchez was born and raised in Denver, Colorado. Growing up as the oldest of four kids, she was the first to experience life and the college journey, allowing her the opportunity to carve out an easier path for her siblings. Gabriela is the daughter of an immigrant father and a Mexican-American mother who did not attend college. Therefore, she is a first-generation college student planning to study Accounting at the Community College of Denver.

Her parents have always believed that education would be the best way to achieve her goals and dreams and help those in need. While most kids her age watched cartoons or sports, she watched true crime specials with her mother. Those shows particularly interested her because of the legal outcome of every case. She saw how lawyers were the ones who helped victims of crimes attain justice. She knew right then that she wanted to help people and fight for their rights.

At George Washington High School, Gabriela was involved in the Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps (JROTC) and the International Baccalaureate Latino Association. As a Cadet Major in the JROTC, she mentored many freshmen who wanted to learn how to adapt to new surroundings or upperclassmen who wanted their ideas heard. This helped her improve her leadership skills. She is excited to be a fellow in the LSYWC program because it will help her achieve her goals.  

Gregory Abukar-Duru
Coronado High School
University of Colorado at Colorado Springs

Gregory Abukar-Duru was born in Missouri but later moved to Colorado. Even at a young age, he saw the effect of what law has on a person without the proper knowledge and guidance thanks to custody battles between his sister’s father and her mother. Nevertheless, this has not stopped him from gaining help from others to pursue his dream career as a lawyer. The beginning of high school was a struggle for Gregory but thanks to his family and the caring community he was able to increase his academic prowess. This taught him the importance of a community and getting help from others.

Now with a newfound community that is there to support him, he shifted his objective from just becoming a lawyer to giving back to his community. He did this through community service towards senior care homes to local school events. By the time he ended his senior year of high school, he completed twenty hours of community service and became a link leader to help future freshmen. Furthering the community further through his experience.

Though he has been known for most of his life as being outgoing, overly talkative, and rambunctious. One common trait that peers will mention is his tenacity and drive to push his goals forward. Now becoming a fellow of Law School… Yes We Can Mentorship, this will give him a higher chance of making his goals a reality. With these lessons learned, he will enter his first year at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs with confidence and pride.

Walker Bargmann
Eagle Ridge Academy
Yale University

In elementary school, Walker Bargmann observed his family struggle with medical expenses while trying to ensure there was still food on the table. Even at a young age, he saw the blatant injustice--he believes no family should have to worry about making sure their home life remains stable when loved ones are in the hospital. While growing up, he witnessed many of his peers battle adversities similar to his own. Realizing these injustices were rooted in legislation, Walker began to become civically engaged during high school with the Colorado Youth Advisory Council, State Youth Council, and CHSAA to begin advocating for and addressing the shortcomings of public policy. 

In high school, Walker developed a deep love for theater through his work in Drama Club and focussed on leadership development in Student Council. He earned an Associate of Science through dual enrollment, was the Valedictorian of the Class of 2021, and will be continuing his education at Yale University. He plans to major in Economics or Global Affairs with a concentration on public policy, but hopes to explore his interests in theater and chemistry (among other subjects) as well. 

Being a first generation student and the first in his family to pursue a career in law, Walker is especially proud to be a role model for other students to see that achieving their dreams is possible. He is ecstatic to be a LSYWC Fellow, and hopes to explore the political applications of law school with his mentors. Walker wants to attend law school because he wants to change the law, with his end goal working in government to change adversities rooted in outdated legislation. 

Andrea Chavoya-Terrazas
Overland High School
Community College of Denver

Andrea Chavoya Terrazas was born in Aurora, Colorado, and was raised there and in Denver, Colorado. While growing up she faced many challenges, such as moving nine times and being to at least seven different schools in the span of her life. As the oldest in the family, she grew up wanting to help her family. Making decisions for the good of them and herself is something she prioritizes.

The idea of moving and going to a new school was never expected to happen her senior year but wasn’t really anything new to her. She recently graduated from Overland High School in the spring with honors in 2021. She experienced a lot of obstacles, for example, some of her classes didn't transfer which caused her G.P.A to drop, affecting the opportunity to receive scholarships. 

However, she is very blessed to have found this opportunity for the Law School.. Yes We Can program. Since her Sophomore year of high school, she’s been interested in becoming an immigration lawyer, and in her Junior year of high school, Andrea joined a Dare to Dream program that supported students from other countries (mostly Southern American countries) and even wrote a section about them in Spanish and English for others to hear their stories. This program is just one step closer to make her dreams a reality. Moving and getting into a criminal justice college-level class opened a door for her, an opportunity to get advice from professionals, and an overall feel to what becoming a lawyer would look like. 

Andrea is now a freshman going to the Community College of Denver and although she is undecided on what she would like to major and minor in she is delighted to receive guidance from mentors of this program.

Diana De La Rosa Santiago
Arrupe Jesuit High School
University of Denver

Diana De La Rosa Santiago was born in Whittier, California. After living in a small garage with her immigrant parents for four years, Diana and her family moved to Denver where she was raised. As the oldest of three children, Diana has seen the sacrifices that her parents have made for the survival of her and her siblings. She considers her family and her backbone and looks forward to the days where injustices will no longer reside in her community. 

Diana graduated from Arrupe Jesuit High School in 2019 as the first person to ever do so in her family. In high school, Diana was involved in Mock trial, registering over 90% of eligible students to vote, and held an internship at the law firm Faegre Baker Daniels. She also volunteered throughout various community service events and with local Denver organizations. 

Her experiences as Latina and Indigenous have fueled her drive to create equitable change within her communities. She hopes to see more representation within the legal field and become a catalyst for justice within the work that many are already doing.         

Currently, Diana is finishing up her second year at the University of Denver as a first-generation college student. She is pursuing a double major in Marketing and Sociology with a minor in Leadership. She serves on the executive board of the Colorado Women’s College Leadership Scholars Program and has become a mentor for other first-generation students on and off campus. Diana is excited to continue her educational journey as a LAW SCHOOL… Yes We Can Fellow because she will discover the support and advice from individuals who will assist towards her journey to law school.   

Jessica Garcia
Vista Peak Preparatory
University of Denver

Jessica Garcia was raised and currently lives in Aurora, Colorado and attended APS. I am the oldest out of four siblings, so I have always been the first to do things and clear the brush for my siblings so they could follow the same path as me. I am not a first-generation college student, but I will be a first-generation law student. I am a sophomore at the University of Denver double-majoring in Political Science and Spanish.

In high school, I was part of my high school, Vista Peak’s branch of National Honor Society and Latino Student Alliance. I graduated with honors in 2019 and hope to give back to the school. I am currently part of the University’s Office of Access and Transitions Volunteers In Partnership Program where we help underserved students have adequate access to resources while they are in college and make sure that both current and future students have a smooth access to and from college. 

I have always known that I wanted to help people ever since I was little. When my grandma came home from working as a translator in the courts, she would tell me about how the people she translated for had a hard time understanding why they were getting arrested and weren’t very knowledgeable of the law as they were in a new country. I would tell her about what I thought why it wasn’t fair to the people because they didn’t understand; so later down the line, I decided to learn Spanish to not just reconnect with my roots, but to also provide legal help to those who weren’t accustomed to U.S. law and had a hard time advocating for themselves. Law school has always seemed out of reach for me, so when I learned that I was going to be a LAW SCHOOL… Yes We Can Fellow, I was very excited because it was the first time that I really felt that I could attend law school and follow my dream of becoming a civil rights lawyer.

Emily Hernandez
Fort Morgan High School
University of Colorado at Boulder

Emily Hernandez was born and raised in Fort Morgan, Colorado. Her family immigrated from Mexico and instilled in Emily the value and importance of perseverance, integrity, and contributing to the good in the world. As a first generation Mexican American Latina, Emily understands the importance of representation to underrepresented communities.

Growing up she also had to navigate a speech impediment which reinforced the importance of having a voice of one’s own. A passion to speak up in what she believes in and to help those who need their voices amplified developed. Emily aspires to be an attorney and help advocate for children and juveniles. 

Emily is going into her third year at the University of Colorado Boulder with a major in Sociology. Emily competes for the university mock trial team and is also a member of the executive board. She is also a pre-law program coordinator for SASC at CU and a mentor to first year students. Emily is excited and honored to be a Law School Yes We Can Fellow.

Olivia Hymowitz
Cherry Creek High School
Colorado State University

Olivia (Liv) Hymowitz has always had a proclivity to help those in need. From a young age, she was aware of issues bigger than herself and longed to explore the compassion she had for the world. Growing up in a world that tends to be focused on surface-level issues such as wealth and body image, it was difficult for Liv to understand why mental health issues were often overlooked. By navigating her way through interactions with her peers and clinical anxiety, she gained respect for those who struggle with mental health issues. After losing a friend to suicide in her senior year of high school, she became motivated to be the first ever Mental Health Chair in her sorority at Colorado State University in 2020. 

Another cardinal passion of Liv’s is advocating for animal rights and environmental conservation. While she always knew that she loved animals, her desire for change became unassailable when she traveled to Thailand on a community service trip. She was told that she would be caring for orphaned elephants at a rehabilitation center, but instead she discovered a world of captivity and torture. Soon afterwards, she participated in an independent study training sheep for research in Colorado. During that time, she witnessed harsh treatment of the sheep and loose regulations. These coupled events inspired her to make it her mission to remedy unfair treatment, whether that be with respect to people, animals, or the environment.

Liv will be a junior at Colorado State University next Fall. She is majoring in Philosophy with a concentration in Science and Technology and a minor in Legal Studies. She is ecstatic to be a Law School...Yes We Can Fellow because she realizes that this opportunity will help her achieve her ambitious goals.

Taylor Johnson
Denver South High School
University of Colorado at Boulder

Taylor Johnson is a proud American-Brasilian student who was born in Denver, Colorado. She spent much of her childhood in Brasil with her family and feels a very special connection to her culture. Her mother immigrated to the United States from Brasil with little to nothing and has embodied what it means to be the “American dream.” Taylor is inspired by her mother’s hard work and tenacity and hopes to make her mother proud.

Growing up surrounded by hard working immigrants and watching how systems in the U.S. mistreat the people she loved, sparked a passion for social justice in Taylor. She feels incredibly privileged to have been born and educated in the U.S. and hopes to use this privilege to uplift her community. Taylor is also interested in women’s rights and hopes to break down glass ceilings.

She graduated top of her class from Denver South High School, and now attends the Univserity of Colorado Boulder. She majors in Philosophy with a concentration in law and society, and is a part of the multicultural leadership scholars program. When she heard of Law School… Yes We Can, she was thrilled to learn and grow through the mentorship program. Not only this, but being involved ed in a community that reflects her values was an opportunity of a lifetime.

Yasmine Lawson
Smoky Hill High School
Colorado State University

Yasmine Lawson was born in Moreno Valley, California, and raised in Aurora, Colorado. 

Growing up in a dedicated and hard-working immigrant family, Yasmine aspired to graduate high school, pursue a college degree, and eventually become a lawyer. Her greatest motivators are her parents, and many of her achievements are due to the unrelenting support that they have given her, and the sacrifices they made so that she could live the life they’ve toiled for. Yasmine also has two older brothers who nourish her potential, inspire and motivate her to pursue her dreams, and be the best possible person she can be. 

Yasmine’s desire to become a lawyer stems from her passion to help others within her various communities. Ever since she was little, she’s always had the ability to “argue like a pro'' according to her father. Her internship at a local law firm helped her to confirm this passion and she hopes to grow and develop her skills and talents through this program to achieve her goal. 

Yasmine plans to pursue her education at Colorado State University, Fort Collins studying sociology with a concentration in criminal justice. She hopes to become not only a lawyer but an activist that betters the social climate that is filled with injustice today. She is excited and eager to be involved in the Law School Yes We Can program and to gain an infinite amount of wisdom and knowledge from this community. 

David Martinez
Denver South High School
Colorado State University

David Martinez grew up in Denver, Colorado. He was blessed to have the opportunity to have a very diverse public education. This exposed him to various interpretations on important issues such as equity and justice. David did not have much family in Denver, so he valued the outlooks of his peers and was always eager to learn from them. David grew up as a low-income Latino so there were never many resources allocated to him or his community. However, that never stopped him from dreaming big and wanting to help those that come from communities similar to his. His biggest inspiration is his mother, she always made sure that he understood how truly loved he was. She is a breast cancer survivor who has conquered various obstacles throughout her life.

David has taken an untraditional path in higher education. After a brief stint at CSU after high school he was not sure what he wanted to do with his life. Once he returned home, he attended Red Rocks Community College. This is where he truly fell in love with not only knowledge, but justice. While at Red Rocks, David took courses that would not only change his life - but introduced him to extraordinary people that were passionate about humanity. This is when David began to take political science courses and was quickly intrigued by the consequences and benefits those political decisions have on communities. David began to work as a canvasser for grassroots organizations, in order to help communities, one must go in the communities and ask them what they need. We live in a hyper individualistic society where we prioritize the self over the group. However, true power lies when we come together, power to the people!

David is currently a senior at Colorado State University, He is a politico science major with a minor in legal studies. David understands how blessed and privileged he is to be a LAW SCHOOL… Yes We Can fellow. He looks forward to taking advantage of all the resources that the program will offer which include, but not limited to networking support as well as LSAT prep. David plans on entering the legal fields of immigration or civil rights. David wants to enter the justice system due to the inequities that BIPOC face within the system.

Omar Medina
Arrupe Jesuit High School
Santa Clara University

Omar Medina was born and raised in Denver, Colorado to a single immigrant mother. Having been instilled with different values like determination and dreaming big, Omar set his sights on being the first in his family to attend and graduate from college.

In the fall of 2019, Omar achieved his goal of attending college after starting at Santa Clara University in California. There, he has declared majors in Communication and Spanish. He has also been involved with organizations on campus like the Book Club and the Latinx Student Union.

After many trials and hardships doing online classes, Omar is more determined to finish his college career and graduate with a Bachelor's degree. He is excited to be a Law School... Yes We Can Fellow and to be a part of a larger community of individuals who strive for big things.

Aishwarya Mishra
Vista Peak Preparatory
Colorado State University

Aishwarya Mishra was born in Goldhap, Nepal. Her family moved to the United States when she was eight years old. She was faced with difficult challenges when adjusting to her new environment. There were obstacles she faced as a teenager, not understanding where she belonged, and always feeling out of place in social situations. She became too Americanized to fulfill the role of being the perfect daughter for a Nepali household, while also being too foreign to fit into the customs of American culture. Her newly introduced customs and beliefs clashed against the familiarities of her old way of living. Her culture led her to believe that she was inferior in society, simply because she was a woman. She believes that with the right tools and education, she can prove believers of this ideology wrong. She stands up for women's rights, striving to help people like her who struggled as an immigrant. 

Aishwarya is part of the graduating class of 2021 at Vista Peak Preparatory. She will be attending Colorado State University this upcoming fall. During high school, Aishwarya was a member of the speech and debate team for three years. She found herself loving the club and discovered a passion for public speaking. Aishwarya realized that her voice was her most powerful tool. This is when she decided that her future plans would include attending law school. When it comes to her goals, she is determined and ambitious about her education and future occupation. Aishwarya is thrilled to be a part of Law School… Yes We Can because of the opportunities it provides and direction towards attaining her dreams.

Isabelle Munsell
Broomfield High School
Colorado State University

Isabelle Munsell was born in Arizona and grew up in Brighton, Colorado. She attended Broomfield High School where she graduated summa cum laude in 2019. She then attended Regis University on an athletic scholarship to play soccer, but then made the decision to transfer to Colorado State University where she plans on earning a degree in Statistics with an Environmental Affairs and Computer Science minor. At Colorado State University Isabelle is a part of the law club and the Asian Pacific American Cultural Club. Isabelle is a second-generation Asian-American and enjoys being a part of the APAC club at CSU as it promotes her cultural identity.

During Isabelle’s senior year of high school, she discovered her passion for the environment. She began to learn more about the earth’s environmental issues, resulting in the realization that she wanted to dedicate her life to helping the planet. Although she knew she wanted to do something related to the environment, it wasn’t until she took a law class at CSU and discovered the power of policy as it can influence the environment. She saw it as an opportunity to stimulate change for the environment and those who are impacted by environmental injustices. Since then, she has had her heart and head set on attending law school to become an environmental lawyer.

Being a part of Law School Yes We Can, is important to her because it provides her with not only opportunities, but also the guidance she hopes to receive throughout the law school process. Isabelle does not have any family members or friends that are familiar with the law track, so it is important to her to have this program to aid in her journey of law school and serve others.

Evelyn Ontiveros
Prairie View High School
Colorado State University

Evelyn Ontiveros was born and raised in Denver, Colorado. Evelyn knew she wanted to be the voice for those who have been silenced ever since she began to see the injustices around her. In middle school, a teacher recognized the strong will Evelyn had to become a lawyer and introduced her to an after-school law program. In this program was where she started finding her own voice and began to realize how she could use it to help others. 

Evelyn is passionate about helping others and providing a safe place for them. She is currently an RBT and works with autistic kids. She loves her job and finds new ways to connect with her clients every day. Being an RBT has taught Evelyn to befriend her inner child and remember to find happiness even in most serious situations. 

Evelyn will be a graduate from Colorado State University this upcoming summer. She majored in Psychology. Evelyn is thrilled about being a LAW SCHOOL. Yes We Can Fellow because she will have guidance and a community to be able to grow in and be a part of. 

Chastity Polland
Vista Peak Preparatory
Colorado State University

Chastity Polland was born and raised in Aurora, Colorado. As the youngest of five siblings all who never graduated from high school Chastity knew she wanted to be the first to graduate high school and move on to pursue higher education. Chastity identifies as a survivor of child abuse and a witness to domestic violence in her home growing up. Having the cops out every night and dealing with the courts consistently throughout her life is what motivated Chastity to want to be a lawyer and be the voice for the forcibly silenced. Despite the trauma she endured from the past Chastity has made it her strength and dedicated herself to her education to achieve this goal. After the abuse settled, Chastity was raised by her single mother who along with her siblings pushed Chastity to never give up and graduate high school. After a long year, Chastity finally graduated from Vista Peak Preparatory in 2019 and got accepted to Colorado State University her first choice college. 

In the Fall of 2021, Chastity will be a junior Political Science major with a minor in Legal Studies at Colorado State University. In her time in college, she has taken several courses that have continued to develop her passion for the law and helping give voices back to those who are silenced. During the 2020-2021 school year Chastity dedicated herself to giving back to the CSU community by being part of the orientation and transitions program in helping to welcome the class of 2024 and she hopes to have more chances like this one as she continues her college education.

Chastity’s past has driven her to becoming the person she is today as well as the lawyer she will be one day in the near future. Coming from a single parent household can sometimes limit your opportunities and so having this opportunity with Law School... Yes We Can! is a humbling experience. Chastity is grateful to be a part of this and knows this will push her leaps and bounds to where she wants to be one day soon. 

Luisa Quinones Marrufo
Glenwood Springs High School
Amherst College

Luisa Quinones has always delighted in helping people. Throughout her high school career, she has been an active translator for many events. She has always seen her knowledge as a resource for helping others and hopes to branch out in order to help more people. As a first-generation high school and eventually college graduate, she hopes to keep on working hard to achieve her dream of making a difference in her community through her education.  

Luisa had the amazing opportunity of doing a law internship in Washington D.C., which gave her a real-world experience on her true passion. She was also part of the mock trial team at her high school since her freshman year and was coached by a full-time attorney. Due to her working closely with the Latino community at her school, she realized the need they had for greater education. Those experiences shaped her and made her realize that she wanted to go attend law school in order to be a helping hand in her community. 

Luisa is a senior in high school and will be attending Amherst College in Massachusetts in the fall. Luisa is very excited about being a LAW SCHOOL...Yes, We Can Fellow because she will have the help she needs to accomplish her dreams of becoming a lawyer.

Kimia Rejai
Arapahoe High School
University of Colorado at Boulder

Kimia Rejai was born in Louisiana and soon after, her family moved to California. She has been in Colorado since the age of four and currently lives in Denver. She comes from a family of Iranian-Americans that strongly believes in the value of advanced education and motivates her to pursue the career of her dreams. Her first language growing up was Farsi and she learned English after going to pre-school. Later in high school she became proficient in Spanish as well.

She is the youngest of two and looks up to her parents since they persevered through learning a new culture, language, and transformed their lives. Her father came from Tehran, Iran to pursue his studies and attended graduate school in Nebraska, a state which years earlier he did not know where it was. Their hard work, perseverance, and achievements are something Kimia looks up to and hopes to follow.

Kimia’s interests include hiking, skiing, reading, and drawing. Through her educational experiences, she has become passionate about a future in law. She has become determined to help those who may not have the opportunity to be able to help themselves. Her goal is to raise awareness about the importance of learning and trying to shape the laws that govern us to create a more inclusive and just society. 

She is in the graduating class of 2021 at the University of Colorado in Boulder and is majoring in Psychology and Economics with a minor in History. Kimia believes her passion for law is heavily intertwined with her majors and is looking forward to the opportunity to explore it. During her time at the University of Colorado, she has been a member of organizations such as Defend Our Future and Girl Scouts of Colorado. Through her experiences, Kimia found a new appreciation for the power of activism and the importance of always striving for equality.

Becoming an attorney would give Kimia the opportunity to speak out against wrongful convictions, educate others about the law, and promote fair treatment of all people regardless of race, gender, sexuality, or religious beliefs. Kimia is honored to have the opportunity to be a Law School...Yes We Can! fellow because the knowledge, support, and friendships that this program will provide will invigorate her drive and inspire her to keep pursuing for the life that she dreams of.

Zachary Thompson
High Tech Early College
University of Denver

Zachary “Zach” Thompson is from Brighton, Colorado. Having attended school in the very diverse city of Denver for most of his life while living in relatively homogenous Brighton, Zach has developed an appreciation for a diversity of backgrounds, experiences, and ideas. In high school, Zach became involved with his school’s chapter of the National Honor Society, which taught him, among others, the values of leadership and service. Since then, he has sought opportunities to develop those values and began seeking out potential careers that would allow him to employ them.

After graduating from High Tech Early College, Zach enrolled at the University of Colorado Denver eager to advance his education. His interest in law stems partly from a few experiences he has had with the legal system in Colorado, namely jury duty and a legal name change, as well as from his studies in history.

Zach is currently in his third year at University and is pursuing a double major in history and French, two subjects he has been passionate about since high school. As he is part of the University of Colorado Denver’s Honors and Leaderhsip Program, Zach understands the benefits of being part of an organization such as Law School… Yes We Can and appreciates the guidance of mentors as well as the sense of community with his peers who have similar interests.

DeVon Washington
Colorado Early College
Colorado State University

DeVon Washington was the last born out him and his twin brother. I have three siblings and was raised by a single mother. As a child I had always seen that I could be the smile in the room. I made a lot of friends and participated in several extra curriculars. My mother always told me that I was going to be someone; that whenever they said my name they would smile. However, I didn’t have it all behind closed doors. My mother was raising two sets of twins on her own, and with no role model present, I had to grow up fast.

In high school I attended an early college where I was able to receive college credits while still in high school. Upon graduation, I had been accredited 55 college hours, with eyes set on attending Colorado State University to pursue a degree and run track. I realized I had an interest in law, when I came to understand that the world, I was growing up in was also the world that did not want to see me grow. When my uncle was convicted of a crime, it was at this moment I knew that if he had a better attorney, he would have been placed better in the eyes of the system. I knew that I was going to be the helping hand that people in marginalized communities yearned to have. 

Currently on my third year here at CSU, I am studying Sociology with a minor in Criminal Justice. I believe LAW SCHOOL… Yes, We Can, will be able to provide me steps to aid me the rest of my journey of becoming a lawyer. This program will provide me tools in pursuing my dream of becoming a lawyer, while helping me grow through the process. I have hopes of being placed in black communities to serve as a criminal defense attorney while fighting for civil rights. 

Lacee Winn
DSST: Conservatory Green High School
University of Denver

Lacee Winn was born in Chicago, Illinois and moved to Denver, Colorado when she was eleven years old. When she started middle school, she immediately realized how differently people treated her based on her race. Lacee also noticed how racism and lack of resources impacted her close and distant relatives. This played a huge role in her joining organizations and extracurricular activities that focused on healing and empowering the BIPOC community.  

These activities opened her mind to more opportunities to help those in need and help make a better future or generations to come. As the oldest of four kids, she knows how to responsible and hopes to support youth and adults of color alike by providing resources aligned with mental health and racial justice. 

Lacee part of the founding class for DSST: Conservatory Green High School. She is set to graduate in the spring of 2021. She intends to help youth like herself to survive and thrive by obtaining leadership skills, teamwork skills.  She also hopes to make a difference while working towards a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice and minors in Psychology and Ethical Studies. Lacee is excited about becoming a part of  LAW SCHOOL…Yes We Can be can get as much guidance and advice as possible to help her become a criminal defense lawyer provide support to others.

Jackie Alderete Urena
Fairview High School
Metropolitan State University of Denver

Jackie Alderete Urena is from Gomez Palacio, Durango Mexico. She moved to Boulder, Colorado when she was eight years old. As an immigrant, Jackie experienced first-hand the many challenges of navigating the United States: diversity of language, culture, religion, socioeconomic status, and life experiences. From a young age, Jackie knew that attaining a higher education would be her ticket to living the American dream. After graduating from Fairview High School in Boulder, Jackie was faced with the dilemma of paying for college. She applied for scholarships, sought out support, and began pursuing her bachelor’s degree at Metropolitan State University of Denver. 

Jackie will be a Junior in the Fall of 2020, majoring in Political Science and minoring in Legal Studies. After graduation, Jackie will pursue law school. She is passionate about immigration law and committed to bringing social justice to the migrant population. Currently she works as a bilingual paralegal for the Saltrese Law Firm. She works closely with people of all backgrounds, ethnicities, and cultures and takes pride in providing support and helping serve this vulnerable population.  

Among her most cherished deeds is volunteer work. She is an active volunteer for RMIAN, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping immigrants detained at the Aurora processing center. Twice she’s traveled to Texas to volunteer for RAICES, a non-profit that provides assistance to detained immigrant parents and their children who find themselves behind bars at one of the largest detention centers in the United States. Jackie is also a volunteer and a Director at Large for the League of Women Voters Boulder County. She joined the League because she believes we all share the same responsibility to participate in government, make our voices heard, and advocate for equality. 

For Jackie, immigration work is personal; being of service to the migrant population is work she holds close to her heart. Jackie is thrilled to be a Law School…Yes We Can Fellow. She knows the support, guidance, and experience she’ll gain through the program will bring her one step closer to becoming a lawyer and even more effectively serving her community.

Cydney Davis
Thomas Jefferson High School
Howard University

Cydney Davis was born and raised in Denver, Colorado, and graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School in 2018. Cydney proudly identifies as an African American and Mexican woman, which taught her very early on the importance of giving back to her communities. She witnessed several family members fall victim to the judcial system throughout her life, which inspired and largely motivated her to become a lawyer.  

In the Fall 2020, Cydney will be a Junior Political Science and Psychology double major and Criminology minor at Howard University. In her time in college, she has worked several government internships, where she developed her passion for civil and criminal law. Cydney has also served as the Health and Wellness Coordinator for the College of Arts and Sciences Student Council, and the Inter-Committee Chair for the Howard University NAACP Health Committee.  

Cydney’s background and experience fuels her passion for becoming the first woman lawyer within her family. She is very excited to be a fellow with Law School…Yes We Can! because the mentorship will create a strong foundation to becoming a successful lawyer and a mentor to others as well. 

Victoria Harwell
Kent Denver High School
Washington University

Victoria (Tori) Harwell was born and raised in Colorado. She is the oldest of three children in her family. Victoria has been serving her community since she was a small child - first with her parents, then independently.   Following her mom's death, she found a love in advocating for health equity for youth of color through working with Denver Public Health.  In addition, she helped raise $5,000 for two consecutive years at YouthRoots, allowing them to give grants to organizations that promote youth mental health services.  

As a sophomore in high school, Tori explored the legal field through activities like Mock Trial, Journey 2 JD, and a legal internship with KLN law firm. These activities only fueled her passion for racial justice and civil rights. She went on to write a comprehensive research paper about the women of the Black Panthers. Victoria has also since completed an independent study in Afro-Latinx studies. Through her academic journey, Tori has learned that oppression is deeply embedded in western governmental structures.  

With her strong base of knowledge, Tori will attend Washington University in St. Louis with a double major in African American Studies and Economics. She hopes to eventually work on international health and economic policies to address health inequity after completing her studies. 

Ferha Khan
Campbell County High School
University of Colorado at Boulder

Ferha Khan was born and raised in Gillette, Wyoming and throughout her life visited her home country every two years for four months at a time. Her parents are from Pakistan and made it a priority to go back so often so that their kids can learn how difficult life is in some places. Going to Pakistan as many times as she did has changed Ferha’s perspective on life and humbled her in all aspects. She had to learn how to balance both cultures since her family was the only Pakistani and Muslim family in her hometown. Ferha graduated high school at Campbell County High in 2016, and went on to her local community college, from which she graduated with her Associate’s Degree in Criminal Justice in 2018. Despite missing months of school, she managed to graduate on time while staying on Honor’s Roll throughout. Her GPA remained a 4.0 for all four of her semesters throughout her freshman and sophomore years in college. 

Ferha’s parents did not receive an adequate education due to their immigration to the United States, and being the oldest of five siblings, she is a first-generation student. While this has led to many missed opportunities, she strives to become a good example to her younger siblings, even if valuable lessons are learned through her mistakes. Ferha’s passion for law school comes from the clear underrepresentation and injustice that minorities experience within our justice system. She hopes to create a platform and use it to address inequity, such as issues with wrongful convictions and unnecessarily lengthy sentences given to some minorities.  

Ferha is currently finishing off her Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology at the University of Colorado Boulder. When she heard about Law School… Yes We Can, she was thrilled to find exactly what she is looking for: guidance. Having mentors and coming in contact with many people that either have gone through law school, or will, is the exact guidance she believes every first-generation student needs. She is thankful for the program and cannot wait to get involved.

Matthew Mallary
Cañon City High School
Metropolitan State University of Denver

Matthew Mallary was born in Salida, Colorado and grew up in Cañon City, Colorado. Growing up with a father working in the corrections field, Matthew has always had a strong connection to justice and a desire to help those in need. After graduating high school, Matthew entered the workforce in jobs ranging from construction to train conductor and engineer.

Matthew, as many members of today’s society, succumbed to the disease of addiction. Those struggles and life events helped to further Matthew’s connection to justice and the desire to help those in need. Since becoming sober, Matthew volunteers his time to help others addicted to drugs and alcohol through programs like The Phoenix in Denver. He also enjoys fostering dogs and all the outdoor activities Colorado has to offer.

Matthew is in his second year at MSU Denver, considered a non traditional student, he is looking to graduate at the age of 36 with a Major in Political Science and a Minor in Philosophy. Matthew is excited about being a Law School… Yes We Can Fellow because of the opportunity to connect with a wide variety of professionals and to widen the diversity and understanding of the legal community.

Ana Martinez
East High School
Metropolitan State University of Denver

Ana Martinez was born and raised in the Dominican Republic. At the age of nine she immigrated with her brother to the United States with her mother’s temporary work visa. In January 2020 she, along with her family, received her citizenship. Ana’s mother received her master’s which encouraged her to pursue higher education.  

Ana has always been a natural born leader and from a very young age took an interest in law. Her father would call her “abogada” the Spanish translation for lawyer for her constant need to win arguments at a very young age. In high school, Ana had personal experiences with the law enforcement that made her recognize the injustice within the criminal justice system. Ever since, Ana has dedicated her time to her education and law.  

Ana is currently in her Junior year at MSU Denver and will begin her Senior year in the Fall of 2020. She is pursuing a major in History with a minor in Africana Studies. She received the Reisher Scholarship her Sophomore year for her outstanding academics and community service and is now attending undergraduate school debt free. Ana is exhilarated about being a Law School… Yes We Can Fellow because she will have the resources and encouragement she has yearned for in order to become a lawyer and provide for her family back in the Dominican Republic. 

Joanna Mendy
Overland High School
University of Colorado at Boulder

Joanna Mendy is a Colorado native and graduated from Overland High School in 2018. She currently attends the University of Colorado Boulder and is an active member of her student government’s Social Equity Commission. She is also a peer mentor for the Pre-Collegiate Development Program and the Multicultural Leadership Scholars.  

She understands how difficult it can be to grow up without representation. Joanna has also seen how navigating the law can be a tricky and scary experience. She hopes that by becoming a lawyer she will be able to make the law more accessible for her community. She also hopes to act as a role model and provide representation for little black girls everywhere. 

Joanna is about to enter her third year of college and is majoring in Political Science with a minor in Leadership Studies. She is excited to be a fellow and is honored to be a part of Law School...Yes We Can!

T’Phani Perley-Schiele
Gateway High School
University of Denver

T'Phani Perley-Schiele was born in Denver, Colorado, and raised in Aurora, Colorado for most of her life. She attended Gateway High School and graduated in 2019. During her time at Gateway, she participated in any and everything she could. She was involved in student government, holding the titles of Junior Class President, and Student Body Vice President. She was named "most spirited" of her high school class and never missed a home game. T'Phani is the youngest of five siblings and the second to go to college. She is excited and determined to give her parents a legacy they can be proud of.  

T'Phani is currently majoring in Criminology and minoring in Leadership and Socio-Legal Studies at the University of Denver. She is excited to be involved in the Law School... Yes We Can program because they are giving her the guidance and direction that she's wanted and needs to become successful in her career path. T'Phani's dream is to become not just a successful lawyer, but someone who gives back to her community and uses her achievements to uplift others. 

Fernando Ponce-Juarez
York International
Metropolitan State University of Denver

Fernando Ponce-Juarez was born and raised in Denver, Colorado. He comes from an immigrant background where generations worth of struggles are instilled within him. As an only child to a single mother he recognized from a young age that he had to strive for higher education in order to make her and his family’s sacrifices worth it. Beginning from an arduous high school career he graduated and proved to be tenacious. He chose to attend Metropolitan State University of Denver where he quickly recognized his abilities to succeed in an academic setting.  

Metropolitan State University of Denver provided Fernando with a second opportunity to transform himself as a student and excel. He consistently ensured that his GPA was above a 3.7 every semester. During his 2018-second semester at MSU Denver he became a Reisher Scholar recipient, which provided him with a full ride scholarship to continue his educational endeavors.  

Fernando always had an interest for law, which inspired him to major in Political Science and minor in History. He has always wanted to advocate for those who could not do so for themselves and champion the rights of those who required it. He will be a senior in the fall semester of 2020 and looks forward to graduating. Moreover, he is excited to become a Law School… Yes We Fellow because he believes the values the program venerates will be quintessential to his success. Furthermore, the programs excellent networking and mentoring events will be beneficial for him to persevere through law school and serve his community as a family law lawyer. 

Idalí Rodriguez
St. Mary’s Academy
Colorado State University

Idalí Rodriguez was born and raised in Littleton, Colorado. As a young child, Idalí always knew that she wanted to help others. Her love of animals drew her to wanting to become a veterinarian, but her fear of needles brought her to wanting to defend those that have been wronged. Her parents always pushed her to go above expectations and to never settle. They encouraged her to try new things and to always be involved extra-curricular activities. 

Idalí was a part of the graduating 2018 class at St. Mary’s Academy. Attending St. Mary’s Academy allowed Idalí to form confidence in her identity and also allowed her to form long lasting relationships. She was a part of the National Honors society, the diversity club, the honors choir and many more other clubs. Attending an all-girls high school also allowed Idalí to learn about gender inequality along with other social justice issues. Being involved in clubs, also allowed her to travel around the country to perform with her choir, and be exposed to different kinds of people. 

Idalí is currently in her second year of college at Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colorado. She is pursuing a double major in Political Science and Cultural Anthropology with a minor in Legal Studies. Idalí is currently the academic officer for her sorority, and is a member of the Pre-law club. Idalí is looking forward to bein a Law School…Yes We Can Fellow because she has the opportunity to make long-lasting friendships and mentors with those that have similar interests and passion. 

Josué Rodríguez
Denver School of the Arts
University of Denver

Josué Rodríguez was raised in Denver, Colorado. He is a first-generation high school graduate and a first-generation college student. He will be entering his third year at the University of Denver with a double major in Political Science and International Business. 

Josué is the president of the Latinx Student Alliance at his university and has also worked with the Gang and Rescue Support Project (GRASP) in the Denver-Aurora area. He is dedicated to making the change he would like to see in his own community and hopes to continue that in the Law School…Yes We Can program with his dream of being a civil rights lawyer. 

Elizabeth Stricker
Two Roads Charter School
Metropolitan State University of Denver

Elizabeth (Lexie) Stricker was born and raised in Colorado. She was adopted as a baby and became the youngest of five girls. Her whole life, Lexie loved helping others. From a young age her mother always told her that she should be a lawyer when she grows up because of how much she loved to argue and negotiate. No one in her family is a lawyer, but she does have many relatives who work in the criminal justice field.

In high school, Lexie was part of many clubs and played volleyball and was on her high school cheer team. Being part of these things taught her a lot about community and teamwork. She also learned to work hard and stick with it to achieve her goals. After high school she had her daughter and has always strived to give her the best life she can.

Lexie is currently in her first year of college at Metropolitan State University of Denver. She is pursuing a major in Political Science, with a minor in Criminal Justice. Lexie is excited about being a Law School… Yes We Can Fellow because she will have people to help her and support her with chasing her dream. As well as being a role model for her young daughter. She cannot wait to graduate college and get to law school to learn more about criminal law and go out into the field to help people when they need it the most.

Sara Vieyra
Arrupe Jesuit High School
College of the Holy Cross

Sara Vieyra was born and raised in Denver, Colorado. Sara has an older brother and a younger sister who inspire and motivate her to pursue her dreams and be a role model in her community. Growing up with a hard-working immigrant family, Sara aspired to graduate high school and, in time, become a first-generation college graduate and eventually lawyer. Her greatest motivations are her family, the support that they have given her, and the sacrifices they made so that she could attain her goals.

Sara has played many roles in her community at Arrupe Jesuit High School, from which she will graduate with honors in the summer of 2020. Being involved in her community as a leader, being a student intern at two law firms, and her rigorous academics opened a gateway to her interest in being a lawyer. Sara hopes to be an activist through her work and help impoverished and minority communities that do not have access to affordable and effective representation. 

In the Fall of 2020, Sara will be attending the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts.  She is planning on pursuing a major in the English Language and Literature and becoming involved in many different extracurricular activities. Sara is ecstatic about becoming a fellow for the Law School Yes We Can program because she will have mentors who will help lead her through college and law school to become a criminal lawyer and provide representation to people in need.

“Sí, Se Puede” is a phrase born of farmworkers, who, under the leadership of the UFW, César Chávez, and Dolores Huerta, fought valiantly for equal protection under the law.  As a result of the efforts of the UFW, “Sí, Se Puede” has become well known as a call that engenders hope and inspiration in those who face similar battles. We thank the UFW, whom we acknowledge to be the sole and exclusive owner of the Trademark SI SE PUEDE, for granting us a limited license to use“Sí, Se Puede” in connection with our efforts to recruit, in Colorado, students of Hispanic or Latino descent for our law school pipeline program. For more information about the programs offered by the UFW, please see UFW’s webpage (www.ufw.org); UFW Foundation’s webpage (www.ufwfoundation.org); and UFWF’s immigration services webpage (www.sisepuede.org)