The Maryland Hispanic Bar Association (“MHBA”) is dedicated to increasing the diversity of the legal profession. An important part of meeting this goal is increasing the number of Latinx students entering law school.

A significant barrier for many Latinx college students who wish to pursue attend law school is the inability to afford a preparation course for the Law School Admissions Test (LSAT). Additionally, the costs of registering for the exam itself can present a financial barrier to aspiring law students. The LSAT is a required exam for most law schools in the country and serves as a factor for admissions and scholarship awards. Taking an LSAT preparation course can help students achieve higher LSAT scores and ultimately a better chance of being accepted to law school. The MHBA will award scholarships to pay for college students and recent graduates with demonstrated commitment to the Latinx community to offset the costs of taking an LSAT preparation course.

AWARD
The MHBA scholarship includes registration for an LSAT prep course from Kaplan titled “LSAT Prep – Live Online” and it provides 12 months of unlimited access to expert-led instruction and practice materials – a $1,399 value. The MHBA will work with the awardees and tender payment for courses directly to Kaplan. The Award Receipt will also receive (1) courtesy ticket entry to the Maryland Hispanic Bar Association’s 2024 Gala to network with attorneys and judges in attendance.

ELIGIBILITY
To be eligible, applicants must:

• have earned a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year college or university in Maryland, DC or Virginia, or be on track to obtain a Bachelor’s degree by 2024 or 2025 (i.e., current juniors or seniors);
• submit official transcript by application deadline;
• demonstrate involvement and commitment to Latinx community;
• be eligible to register and attend a Kaplan® LSAT prep course in 2025;
• plan to sit for the LSAT in 2025;
• plan to apply to law school for the 2025 or 2026 cohort (spring or fall); and
• demonstrate a financial need.
• Must attend the MHBA gala on September 20, 2024 in Ellicott City, MD

Download application HERE

DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION
Applications, along with an official college transcript, must be submitted no later than by 11:59 p.m. PT on August 15, 2024, via email to MHBAScholarships@gmail.com. The applicant will receive a confirmation email within 2-3 days after submitting the application. Please direct any questions regarding this scholarship to MHBAScholarships@gmail.com. Finalists will be selected from all applicants to be interviewed, and winners will be notified by September 1, 2024.

Erick Arrivillaga-Barrios, a proud Guatemalan, is a George Mason University graduate with a B.S. in Criminology, Law, and Society and a B.A. in International and Government Politics.

He has gained valuable experience through internships at the Prince William County Commonwealth Attorney’s Office, Fairfax County General District Court, and El Juzgado de Paz de Tejutla in Guatemala. He served as the External VP of the Hispanic/Latinx Leadership Alliance (HLLA) and is a brother of Phi Iota Alpha Fraternity Inc., the oldest Latino fraternity in existence.

Erick aspires to create a scholarship fund to support educational opportunities for local students. He also aims to address immigration, substance abuse, juvenile crimes, domestic abuse, and corruption in Latin America, with a focus on strengthening the rule of law. His ultimate goal is to become a criminal defense attorney or work as an attorney in Guatemala to tackle impunity.

Jeremy Acaba, originally from Brooklyn, New York, is a first-generation Puerto Rican who graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies, concentrating on Foreign Policy and National Security, with a regional focus on East Asia. As the School of International Service Commencement Speaker for 2024, he earned the highest honor given to a graduating student, reflecting his leadership and academic excellence.

At American University, Jeremy played a pivotal role as the Founding Director of Mentorship and Guidance for Latinos En Acción, where he developed the impactful Pa’ Mi Gente Mentorship Program. He also founded the first Latin fraternity on campus, Lambda Theta Phi Latin Fraternity, Inc. His dedication to educational equity and voter participation extended beyond the campus through his involvement with various organizations both on and off campus.

Jeremy plans to attend law school, aiming to serve as an attorney and pursue a career in national security as a Judge Advocate General’s officer in the Navy. His experiences and achievements demonstrate a commitment to advocacy, leadership, and service, positioning him for a distinguished career in public service.

Karen Zayas, is a recent graduate of Towson University, where she earned a degree in Sociology and Anthropology with a concentration in Criminal Justice. As a first-generation college graduate, Karen has been dedicated to pursuing her passion for law.

She currently works at Community Legal Services, a nonprofit organization specializing in family law, while preparing for the LSAT. Her goal is to attend the evening program at Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law in 2026.

Karen is deeply committed to serving the Hispanic community, and her bilingualism has greatly enhanced her impact in community outreach programs. Receiving the 2024 Kaplan LSAT Preparation course scholarship is a tremendous honor, and she is excited to continue progressing toward her dream of becoming an attorney.

Raised in Virginia Beach, Virginia, Ariyana Monee Ward came to Maryland in 2019 to attend college at Frostburg State University on a track and field scholarship. While at Frostburg State, Monee Ward immediately declared political science as one of her majors. As an undergrad, she became student body president for two years, Frostburg NAACP president for three years, and a teacher for the psychology department for three years, all while remaining a top student in the University Honors Program. Monee Ward quickly made a name for herself in Frostburg and Allegany County with her activism by conducting several social justice marches, rallies, and reproductive justice initiatives. Monee Ward was named one of the most influential people of Allegany County by Cumberland Times News. Some of Monee Ward’s most notable work was her “Got checked?” campaign for sexual health on Frostburg State’s campus, where she collaborated with the Garrett County Health Department to provide students and residents with “Sexy bags”, which were bags filled with rapid STI tests, contraception, and reproductive health education. Monee Ward created this campaign to urge her campus to allocate more funding to the campus health department, make contraception more accessible for students, and spread awareness to the high STI rate in the county. Monee Ward found a more profound passion for politics and activism in Maryland and began working on several members of the General Assembly’s campaigns. Monee Ward developed close relationships with members of the Maryland Legislator, secured several internships in their offices, and landed an internship with the Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland. Immediately after graduating from Frostburg State University with honors, Monee Ward accepted the position of Executive Director for the Women Legislators of Maryland where she continues to advocate for all women and provide representation for women in the Black and Latino community.

Ninfa Amador-Hernandez, is a dedicated Research and Policy Analyst at CASA, specializing in state policy, including healthcare expansion for immigrants and housing justice for working-class families. Hailing from the vibrant DMV area and originally from Honduras. Growing up undocumented, she witnessed firsthand the hurdles faced by the undocumented community, as well as the divestment in Black communities, experiences that ignited her passion for transformative, people-centered policy.

Driven by a personal connection to the challenges they navigate, Ninfa has committed herself to advancing the immigrant and working class families’ agenda. Ninfa is an aspiring lawyer, a profession she believes will enhance her abilities to further advocate for people-center policies. Outside of the immigration and professional realm, Ninfa is an avid podcast listener, enjoys being active in the outdoors, sharing her time with family and friends, and always looking for ways to connect with others.

Ninfa is a 2024 honoree of the Leading Women under 40 award, a 2023 awardee of the Maryland Latino Caucus Rising Leader Award, and a proud board member of the Arlington-based, Dream Project.