Scholarship Awardees
Promoting Diversity
The foundation provides financial assistance for young women who are committed to public service. Foundation scholarships cover the costs of the exam prep courses and entrance fees. Since its inception in 2015 the foundation has awarded scholarships to African-American female law students for bar application and preparation in Wilmington, Delaware and Boston, Massachusetts, Philadelphia, PA and Prince George County, MD.
The Scholarship program also offers a $5,000 incentive for scholarship recipients who secure employment as prosecutors. Our goal is to expand the reach of the scholarship fund and with your help we can realize this goal.
2022 Award Recipients
The Sarita and Claire Wright Lucas Foundation is proud to announce that in 2022 we have committed to supporting our Scholarship Awardees financially during their first and second attempt at passing the Bar Exam. The SCWL Foundation made this amendment to our guidelines in order to fully support our Awardees as they work toward their goal of becoming Prosecutors.
BIANCA PICKERING
2022 Scholarship Awardee
Candidate for Juris Doctorate J.D. May 2022
Northeastern School of Law
- Black Law Students Association Kemet Chapter, Social Chair (Fall 2020 – Spring 2021
- Associate Editor, Northeastern University Law Review (2021 – 2022)
- University Senate Student Affairs Committee, Chair (2016- 2017) & Senator (2015- 2018)
- National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), Public Relations Manager
- Hofstra Campus Safety Committee
- Hofstra Peace Fellow (Spring 2015)
- Delta Sigma Theta, Sorority, Inc.
Internships:
- Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office, Philadelphia, PA – Juvenile Justice Unit Certified Legal Intern (June 2021- August 2021)
- Center for Popular Democracy, Brooklyn, NY – Education Policy Legal Intern (February 2021)
- New York City Commission on Human Rights, New York, NY – Policy Intern (June 2020 – August 2020)
BRITTANY STOKES
2022 Scholarship Awardee
Candidate for Juris Doctorate J.D. May 2022
Widener University Deleware Law School
Internships:
- First Judicial District of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – Clerical Assistant (Summer 2018)
- Delaware County District Attorney’s Office, Media, Pennsylvania – Legal Intern (Summer 2021)
- The Honorable Timika Lane, Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas – Virtual Judicial Intern (Summer 2020)
- 191st Legislative District, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – Legislative Intern (Summer 2019)
- Office of the District Attorney, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – Intern (Summer 2016)
EMILY PINA
2022 Scholarship Awardee
Candidate for Juris Doctorate J.D. May 2022
Suffolk University Law School
- Trustee Academic Scholar, Thomas J. Drinan Fellow (2021)
- National Trial Team, Progress to Success Mentor
Internships:
- Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office, Boston, MA – Student Attorney (SJC 3:03 Certified) (Sept. 2017 – Present)
- Victim Witness Advocate, Superior Court (October 2019 – present)
- Victim Witness Advocate, District Court (September 2017 – Oct. 2019)
- Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office, Boston, MA – Gaming Enforcement Division – Student Attorney (SJC 3:03 Certified) (June 2021 – August 2021)
- The Public Defender Service, Washington, D.C – Intern Investigator (August 2016 – December 2016)
IRENE DENIS
2022 Fellowship Awardee
Candidate for Juris Doctorate J.D. December 2022
New England Law School
- Black Law Students Association, President (2020 – 2021)
- Women’s Law Caucus, Member (2019- Present)
Internships:
- AmeriCorps, Office Inspector General (OIG) – Legal Intern (September 2021- Present)
- New England Law Boston Law Clinical Law Office – Family Law Student Attorney (August 2021-December 2021)
- The Law Offices of Onaodowan and Delince, PLLC – Summer Legal Intern (June 2021- August 2021)
- Faudoa Law – Summer Legal Intern (June 2020- August 2022)
TAILAYAH MACKLIN
2022 Fellowship Awardee
Candidate for Juris Doctorate J.D. May 2024
Suffolk Universty Law School
- Black Law Students Association, Treasurer (2020 – Present)
Internships:
- Suffolk County District Attonrey’s Office – Victim Witness Adovcate (August 2020- Present)
- United States Department of Labor: Office of the Solicitor – Paralegal Intern (October 2016-December 2016)
Invisible
2021 Award Recipients
AISHA T ADEGBUYI
2021 Scholarship Awardee
Candidate for Juris Doctorate J.D. June 2021
American University Washington College of Law
- Journal of Gender, Social & Law – Publications Editor
- Black Law Student Association – Member and mentor to 1L and 2L BLSA students
Internships:
- The Honorable Terrence M. R. Zic, Maryland Court of Special Appeals, Rockville, MD – Judicial Law Clerk, September 2021
- Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Rockville, MD – Legal Intern, May-August 2020
- Office of the Attorney General, Washington, DC – Legal Intern, January – April 2020
- Superior Court, Office of the Auditor Master, Washington, DC – Legal Intern, September – November 2019
- U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement, Office of the Principal Legal Counsel, Arlington, VA – Legal Intern, May – August 2019
LILIANE M COOPER
2021 Scholarship Awardee
Candidate for Juris Doctorate J.D. June 2021
Villanova Charles Widger School of Law
- Villanova Parents and Non-Traditional Students Group – Founder and president
- Jeffrey S. Moorad Sports Law Journal – Staff writer
- Black Law Students Association (BLSA) – Historian
- IP Society – Vice-President
- Lorenzini McNulty Women Institute for Women Leaders – Student Ambassador
- Villanova Admissions – Student Ambassador
Internships:
- Clinic for Law and Entrepreneurship, Villenova, PA – Student Attorney, January – Present
- S. Department of Justice Philadelphia, PA – Law Clerk (Criminal Division), September 2020 – December 2020
- Delaware Department of Justice Wilmington, DE – Summer Law Clerk (Freaud and Civil division), June 2020 – August 2020
- CommScope Horsham, PA – Intellectual Property Intern, January 2020 – April 2020
- The Honorable Richard Andrews, US District Court for the District of Delaware – Judicial Extern, September 2020 – January 2021
- The Honorable Sheldon Rennie, Superior Court of Delaware Wilmington, DE – Judicial Extern, May 2019 – August 2019
- Savencia Fromage & Dairy Wilmington, DE – Legal Intern, May 2019 – August 2019
RICKEISHA EDMONDS
2021 Scholarship Awardee
Candidate for Juris Doctorate J.D. June 2021
Drexel University Thomas R. Kline School of Law
- Black Law Students Association (BLSA) – President
- Student Bar Association – 3L representative
- General Body Representative
- Master of Legal Studies Representative
- Constance Baker Motley Mock trial competition
Internships:
- Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office, Norristown, PA – Certified Legal Intern, present
- Delaware Department of Justice, Wilmington, DE – Law Clerk, Summer 2020
- Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office, Norristown, PA- Legal Intern, Summer 2019
VALERIE NIEVES
2021 Scholarship Awardee
Candidate for Juris Doctorate J.D. June 2021
Suffolk University Law School
- Progress to Success mentorship program – Mentor
- Black Law Student Association – Member
- Phi Alpha Delta – Member
- Latin American Law Student Association – Secretary
Internships:
- Suffolk District Attorney’s Office, West Roxbury Division, Boston, MA – Student Attorney (SJC 3:03 Certified), June 2020 – Present
- Suffolk District Attorney’s Office, Homicide Unit Boston, MA – Legal Intern, June 2019 – August 2019
- U.S District Court, District of Massachusetts Boston, MA – Judge Reginald Lindsay Fellow, June 2017 – August 2017
2020 Award Recipients
ALEXIS GBEMUDU
2020 Scholarship Awardee
Candidate for Juris Doctorate J.D. May 2020
University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law
- Black Law Students Association – President
- Maryland Carey Law National Trial Team- Member
- Maryland Carey Law In-House Negotiation Competition- Winner
- Student Health Law Organization – Member
- United Students for The African Diaspora- Law School Liaison Baltimore, MD American University
Internship:
O’Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law
Georgetown University Law Center
Internship:
Judge Lynn Stewart Mays, Baltimore City Circuit Court
Internship:
Maryland Legal Aid Law Clerk
AMBER EBANKS
2020 Scholarship Awardee
Candidate for Juris Doctorate J.D. May 2020
American University Washington College of Law, Washington, DC
- Phi Alpha Delta Fraternity,
- International, President and 1L Representative
- Black Law Students Association, Peer Mentor
- American Bar Association Student Division
- Civil-Military Society
Internship:
International Human Rights Law Clinic, Washington, DC Student Attorney, August 2019-May 2020
Internship:
Military District of Washington, Office of the Staff Judge Advocate, Arlington, VA
Client Legal Services Intern, August 2019-December 2019
Internship:
Delaware Department of Justice, Wilmington, DE
Legal Clerk, May 2019-August 2019
2019 Award Recipients
BREANA BARKER
2019 Scholarship Awardee
Candidate for Juris Doctorate J.D. May 2019
Widener University Delaware Law School, Wilmington, DE
The Delaware Corporate Law Journal, External Managing Editor
Black Law Students Association, President 2018-2019
Moot Court Honor Society, DiBona Semi Finalist 2017
Moe Levine, Hugh B. Pearce Competition April 2019
ITAP participant Summer 2018
OUTlaw, Parliamentarian
Dean’s List Recipient Fall 2017
Internship – Delaware Department of Justice 2018 – 2019
NICOLE ESUOLA
2019 Scholarship Awardee
Candidate for Juris Doctorate J.D. May 2019
Mercer University School of Law Macon, GA
Certificate Program in Advanced Legal Writing, Research, and Drafting (Class Rank: Top 25%)
Dean’s List, Spring 2018, Fall 2018; CALI Award for Legal Writing II (highest grade in class)
2018-19 Honor Council, Chief Justice; American Constitution Society (ACS), 1L Representative, 2L Representative; (BLSA), Social
Internship – Georgia legal Services 2018
Internship – Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, Washington D.C. 2018
Internship – Bibb County Superior Court, The Honorable Chief Judge Edgar W. Ennis Jr. 2018
Internship – Office of State’s Attorney for Prince George County, Maryland 2017
DAPHNEYSE MARCELIN
Candidate for Juris Doctorate J.D. May 2019
Vermont Law School, South Royalton, VT
Juris Doctor Candidate with a Criminal Law certification
Intensive Trial Practice: Selected to serve on the VLS Team for Region 1 of the 2018 National Trial Competition
Vermont Journal of Environmental Law: Managing Editor, 2018-2019; Staff Editor, 2017-2018
Member: VLS Black Law Student Association (BLSA)
Internship–MA Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office 2018
Internship–NY Mahattan District
Internship–VT County State Attorney’s Office 2017
KAILI MOSS
2019 Scholarship Awardee
Candidate for Juris Doctorate J.D. May 2019
William & Mary Law School, Williamsburg, Virginia
2017 Recipient of Oliver Hill Civil Rights Scholarship
Dean’s Associate 2017-2018 3L Graduation Speaker
Journal of Race, Gender and Social Justice, Articles Editor
Black Law Students Association (BLSA), Member
William & Mary Law School Leadership Institute, Fellow
Internship – United States District Court for Eastern Virginia, The Honorable Raymond A Jackson Norfolk, VA 2018
Internship – United States Attorney’s Office, Norfolk, VA 2018
2018 Award Recipients
ASHLEY M. JONES
2018 Scholarship Awardee
Education
- New England School of Law
Boston, MA
Candidate for Juris Doctor – May 2018 - Arizona University
Bachelor of Fine Arts 2015
New American University Scholar Deans Award 2012 – 2015
Deans List, 2014 – 2015
Honors
- New England Law Review – Executive Comment & Note Editor, 2017 – 2018
- Mock Trial Team Member 2017 – 2018
- Charles Hamilton Houston Scholarship 2015 – 2018
- Deans List 2015 – 2017
- Charles Hamilton Houston Honor Society 2016
Activities
- Entertainment and Sports Law Society, Vice President 2016 – 2017
- Business Law Society, Member 2015 – Present
- Intellectual Property Society, Treasurer, 2016 – 2017
- Women’s Law Caucus, Member, 2015 – Present
CHRISTIAN A. WYNNE
2018 Scholarship Awardee
Education
- Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law Villanova, PA
Candidate for Juris Doctor – May 2018
Awards & Activities
- Villanova University – The Honorable David W. Addy Memorial Book Scholarship 2016 – 2018
- National Bar Association, Womens Lawyer Division, Philadelphia, Sadie T.M. Alexander Book Scholarship 2017
- Villanova University – The Honorable David W. Addy Memorial Scholarship 2015 – 2016
- Internship – District Attorneys of Philadelphia 2017
- Dean’s Advisory Committee 2017 – Present
- Coalition Advocating for Rights & Dignity, President 2016 – Present
- Criminal Law Society – Vice President, 2016 – Present
- School Discipline Advocacy Service Program – Co-Chair 2016 – Present
- Black Law Student Association – Member, 2015 – Present
2017 Award Recipients
KASHA AMBROISE
2017 Scholarship Awardee
Education
- Suffolk University Law School, Boston, MA
Candidate for Juris Doctor, May 2017 - Smith College, Northampton, MA
Bachelor of Arts, Sociology, May 2010
Awards & Activities
- Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office, Boston, MA 2016 – 2017
- Journal:
- Suffolk Journal of Health and Biomedical Law, Case Comment Editor (2015 – Present)
- Honors:
- Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office Diversity Fellow (Summer 2016)
- Suffolk University Law School Consumer Law Public Service Fellow (Spring 2016)
- Rappaport Center of Law and Public Policy Fellow (Summer 2015)
- Activities:
- Black Students’ Alliance, Vice President and Social Chair;
- Big Brother Big Sister; Office of Admissions, Blogger; Haiti Relief Committee
- Awards:
- Barbara Jordan Prize for the Study of Law and Public Policy Recipient (2016)
- Internships:
- Robinson & Cole, Boston, MA (Summer 2008)
- Enlace de Familia, Holyoke, MA (Fall 2007)
2016 Award Recipients
ABOLORE OSHODI
2016 Scholarship Awardee
Abolore was the recipient of a full scholarship from the Sarita and Claire Wright Lucas Foundation. Abolore is taking the Delaware Bar Exam in July 2016 and will be joining the Delaware Department of Justice as a Prosecutor fall 2016.
Education
- North Carolina Central University
B.A. Political Science
Dean’s List, May 2008 - Howard University School of Law
J.D. May 2016
Volunteer Activities
- Chief Justice of University Judicial Board – Presided over student misconduct hearings, trained 12 justices
- Student Attorney – Child Welfare Clinic Howard University
- Secretary – Family Law Executive Board
- Secretary – Girls II Women Program
- Youth Mock Trial instructor – Girls II Women’s
BRIONNA DENBY
2016 Scholarship Awardee
Brionna was the recipient of a partial scholarship from the Sarita and Claire Wright Lucas Foundation. Brionna is taking the Delaware Bar Exam in July 2016; she has been admitted to the New York and Pennsylvania Bar.
Education
- Spelman College Atlanta, GA
GA B.A., 2008 - Hofstra University
School of Law J.D. 2012
Awards
- Hempstead, NY J.D., 2012 Awards
- Pro Bono Service Award of Excellence
- Gold Pro Bono Program Certificate
Fellowships:
- Hofstra Public Justice Foundation (PJF) Fellowship Recipient
- NYU Charles H. Revson Law Student Public Interest (LSPIN) Fellowship Recipient