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The Ruthe Catolico Ashley Legal Pathways Scholarship, first presented in 2017, assists aspiring Law Academy students in their educational pursuits towards a legal career. Each year at the Annual Symposium, deserving high school students will receive up to a $1500 scholarship to help with tuition, fees or books in their journey towards a law degree. Students are nominated by their law teacher and/or professor based on their scholarship, participation, financial need and their desire to pursue law as a career.
From 2017 to 2025, $42,000 in scholarships were awarded to 38 recipients:
2025
- Amelia Solis – Florin High School ($1500)
- Sponsored by LSAC
- Ashley Candia – Luther Burbank High School ($1500)
- Barbara Urizar Bustamante – Oakland Tech High School, Oakland ($1500)
- Sponsored by California Lawyers Foundation
- Chimeremeze Chinyere – Oakland Tech High School, Oakland ($1500)
- Sponsored by Jay Elliot, Attorney at Law
- Faith Xiong – Luther Burbank High School ($1500)
- Kimia Khalili – Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo High School ($1500)
- Nikky Barron – Richmond High School, Richmond ($1500)
- Sponsored by Mexican American Bar Association LA
- Semara Garcia – Jesse Bethel High School ($1500)
- Sponsored by Fastcase
2024
- Alison Hwang – El Dorado High School, Placentia ($1000)
- Sponsored by Fastcase
- Update: 10/25/2025 UC San Diego Political Science, finished 1st year
- Angellina Querol – Jesse Bethel High School, Vallejo (2020) ($1000)
- UC Santa Barbara – BA in Sociology and Political Science (2024)
- Pedro Ruiz – Richmond High School, Richmond ($1000)
- Sponsored by LSAC
- On Alumni Panel for 2025 Symposium
- Princess Leon – Roosevelt High School, Los Angeles ($1000)
2023
- Darlene Martinez Balbuena – Santa Ana High School, Santa Ana (2023) ($1000)
- Update: 10/24/2025 Chapman University
- Maridel De Los Reyes – Yerba Buena High School, 2023 San Jose ($1000)
- Co-Sponsored by California Lawyers Foundation
- Update: 9/24/2025 Columbia University (Introduced to Anna Clark in NYC)
- Ricardo Gonzalez – East Los Angeles College, Los Angeles ($1000)
- Sponsored by Fastcase
- Viridiana Santa Cruz Velez – Bakersfield College, Bakersfield ($1000)
- Sponsored by LSAC
- Yazmin Baroumand – San Jose City College (2021) ($1000)
- Update 11/24/2025: UCB Legal Studies 2024 – LSAT 10/24/2025
2022
- Allea Nojadera – San Diego Mesa College, San Diego ($1000)
- Sponsored by LSAC
- Michelle Reyes – Santa Ana Elizabeth G. Macias Legal Studies Academy, Santa Ana ($500)
- Prescilla Rodriguez – East Los Angeles College, Los Angeles ($500)
- Ronishlla Devika L. Maharaj – Richmond High School Law Academy, Richmond ($1000)
- Zofia Trexler – Fresno City College, Fresno ($1000)
- Sponsored by Fastcase
2021
- Laiza Chavez – Florin High School, Elk Grove ($300 NCLA Virtual)
- Mario A. Verdiguel – LA Mission/CSU Northridge, Los Angeles ($1000)
- Sponsored by Law School Admission Council
- Monica Murga – Crawford High School ($300 NCLA Virtual)
- Trinity A. Watson – McClatchy High School, Sacramento ($1000)
- Valeria Coronado – ELAC/UCLA, Los Angeles ($1000)
- Sponsored by Fastcase
2020
- Ariadne ‘Ruby’ Hernandez – Bullard High School, Fresno ($1000)
- Asia Thompson – UCLA School of Law 2021, Los Angeles ($1000)
- Sponsored by Fastcase
- Update: LA Public Defender SBN #343993
- Preatty Gates – Luther Burbank High School, Sacramento ($1800 NCLA)
2019
- Jennifer Bonilla – Santa Ana High School, Santa Ana ($1000)
- Lia Mimun – El Dorado High School, Yorba Linda ($1800 NCLA)
- Shvata Malhotra – UC Davis, Davis ($1000)
2018
- Arabella Compton – Jesse Bethel High School, Vallejo ($1000)
- Joaquin E. Diaz DeLeon – Delta College, Stockton ($1000)
- Taunu’uimatavai Vitale – Cabrillo High School, Long Beach ($1800 NCLA)
2017
- Aneth Flores-Gonzalez – Southwestern College, San Diego ($1000)
- Hennah Vohra – De Anza High School, Richmond ($1000)
Testimonials
Scholarships Change Lives
Alison Hwang
Through connections gained from the El Dorado Law Academy, I gained chances to shadow a federal magistrate judge, watch real trials, intern for a personal injury lawyer, and much more.
Princess Leon
The Law Academy showed me how the law comes into play and how I can make changes myself. I learned to step up in responsibility and persevere not only by myself but also with those around me.
Angellina Querol
Through Law Academy, I met many compassionate professionals who I continue to look up to. The Law Academy taught me to be bold, courageous, and advocate for myself and my peers.