For the first time, Frost Brown Todd (FBT) awarded its annual Diversity and Inclusion Scholarships to both graduate and law school students. The students come from states in nearly every region of the U.S. as well as Mexico. These students were selected from the 140 applicants by FBT’s Diversity and Inclusion Scholarship committee for demonstrating the highest level of academic excellence and a commitment to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in their communities.
This year’s recipients attend the University of Colorado School of Law, the University of Texas School of Law at Austin, West Virginia University College of Law, and the University of Mississippi. They include a student who grew up in Mexico and a first-generation American. For more information, visit FBT’s Diversity and Inclusion Scholarship.
“We are excited to offer this FBT scholarship to students who are currently law students or intend to attend law school in the future,” said FBT Diversity and Inclusion Scholarship Committee Chair Justin Fowles. “In the past 11 years we have handed out this scholarship, we have been inspired by the commitment our recipients have to create a diverse, equitable and inclusive community. We look forward to watching their successes in the future and are proud FBT could provide support in that journey.”
Neila Angelica Rosales Huesca is a third-year law student at the University of Colorado School of Law. She grew up in Mexico and obtained a Visa after a seven-year application process, which allowed her to pursue her secondary education. In 2019, Huesca graduated early from the University of Arizona with a bachelor’s in political science, while working full time and studying for the LSAT. During her undergraduate studies, she competed on the speech and debate team and participated in the Model United Nations. In law school, Huesca was a Colorado Pledge to Diversity Program Finalist, participated in the Admissions & Orientation Outstanding Leadership Program, and volunteered at Colorado Law Legal Clinics as a translator. She also helped create the Council for Racial Justice and Equity, where she currently serves as the recruitment and retention chair, working to bring other students of color to the law school. Huesca aspires to work as a civil rights attorney upon graduation.
Jamaal Lockings is a first-year law student at the University of Texas School of Law at Austin with a bachelor’s in public relations and communications from the University of Central Arkansas (UCA). He served as president of the student government association at UCA and received the Glenn D. Smith Outstanding Student in Communications, Alma O. Corley Outstanding Student in Public Relations, and Purple Society Outstanding Student Awards. Lockings also led the university’s Day of Giving campaign, which raised over $1 million to fund student scholarships. He also launched a campaign mobilizing enough student and faculty support, including the endorsement of over 30 student organizations, to remove the name of a former governor and outspoken segregationist from a campus building. After law school, Lockings aspires to work at the district attorney’s office or in corporate law, with the goal to become an elected official and advocate for social justice issues.
Isabella Parlette is a first-year law student at the University of Texas School of Law at Austin. While pursuing her bachelor’s at The Ohio State University with a double major in Spanish and political science, she served as a peer educator through the school’s Diversity, Intercultural, and Community Engagement program. She facilitated conversations to help raise awareness about different cultures and create a more inclusive learning community. Parlette was also a Proyecto Mariposas volunteer and interned with the Community Refugee Immigration Services’ Housing and Education program. Her goal is to become an immigration attorney after law school, working to improve the experience and process for immigrants, asylees, and refugees, while drawing attention to the impact of U.S. immigration system policies. She hopes that her career will inspire others who grew up poor to no longer see the socioeconomic status as a barrier to pursuing their dreams.
Caroline Toler is a first-year law student at West Virginia University (WVU) College of Law. She earned a bachelor’s at WVU with concentrations in English and world languages, literatures, and linguistics. As an undergraduate, she was named an Eberly College of Arts and Sciences Outstanding Senior and earned a Fulbright U.S. Student Grant to travel to Spain where she worked as an English teaching assistant at the University of Málaga and volunteered with La Voz de Los Adoptados. Toler, a first-generation college student and former foster youth, has experience working as a Court Appointed Special Advocate volunteer. After law school, she plans to practice family law, advocating for foster children and transforming how children are treated within the U.S. foster care system.
Itunuoluwa Williams is a current graduate student at the University of Mississippi who earned her bachelor’s at Alcorn State University (ASU) where she majored in political science, served as vice president of the Alcorn Pre-Law Society, and co-founded the Alcorn African Students Association. She received the ASU Department of Social Sciences’ Outstanding Senior Award and was named Most Outstanding Delegate for her performance in the National Association of African American Honors Programs Model African Union competition. In addition, she worked as a congressional intern with the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation. Williams was born and raised in Nigeria and later immigrated with her family to the United States to complete her higher education. Upon graduating from Ole Miss, she hopes to attend law school and use her law degree to assist people from marginalized communities.