FGLP Scholars (1st Year Cohort)

Hello! My name is Arseny Acosta and I am planning to attend the University of Illinois at Chicago. Throughout my high school years I have been given the opportunity to organize events for the community and speak at government press conferences. This has motivated me to seek interest in law. Once I graduate from undergraduate school I hope to attend law school to later on become an attorney and open up my own law firm.

Education: DeVry University Advantage Academy

Email: acostaarseny82@gmail.com

My name is Alondra Felipe. I am a Latina and student from the South Side of Chicago who aspires to be one of the best lawyers of my generation. Starting fall of 2024, I will be a freshman at DePaul University where I will be majoring in Political Science on the pre-law track. Throughout my undergraduate years, I am committed to seizing every opportunity to enhance my resume and broaden my experiences, all in pursuit of gaining admission to a good law school. After my 4 years of college, I set my sights on Columbia law school in New york. After law school I plan on taking and passing the bar exam so that I could be a licensed attorney. While my specific area of focus within the legal field is still evolving, my current passion lies in immigration law. This passion is deeply rooted in my personal history, as I aspire to reunite my parents with their families after more than two decades of separation. I recognize that my parent's story is not unique, as countless families endure similar hardships due to immigration restrictions. It is my dream to advocate for these families, to provide them with legal assistance and reunite them with their loved ones. Through dedication, perseverance, and a commitment to justice, I am confident that I can make a meaningful and positive impact in the world of law and beyond.

Education: Gwendolyn Brooks College Prep

Email: adfelipe26@icloud.com

My name is Ashley Hernandez, and I am an immensely proud first generation Mexican-American daughter who seeks to advocate for others. I aspire to earn my J.D., and work in corporate litigation, and later on in life advocate for the injustice seen within our socioeconomic embedded system. I spend a lot of time worrying about school. As I was the president of the French Honors Society, I hope to continue to be active at the university I chose to attend! I am very family-oriented and love my family very much, along with my very genuine friends, as I also consider them family. More than anything, I’d love to make those I adore proud.

Education: John Hancock College Prep

Email: ashleyhdzromo06@gmail.com

Hello, My name is Ramy Idrissi. I live in the suburbs in the north part of Chicago. I am a first generation student who will be as of this fall be attending DePaul University where I will be majoring in Marketing and a track of pre-Law. A reason I find law to be so interesting and engaging is the fact I’d be able to make a change in the world. A fun fact about me is that I am a mix of both extrovert and introvert which usually isn’t common.

Education: Niles West High School

Email: ramyidrissi5@gmail.com

In the Fall of 2024, I will be attending Dominican University to graduate with a major in Political Science and then attend law school.  I am passionate about political science due to the doors it could open for me. Through political science, I can be a lawyer, a mayor, a judge, and even the future President of the United States. All these potential jobs interest me not only for the salary but for the many lives I could impact drastically. Since I was younger, law has always interested me for many reasons. The amount of people whose lives I’d be able to change fills me with joy. Knowing I can reunite someone's family and keep them together is my strongest motivation to go to law school. In my personal life, I have experienced my father hiring an immigration lawyer to help with the process of getting my grandma a visa so he would be able to see his mom for the first time in 20 years. This lawyer has an organization dedicated to helping families get reunited with their relatives. The day my grandma first came to Chicago, the organization threw a party for all the families, seeing the amount of people there filled with excitement and relief brought this spark into me. From that day I knew that I wanted to be an immigration lawyer. 

Education: Noble Street College Prep

Email: elidethjurado2005@gmail.com

Hello my name is Esmeralda Lopez and I am committed to the University of Illinois at Chicago on the Pre-Law track. I’m hoping to also double major or minor in business to broaden the field of law which I can go into. I hope to become an immigration attorney after law school, as I would like to help the underrepresented community. 

Education: John Hancock College Prep

Email: esmel6881@gmail.com

Hi! My name is Isabella Ortiz and I’m a senior graduating from Benet Academy this year. My plans after high school are to double major in Criminology and Psychology at Depaul. I’m very excited to be near the city and becoming closer to accomplishing my dreams! I’m fascinated with the topics I am going to study in college and broaden my knowledge as I’m extremely interested in pursuing a career in this field. Eventually, I plan on becoming a lawyer so that I can contribute to my community and support those who need me. With my law degree, I will become a criminal defense attorney in the city.

Education: Benet Academy 

Email: bella20066@gmail.com

My name is Alexandra Rivera Vallejo. After graduating from Jones College Prep, I plan to attend DePaul University for my undergraduate degree and to enter law school. I plan to study law, primarily focusing on criminal law, immigration law, and/or international law. I have always been interested in the legal system and it's mechanisms as I believe it is what helps hold a society together. That is not to say that it is perfect. The legal system is heavily flawed in some areas that can and should be addressed. As an aspiring lawyer, I believe it is my duty to address said flaws to ensure a better tomorrow for future generations. I will utilize my law degree and legal knowledge to become a criminal judge or prosecutor as a way of combating legal injustice and prejudice. 

Education: Jones College Prep

Email: ariveravallejo13@gmail.com

My name is Jessica Taylor. I plan to attend DePaul University after high school. I am majoring in Public Relations and Advertising and participating in the BA/JD 3+3 program. I decided on law after talking with a family friend. She is a real estate lawyer with her own self made business. She became my role model and helped me research undergraduate schools and mentored me on degree programs. I am mainly interested in becoming a real estate lawyer, but I am also interested in family law.

Education: Mother McAuley

Email: jthercules465@gmail.com

Hey! I’m Giselle Velazquez and I will study at DePaul In their 3+3 BA/JD program. I am majoring in History on a Pre-Law Track. I want to pursue a Law degree in order you become an immigration lawyer and give back to the hispanic community.

Education: Prospect High School

Email: gisellevelazquez85@gmail.com