FGLP Scholars (3rd Year)

A rising junior at DePaul University, Arly Duran is an art major. With various immersive experiences in music, art, leadership, teaching assisting, and more, her current journey is to discover more about herself and the career she wants to pursue. Arly is still exploring careers that she wants to pursue, but her main career path at the moment is becoming an art teacher. After graduating from college with a bachelor’s in art, she plans to pursue a masters in education!

Education: DePaul University

Email: arlyduran33@gmail.com

Alexander Espinoza is a College Freshman currently enrolled at DePaul University. An avid fan of history and socioeconomics, he is currently seeking to become a corporate lawyer and is studying to achieve that goal with a major in economics. An aspiring activist, he also is an avid supporter of community unity, and to that end, has been working with numerous groups throughout his academic career in order to help educate disadvantaged communities, notably with ASM with ComEd and Youth Radio. Additionally, he served as ASTRRONGU’s Youth Council President from 2020-2021 and hopes to continue to find ways to improve the lives of youth all around Chicago, and looks forward to new opportunities in the future with DePaul.

Education: DePaul University 

Email: aespinoza9896@gmail.com

My name is Emily Garcia and I'm from the Southside of Chicago, I will be a junior in college this upcoming fall. I am currently a Psychology major because every aspect of Psychology just really interests me. I haven't always been the most dedicated to law as a career, but ever since I was young, I knew I wanted a career that would help people like me and my family. I am a proud first-generation student that is really dedicated to being a part of programs like this that can really benefit a lot of people. 

Education: Loyola University 

Email: emilygarcia0226@yahoo.com

Hello, my name is Melissa Gomez. I am a first-generation college student and a current sophomore at DePaul University. Neither of my parents attended college, and I have 3 sisters, making me the second oldest. I am also double majoring in Political Science and History. And while I am a current full-time student at DePaul, I am part-time at my local Walmart where I work as a cashier, and this has taught me how to manage time. I envision a future where I am either a lawyer in immigration or working some type of government job I am passionate about.

Education: DePaul University

Email: mgomez84@depaul.edu

Hi, my name is Aiden Gomez. I live on the northwest side of Chicago, in the Belmont-Cragin area. I am a first-generation student who attends the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, where I am majoring in political science with a minor in Latin American studies. A fun fact about me is that I am an only child, which people usually tend to be surprised by. After undergrad my goal is to get into law school and specifically focus on family law or public health law which are in my interest. 

Education: University of Michigan 

Email: aidenps41207@gmail.com

Hello, my name is Anxhela Kapllani, and I am a criminology major at DePaul University with a minor in public and legal affairs. I was born in Berat, Albania, and immigrated to the United States when I was 4 years old. Although I was young, I remember the hardships that my parents experienced. It is the main reason that I chose to go into law. My parents built their lives from the ground up, and they have been my biggest supporters and mentors. I am a first-generation trailblazer in my family. It is my proudest attribute.

Education: DePaul University 

Email: AKAPLLAN@depaul.edu

I am Lyric Nash, an 19 year old African American female who has worked hard all of her life. I plan to practice family court law once I get to law school but for now I am double majoring in Women’s Studies & Gender Studies  and criminal justice at Loyola University Chicago. I have been to Family court a few times in my life which is why it means so much to me every attorney or judge that I have encountered with has been nothing but good to me and my family. I hope to make some child and their family feel the same way I felt one day. 

Education: Loyola University Chicago 

Email: lyricnash04@icloud.com

My name is Jacquelyn Ramos, I am a rising junior at DePaul University majoring in Political Science with a double minor in Spanish and Latin American Studies. I grew up and lived in the suburbs of Chicago, Highland Park, where I attended elementary, middle and high school. Now that I am in college, a big goal of mine is to be able to be as involved on campus as I can be. With these experiences and involvement, I hope to acquire skills which will then help me in my journey through law school. 

Education: DePaul University 

Email: jacquelyn.ramosrodriguez@gmail.com

Hello, my name is Nicole and I am 19 years old. I was born and raised in Chicago. I live in the southwest side of Chicago. I work in the downtown area. I have two siblings and I am Hispanic. I am really interested in law and I would like to pursue a career in law. I want to be a criminal justice lawyer or an Immigration lawyer who can help out my community and give back to the poor.

Education: Richard J. Daley College

Email: Nsanchez560@yahoo.com

My name is Samantha Urbano. I am a rising junior at Depaul University after transferring from Oakton College. I was raised in the suburbs of Chicago my whole life, a very repetitive lifestyle. Therefore, my current professional goal is to learn from those above me. I appreciate observing how those above me handle legal cases, clauses, and loopholes. Consequently, I am excited to participate in my second year of this program. An achievement I accomplished during my senior year of high school was earning the Bi-literacy Seal. This Seal was an achievement for my whole family, not just me. It represented the acknowledgment that I fluently spoke two languages. I love to switch languages between Spanish and English varying by situation. However, they also apply to my hobbies. My hobbies include going on walks early in the morning and reading self-reflective books. I enjoy reading such books, as they are often useful for new perspectives on life. 

Education: DePaul University 

Email: Urbanosamantha15@gmail.com