JD-Next Impact Scholarship Finalists
Meet the Finalists
Darlissa M. Allen
University of the District of Columbia (UDC) David A. Clarke School of Law
Law School Start Date: Fall 2026
"Being selected as a JD-Next Impact Scholarship finalist was both humbling and incredibly exciting. I immediately thought about the experiences that shaped my journey, from growing up in Memphis to serving in the United States Marine Corps and supporting complex legal matters. Each chapter reinforced my belief that the law can expand opportunity, strengthen communities, and make justice more accessible. I hope to use my legal education to build systems that protect vulnerable communities, expand opportunity, and allow innovation and justice to advance together."
Jaqueline Carvajal
UCLA School of Law
Law School Start Date: Fall 2026
"When I learned I had been selected as a JD-Next Impact Scholarship finalist, I was genuinely surprised and deeply grateful. It is bittersweet to have my story recognized because the legal barriers my family and the Latino community have faced are hardships, I wish no one had to experience. Still, this recognition reminds me that those experiences are worth sharing. I hope to use law school as the next step toward becoming an attorney who advocates for and uplifts my community."
Mary Crivelli
Notre Dame Law School
Law School Start Date: Fall 2026
"I am thrilled and grateful to be named a JD-Next Impact Scholarship finalist. As a non-traditional applicant, my path to law school has required research, persistence, and determination. Being recognized by JD-Next felt like affirmation that people without traditional backgrounds are not only welcome in the legal profession but needed. As a tutor and mentor to law school applicants, I hope to continue leveling the playing field and supporting students as they begin their own legal journeys."
Angelreana Choi
University of Virginia School of Law
Law School Start Date: Fall 2026
"I was ecstatic to learn that I had been selected as a JD-Next Impact Scholarship finalist. As someone from a low-income background, this recognition is especially meaningful because it helps make a legal education financially possible. Attending law school has been a dream of mine for years, and I am honored by this opportunity. I plan to use my legal career to advocate for immigrant, working-class, and rural communities and to show how the law can uplift often-overlooked groups."
Victoria Jordan
University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law
Law School Start Date: Fall 2026
"I believe the most enduring impact happens when lived experience, intellectual rigor, and public service come together to create systemic solutions. Through my academic, professional, and service experiences, I have worked to bridge the distance between institutions and the people they are meant to serve. As a JD-Next Impact Scholar, I hope to use my legal education to strengthen systems, expand access to opportunity, and promote accountability for the communities most affected by them."
Luke Marsalli
University of Chicago Law School
Law School Start Date: Fall 2026
"I found out I was a JD-Next Impact Scholarship finalist while riding in my engine, returning to the firehouse from a run. When I opened the email, I yelled with joy and immediately shared the news with my crew. For me, this recognition is not a private triumph; it reflects the larger community of firefighters, attorneys, and public servants who show up every day because their work is a calling. As a JD-Next Impact Scholar, I hope to bring that spirit of service to a wider audience and inspire others to serve their communities through law."
Valeria Portillo
Chicago-Kent College of Law
Law School Start Date: Fall 2026
"Being named a JD-Next Impact Scholarship finalist felt surreal and deeply meaningful. As a first-generation college graduate and law student from a majority-minority community, this recognition reminds me that long-shot dreams are possible. My past challenges do not define my future; they have shaped my commitment to advocate for others. I hope to use my legal education to expand access to justice for those facing language, financial, and information barriers."
Serene Kaur Singh
Harvard Law School
Law School Start Date: Fall 2026
"Being named a JD-Next Impact Scholarship finalist brought tears to my eyes. Years ago, a mentor encouraged me to trust an opportunity that felt aligned with who I hoped to become, and this recognition felt like the culmination of that encouragement, growth, and belief. I immediately called my mentor to share the news and say, 'I made it to the finalist stage.' As a JD-Next Impact Scholar, I hope to use my legal education to uplift communities, contribute to a more just society, and represent the values that inspired me long before I applied to law school."
Nyah Torbert
University of California, Berkeley School of Law
Law School Start Date: Fall 2026
"Being named a JD-Next Impact Scholarship finalist filled me with gratitude and motivation. I have relied on scholarships and financial aid throughout my educational journey, and this recognition helps make my path to law school feel more possible. I am pursuing juvenile public defense because the need is urgent, and I want to serve the youth and families too often failed by the legal system. This scholarship would help me follow that path with confidence and stability."
Rose Wagner
Harvard Law School
Law School Start Date: Fall 2026
"I was honored and genuinely giddy to learn that I had been selected as a JD-Next Impact Scholarship finalist. Being recognized for my commitment to public service and leadership before even starting law school is incredibly meaningful to me. This recognition reminded me that I have a community in my corner and strengthened my commitment to building a career on behalf of indigent and incarcerated clients. I plan to use my legal education to expand access to justice and challenge inequities in the criminal legal system."
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