Yamashita Scholarship Recipient – Nguyen Do
Nguyen is a third-year student at Gonzaga University School of Law. Less than ten years ago, Nguyen arrived to the United States from Hanoi , Vietnam , and has worked tirelessly to give back to the Asian community. Nguyen led an effort to raise awareness and support for Vietnamese victims of Agent Orange by co-drafting an Open Letter to the Judges at the Second Circuit Court of Appeals. As an advocate for the Justice for Victims of Agent Orange campaign, he gathered thousands of signatures for a Petition that was presented to the President and high ranking governmental officials. He is President of the APILC at Gonzaga Law, Student Liaison and Web Designer for the Vietnamese American Bar Association (VABA), and a volunteer at the Gonzaga University Legal Clinic. He currently serves as the Judicial Extern for Chief Judge Kenneth Kato at the Washington Court of Appeals, Division III.
ABAW Scholarship – Meredith Higashi
Meredith Higashi is a third-year student at the University of Washington School of Law, where she is Co-President of the Asian Pacific American Law Students Association. Meredith has channeled her personal and educational experiences toward service to the Asian Pacific American (APA) and broader minority communities. She recently clerked for the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA), where she examined legal and policy issues impacting APAs, such as court access to limited-English speakers and diversity within the legal profession. Meredith is currently coordinating volunteer recruitment for NAPABA’s national 2006 Election Protection Project designed to ensure elections are operated fairly and in accordance with the law so that APA votes are protected. The summer after her first year of law school, Meredith served as a teaching assistant to disadvantaged and first-generation college-bound minority high school students for a law class offered through Upward Bound.
ABAW Scholarship – Salimah Karmali
Salimah Karmali is second-year student at Seattle University School of Law, where she is a staff member and contributor to the Seattle Journal for Social Justice. Salimah was appointed to the National Economic Planning Board Task Force at the Islamic Cultural Center, where she secured funding for education grants, first-time home buyer assistance, and specialized employment training for low-income families in the South Asian and Ismaili Muslim communities. After the events of September 11th, Salimah spoke at mosques and community centers about the impact and ill treatment of Muslims and Middle Eastern peoples living in the Pacific Northwest . Prior to law school, Salimah volunteered at Nikkei Manor, one of the programs offered through Nikkei Concerns, to assist elderly Asian Americans in their daily activities. She is a member of APILSA and the South Asian Law Student Association at Seattle University .
ABAW Scholarship – Jeffrey Liang
Jeffrey is a 3L at Seattle University School of Law where he is APILSA’s Professional Development Committee Chair and the ABAW student liaison. He was selected to participate in the Asian Pacific Islander Community Leadership Foundation’s 2006 Community Leaders Program and is the 2006-2007 King County Bar Foundation Scholar. Jeffrey volunteers his time as a basketball coach for APA youths at the Seattle Asian Sports Club.
Northwest Minority Job Fair Scholarship – Maureen Kyin
Maureen is a third-year law student at Seattle University School of Law who is dedicated to improving access to justice in the Asian community. She served as Co-President of the APILSA, where she helped organize the NW Regional Thomas Tang Moot Court Competition and an event commemorating the Japanese American internment entitled “Honoring Courage.” Maureen also completed a summer internship with the Unemployment Law Project, where she provided legal assistance to unemployed workers at unemployment benefits administration hearings. She volunteers at the King County Bar Association Legal Clinic located in the International District. |
