By Rory McNea, 1L
Three Thomas Jefferson School of Law students—Elizabeth Knowles, Man Huynh and Kim Bui— have been recognized for their recent accomplishments earning three out of the five generous scholarships from two of San Diego’s legal associations. The Filipino American Lawyers of San Diego (FALSD) and the Pan Asian Lawyers of San Diego (PALSD) presented each of the students with $1000 awards, which will assist them in paying for the California State Bar Exam in February 2012 or July 2012.
The Filipino American Lawyers of San Diego and the Pan Asian Lawyers of San Diego presented each of the students with $1000 awards, which will assist them in paying for the California State Bar Exam in February 2012 or July 2012.
Man Huynh, a FALSD scholarship recipient, has shown his commitment to the Asian Pacific-Islander community by serving as a Board Member of the Vietnamese American Center, providing Vietnamese translation at the San Diego Police Department's Public Service Officers of the Multicultural Office, as well as by tutoring at the Montgomery Middle School. Huynh succeeds academically as well, having received the Intellectual Property Fellowship, Dean's Scholarship, and Honor Roll.
"Special thanks to my family for their patience and sacrifices, Mr. Peter Quon and Professor Sandra Rierson for their encouragement and guidance. I also would like to thank the Filipino American Lawyer of San Diego and the Pan Asian Lawyer of San Diego for their generosity and support." Huynh said.
Another scholarship recipient, Elizabeth Knowles, also was recognized by FALSD for her service to the community. She has worked with the San Diego 100,000 Homes Campaign, clearing canyon lands and coastal areas with the San Diego Coast-keeper while also teaching interactive lessons on the United States Constitution in local high schools. Knowles has interned at Casa Cornelia Law Center and the California Innocence Project, and she is currently working with detainees at the Otay Mesa Detention Facility through the ABA Immigration Justice Project. Among her law school accomplishments are the Law Review and the Moot Court Honor Society.
“I'm thankful and honored to be one of this year's five awardees and I'm proud that our law school was well represented at the event with many successful applicants”, says Knowles. What's even more fortuitous is that I've been rewarded for my involvement in public service; in essence, for doing the work I love to do.”
The PALSD scholarship went to Kim Bui, who is widely known for current title as president of TJSL’s Asian Pacific American Law Students Association. Bui uses her legal skills to the benefit of the South Asian community in San Diego, having volunteered for Project Facelift as part of the PALSD’s team to help fix up homes in City Heights. This past fall, she put together a fellowship proposal to provide much needed legal services to Vietnamese small businesses in conjunction with the new Small Business Clinic at TJSL.
“If I am awarded the fellowship, TJSL's Small Business Legal Clinic would be my host organization,” said Bui. My fellowship project targets the San Diego Vietnamese community but would be beneficial to other under-served communities as well.”
Congratulations to these students who have already put so much hard work into their law school career!