Page 13 - Briefcase - University of Houston Law Center

UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON LAW CENTER LAUNCHES FUEL THE FUTURE,

A NEW SCHOLARSHIP INITIATIVE

or Autumn Brehon, a second-year law student at the University of Dean Baynes spoke of the importance of diversity in that Fuel
FHouston Law Center, life meant getting up at three in the morning the Future will help support scholarships for students from
for a part-time job to support her education. Unfortunately, that meant underrepresented backgrounds and presented an overview of
the focus on studies suffered. the UH Law Center’s DEI
However, after receiving a Pipeline Program.
scholarship, she was able to cut “We want to fuel the future
back her hours and get on the because what law schools, and
Dean’s List. education in general, do is provide
“I would not be able to do this powerful mechanism for
everything that I do if I had to social advancement and civic
work more hours,” she said. engagement,” he said.
Brehon is one of the countless Thomas Hetherington, a 1998
examples of students who The Fuel the Future Initiative aims to advance our mission with graduate of the UH Law Center
have benefited from annual a sophisticated and ambitious plan that empowers social equity and UHLC Foundation President,
scholarships. To attract and retain and access to legal education through philanthropic support of gave $250,000 to jumpstart
top students and promote a more the Law Center‚s areas of greatest need - Scholarships and the the initiative.
diverse student population, the Law Fund. “It’s compelling to read the stories
UH Law Center is making a large, of these law students,” he said.
concerted effort to increase the “When you see the impact you
number of scholarships through its new Fuel the Future Initiative. have, you too will be very happy that you were part of it.”
UH Law Center officially launched Fuel the Future, a new plan Finnegan said he approached his firm about a match program for
to help raise money for scholarships, with a virtual celebration in the new building efforts, but the more the firm started looking at the
October. The event included a presentation by Dean Leonard M. school, they became interested in their scholarships and diversity.
Baynes, talks by donors and testimonials from current students. The This further demonstrated the importance of having scholarships
goal of Fuel the Future is to raise $10 million by 2025, and it has available. ^
already raised $1.6 million.

UNIVERSIDAD ANÁHUAC STUDENTS WIN UH LAW CENTER’S

FIRST-EVER BILINGUAL DISPUTE RESOLUTION COMPETITION

Students from Mexico’s Universidad Mexico in Houston, and López de la
SAnáhuac secured a first-place finish in Osa Escribano.
the University of Houston Law Center’s The competition was created in part to
inaugural Bilingual Dispute Resolution train bilingual English-Spanish future
Competition. A team featuring students attorneys in a global environment where
from the Law Center was the runner-up. cross-border legal employment is on
The tournament, held virtually in the rise.
April, was developed by Karen L. Universidad La Salle in Mexico was also
Jones, executive director of Global and a participant in the competition. Littler
Graduate Programs, Jim Lawrence, provided sponsorship for the event.
executive director of the Blakely
Advocacy Institute and director of Universidad Anáhuac students The competition was created in part to
the A.A. White Dispute Resolution train bilingual English-Spanish future
Center, and Alfonso López de la Osa attorneys in a global environment
Escribano, director of the Center for U.S. and Mexican Law. where cross-border legal employment is on the rise. The event was

Final round judges included Al Amado, an international law supported by UH Provost Paula Myrick Short. ^
consultant and counsel, Alicia Kerber, the Consul General from

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