Jeffrey Lichtman Community Service Scholarship Winners
The Law Offices of Jeffrey Lichtman is proud to offer our annual Community Service Scholarship to celebrate students who go above and beyond for their communities. Meet our 2024 winner, Samantha Zazueta, and check out the stories of our past winners!
2024 Winner: Samantha Zazueta
My name is Samantha Zazueta, I am native Tucsonan, where I have established strong connections to the desert environment. As a first-generation college student, I am currently working towards a Bachelor’s degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders through Northern Arizona University and Pima Community College. Throughout my academic journey, I have engaged in various roles that have significantly enhanced my experience. I have had the honor of collaborating with early childhood educators at institutions such as Wings on Word Speech and Language Preschool and Head Start, and I have actively participated in initiatives like United City Tucson and eventually in Mini Poderosas where I will mentor younger generations.
The issue of mass incarceration in the United States poses a significant challenge that affects not only my family but many others as well. I am committed to breaking the cycle of generational trauma and limited educational opportunities, empowering individuals to express themselves. I am also enthusiastic about learning both Spanish and American Sign Language to better serve a diverse population, with the intention of working within school districts and providing high-quality therapy in correctional facilities. In addition to my focus on Speech Pathology, I plan to incorporate pottery into therapeutic practices to assist those in need of sensory input and emotional regulation.
I aspire to be the supportive adult I needed during my own childhood as well for others. My ambitions extend beyond personal success; I seek to be a positive role model for my niece and to inspire children who share similar backgrounds. My degree represents more than just an academic achievement; it symbolizes my dedication to fostering change and achieving positive outcomes. It is a commitment to myself as a woman to uphold my values while serving marginalized communities.
Reaction Statement:
My tata always reminded me of the tortoise triumphing in the race. At first, I failed to comprehend the significance of his message. As I grew older, the narrative began to resonate deeply with me. I have come to understand that many individuals seem to be “ahead” in life’s race due to their advantages, while others lag behind. Those who begin at a disadvantage are not necessarily “slower”; they frequently face numerous challenges similar to those I have faced. This scholarship has provided me with invaluable support that is difficult to articulate. It serves as a vital role in my quest for a higher degree and assists me in becoming the first person in my family to seek higher education.
I would like to express my gratitude to the Office of Jeffery Lichtman for selecting me as the 2024 recipient. It is truly a privilege to be awarded this scholarship. Community service holds great significance for me; sharing my story and being honored with this award is a remarkable experience. It was a moment of victory and intense emotions. This scholarship will enable me to continue my higher education. I am immensely grateful to all of you for this opportunity. I can’t fully express my gratitude that I hold for this opportunity. Thank you.
2023 Winner: Ella Stiso
Thank you so much for selecting my essay as the 2023 Community Service Scholarship winner I am truly overjoyed! First I would like to extend my deepest gratitude to everyone involved in the scholarship process. With the ever-rising cost of college, this award will go a long way in furthering my education here at the University of Alabama and beyond. It comes at the perfect time as I will be studying abroad this summer as part of my Spanish minor requirement. Words cannot express how humbled I am by the firm’s generosity. As an aspiring lawyer, I one day hope to offer such a scholarship to a college student in similar financial need.
Reaction Statement: A Manasquan New Jersey native, or “Yankee” as they call me here at The University of Alabama, I am currently Pre-Law majoring in business with a minor in Spanish. After graduation, I plan to attend law school and one day practice as a disability attorney. I intend to utilize my degree to affect change throughout multi-cultural communities. As someone born with a physical impairment, serving the disabled community is an extremely personal endeavor, one which I have been pursuing for the past seven years. By continuing my education in this field, I can actively pursue my ultimate objective of advancing (ADA) disability legislation worldwide.
2022 Winner: Jordynn Jenkins
Hi! My name is Jordynn Jenkins and I was born and raised in the beautiful city of Cincinnati, Ohio. In my early childhood years, I was taught the importance of giving back even when my family and I didn’t have much ourselves. This foundation in service led me to establish my own nonprofit in 2020 with my best friend, called “Make a Kid Merry”. Since then, we’ve raised over $25,000 to sponsor children in need for Christmas, Easter and Back to School. Our mission is to show that all families, regardless of their socioeconomic status, deserve to feel the cheer that comes with holidays and special events. As a junior studying Government and Entrepreneurship studies at Georgetown University, I’ve also had the opportunity to work with Georgetown’s Prisons and Justice Initiative. Here, we’ve created coursework for incarcerated students to get their bachelor’s degree behind bars, while also providing reentry programs for returning citizens. My work, both extracurricular and career-oriented, is a reflection of the world I’d love to see. One where we all decide to get closer to those who are marginalized, using everything we have—even if not very much, to make a change.
Reaction Statement: I was left speechless upon hearing that I’d received the Jeffrey Lichtman Community Service Scholarship. There are so many students like myself pouring into our community, leading service events and donating funds while struggling to get by personally. This scholarship has helped so many young leaders keep their footing and I feel honored to be the 2022 recipient. I look forward to putting it towards law school fees so that I can continue to be a voice for those who are often overlooked and forgotten. Words can’t describe how grateful I am!
2021 Winner: Jasmine Marchbanks-Owens
My name is Jasmine Marchbanks-Owens, and I was born and raised in Rancho Cucamonga, California. I earned my Master of Arts and Bachelor of Arts degrees from the University of La Verne. While in graduate school, I received the highest student award for my work in student activism and was recognized by the California State Assembly for my work in social change. After graduate school, I volunteered in Costa Rica as a Peace Corps Volunteer and was later evacuated due to the Covid-19 pandemic. During the pandemic, I worked with stakeholders and activists in Los Angeles County, San Bernardino County, and Riverside County to formally declare racism as a public health crisis. I am now a second-year law student at Howard University School of Law and serve on the Board of the largest student-run nonprofit in the country. I am passionate about cultivating and fostering an equitable society for historically marginalized communities to thrive and hope to continue to follow in my passions for community organizing and advocacy.
Reaction Statement: I am truly honored to be awarded the firm’s 2021 Community Service Scholarship award. This monetary reward will help relieve the stress of law school expenses and help me focus more on studying for my final exams. Working with and advocating for my community is something that I am very passionate about. I am grateful to be showcased as a winner this year.
2020 Winner: Christina Burcelis
My name is Christina Burcelis, and I grew up in Camarillo, CA, and currently reside in Los Angeles. I attended the University of Southern California studying Communication for my undergraduate, and I am now presently pursuing my Masters of Science in Business Management and Leadership at Pepperdine Business School in Malibu, CA. I have always had a passion for leading and empowering others, whether through philanthropy or my work. I have worked in corporate America, working in sales, and I felt that I wanted to develop my skills to become an inspirational and influential leader within any organization. I have lived and volunteered in various countries such as Kenya, Morocco, and Spain, which has helped develop my understanding of others and learn how to encourage others to embrace diversity and expand their perspective of the world. Since I was a young girl, I immersed myself in various philanthropies to learn the importance of life and serving others. I thrive in learning about different cultures and individuals who challenge me to be a better person in my daily life. I aspire to be a strong business leader that develops my employees to be empathetic, worldly, and innovative in everything that they do.
Reaction Statement: I want to thank the Office of Jeffery Lichtman for selecting me to be the 2020 recipient. It truly is an honor to receive this scholarship. Community Service is of the utmost importance to me; being able to share my story and being selected to receive this award is such an honor. This scholarship will allow me to continue my education while lessening the financial burden that comes with higher education. I can not thank you all enough for selecting me for this scholarship.
2019 Winner: Leah Richter
I grew up in a beautiful city called Oceanside, San Diego but now live in San Luis Obispo while attending Cal Poly SLO. In college, I have the opportunity to study Psychology with a minor in Child Development to deepen my understanding and equip me to work with a diverse population including children at risk. My heart for others continues to flourish the more I become involved in my community. I love seeing how doing little kind things can play a big part in others’ lives. It’s awesome to reach outside of my comfortable circle of people to talk and interact with people that are different from me through community service – I get to learn so much from them. I hope that my life shows one that is eager to serve others through giving my time and heart to others and organizations that strive to give people a hand up. I can’t wait to become a social worker to further help people professionally.
Reaction Statement: Thank you for the generous Law Offices of Jeffrey Lichtman 2019 Community Service Scholarship award. It is an honor to receive a scholarship for something as great as community service. Thank you for encouraging involvement with the community through this opportunity – it is so important. Through this scholarship, I am able to lessen my financial burden to focus on my school work more easily. I truly appreciate this scholarship for making a difference in my life as a hardworking student trying to make an impact on my community. Thank you very much for your heart to help students through college.