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Three ����app�ٷ��� students—3L Chinonso Anokwute, 3L Desirae Ibarra, and 1L Taylor Richardson—were awarded scholarships at the 2025 Langston Bar Association Gala, held on March 8 at the Beverly Wilshire in Los Angeles. The annual event recognizes law students across California for their academic achievement, leadership, and commitment to justice. 

The scholarships are awarded through a highly competitive process that includes a written essay, academic review, and in-person interview. This year’s cycle saw more than twice the number of applicants as the previous year. Of the sixteen recipients selected statewide, three were from Southwestern. 

Anokwute proposed adapting Canada’s immigration ranking system to provide a path to citizenship for DACA recipients while also addressing harmful media narratives surrounding Black migrants. “It was one of the most difficult application cycles I’ve ever faced,” he said. “Being selected alongside so many brilliant future lawyers is an incredible honor.” 

Ibarra’s essay examined racial bias in capital jury selection, urging reforms to ensure truly impartial juries. “Receiving this scholarship is a reminder that I’m on the right path,” she said. “It motivates me to use my legal education to make a real difference.” 

Richardson explored the disproportionate impact of gun violence on Black and Brown communities, calling for federal gun control measures such as universal background checks, safe storage laws, and liability insurance. “Gun injuries are now the leading cause of death for children and teens,” she wrote. “That should be a national emergency.” 

The students were mentored by Professor Della Thompson-Bell, who has long guided Southwestern applicants through the Langston process. 

Founded in the 1920s and named for civil rights leader John Mercer Langston, the Langston Bar Association was established after other legal organizations excluded Black attorneys and has since built a powerful legacy of advocacy, mentorship, and legal excellence. 

“Chinoso, Desirae, and Taylor didn’t just write strong essays, they engaged complex, high-stakes legal issues with clarity and conviction,” said President and Dean Darby Dickerson. “That’s the kind of lawyering we teach at Southwestern.”