NFALA Foundation Scholarships

2024 LAW STUDENT SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

OVERVIEW

NFALA Foundation is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) tax-exempt charitable organization that works closely with the National Filipino American Lawyers Association (NFALA) to cultivate a pipeline of leaders through scholarship and financial aid to students interested in the legal profession, as well as spearheading fundraising efforts to support these programs.

This year, NFALA Foundation will grant financial aid to individuals who are (a) registered law students in the United States and (b) members of NFALA or any of its regional affiliates or affinity networks, or who have demonstrated prior or current service in the Filipino-American community.

NFALA Foundation law student grants are made available to students who are currently enrolled in their Juris Doctor (J.D.), Master of Laws (LL.M.), or Doctor of Juridical Science (S.J.D.) at an accredited U.S. law school.

NFALA Foundation strongly encourages applications from applicants reflecting diverse cultural and experiential backgrounds, people with disabilities and of diverse ethnic, racial, religious, and socioeconomic backgrounds, work experiences, national origins, sexual orientations and ages.

AVAILABLE SCHOLARSHIPS

NFALA Foundation will award this year the following scholarships:

• Raymond L. Ocampo Jr. Family Scholarship – one award of $10,000
• NFALA President's Scholarship – one award of $3,000
• NFALA LGBTQ+ Scholarship –  award(s) of $2,000 to $4,000
• NFALA Government and Public Sector Scholarship – award of $2,000
• NFALA - FALA-NY Robin Mangasar Memorial Tizon Law Scholarship – award of $2,000
• NFALA Gala and Annual Meeting Travel Stipend Scholarship - Applications Open Until 11/4

APPLICATIONS ARE NOW CLOSED FOR THE 2024 NFALA SCHOLARSHIPS. INFORMATION FOR THE 2025 SCHOLARSHIPS WIL BE POSTED IN SPRING 2025.

The award ceremony will be at the NFALA Annual Gala on November 7, 2024 in Seattle, Washington.

THE RAYMOND L. OCAMPO JR. FAMILY SCHOLARSHIP

In 2020, the NFALA Foundation established the Raymond L. Ocampo Jr. Family Scholarship.  In 2023, a grant in the amount of $10,000 will be awarded to a law student who has demonstrated exceptional aptitude for the study of law and a strong commitment to serve or contribute to the Filipino American community as a future leader in the legal profession.  

RAYMOND L. OCAMPO JR. is the principal founder of FBANC and the President and CEO of Samurai Surfer LLC, a private investment company. He retired as Senior Vice President, General Counsel & Secretary of Oracle Corporation in 1996, where he served as its chief counsel for more than a decade after the company’s initial public offering. He is a trailblazer as the first Asian Pacific American (APA) general counsel of a company to become a Fortune 500 company and is the first APA general counsel of a company that is a current (2021) Fortune 500 company.

In 1997, Mr. Ocampo co-founded and served for two years as Executive Director of the Berkeley Center for Law & Technology, which led to the school’s ranking by US News & World Report as the country’s #1 IP Law program for 21 of the past 23 years.  Before joining Oracle Corporation in 1986, Mr. Ocampo was a lawyer in private practice with firms in San Francisco, where he focused on antitrust and complex litigation for more than 10 years. He also served as an adjunct professor of law at Hastings College of the Law from 1977-82, where he taught trial practice, professional responsibility, and legal writing. He received his undergraduate degree from UCLA in 1973 and his law degree from Boalt Hall School of Law at UC Berkeley in 1976.

After his retirement from Oracle Corporation until 2015, Mr. Ocampo was a private investor and served on the boards of more than two dozen public and private companies and nonprofit organizations, including the Asian Pacific Fund, a San Francisco community foundation that he chaired from 2006-2010. His philanthropic work includes annual scholarships and internships he has provided to FBANC since 2000, AABA since 2003, and NFALA Foundation since 2020.

Mr. Ocampo has been active with the American Bar Association, where he was Chair of the Section of Science & Technology Law and served as a member of the Commission on Women in the Profession and the Commission on Racial and Ethnic Diversity in the Profession. He was a member of the ABA Task Force on Gender Equity, a past Chair of the Computer Litigation Committee of the Section of Litigation, and a past member of the National Conference of Lawyers and Scientists, the ABA Journal board of editors, and the Standing Committee on Publishing Oversight. He is a 2010 recipient of the ABA’s Spirit of Excellence Award for his work in increasing diversity in the legal profession.

Mr. Ocampo is the author of Surfing the Law & Technology Tsunami (American Bar Association 2001), a collection of keynote addresses on the intersection of law and technology, and co-author with Shelley Curtis and John Moss of Negotiating and Drafting Software Consulting Agreements (Glasser LegalWorks 1996), the leading work in its field.

Mr. Ocampo is an avid athlete who competed on behalf of the Philippines at the 1988 Olympic Winter Games in Calgary, Canada in men’s luge. In 2010 he served as an honorary captain of the U.S. Olympic Luge Team that competed in Vancouver, Canada. He regularly completed marathons in the 1970s before long-distance running became wildly popular. He and his wife are on a current 10-year streak of finishing the Honolulu Marathon together. One of his fondest memories is being a member of a state championship basketball team in high school. Mr. Ocampo has spent much of his post-retirement time learning a wide range of ballroom and Latin dances. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, he could often be found at a milonga, where Argentine tango is danced. He looks forward returning to the dance floor.

Applications have closed for the 2024 Scholarship.
Congratulations to Maris Medina, the 2024 Raymond L. Ocampo, Jr. Family Scholarship Recipient.

NFALA President’s Annual Scholarship

The NFALA President’s Annual Scholarship is sponsored through the generous donation of the National Filipino American Lawyers Association in support of NFALA Foundation’s mission. NFALA Foundation scholarship awards are given to law students who demonstrate exceptional aptitude for the study of law and strong commitment to serve or contribute to the Filipino American and AAPI communities as future leaders in the legal profession. 

Applications have closed for the 2024 Scholarship.
Congratulations to April Joy Payumo, the 2024 NFALA President's Annual Scholarship Recipient.

NFALA LGBTQ+ Scholarship

The NFALA LGBTQ+ Scholarship is sponsored by the NFALA LGBTQ+ Affinity Network through the kind donations received in the past years and most especially during NFALAGanza!, the pride-themed celebration of the NFALA LGBTQ+ Affinity Network. The scholarship will be awarded to law student(s) who has demonstrated the most dedicated commitment to the advancement of the LGBTQ+ community.

Applications have closed for the 2024 Scholarship.
Congratulations to Aaron Silva, the 2024 NFALA LGBTQ+ Scholarship Recipient.

NFALA Government and Public Interest Law Student Scholarship

The NFALA Government and Public Interest Scholarship is sponsored by the NFALA Government and Public Sector Lawyers Affinity Network. The scholarship will be awarded in the spring to a law student who will be working in Government, Public Sector, or Public Interest during the Summer 2024. The scholarship will be awarded to a law student who has a demonstrated commitment to public service and working to empower and support the AAPI and Filipino-American communities.

The Scholarship will provide at least $2,000 to a law student who has worked or will work during Summer 2024, in Government, Public Sector, or Public Interest. The scholarship will be awarded to a law student who has a demonstrated commitment to public service and working to empower and support the AAPI and Filipino-American communities. The scholarship will be presented at the NFALA Mid-Year Leadership Conference in Houston, TX on April 13, 2024.

Law Students: Please see the complete list of requirements in the application form, including proof of summer employment in Government, Public Sector, or Public Interest.

Applications have closed for the 2024 Scholarship.

Congratulations to Ava Ahlstrand, the 2024 NFALA Government and Public Interest Law Student Scholarship Recipient.

NFALA - FALA-New York Robin Mangaser Tizon Law Scholarship

In collaboration with NFALA Affiliate, the Filipino American Lawyers of New York (FALA-NY), NFALA Foundation proudly supports the Robin Mangaser Tizon Memorial Law Scholarship. Robin was a beloved wife, daughter, sister and proud Filipina- American lawyer. Throughout her life, Robin devoted herself to advocacy of many causes, including Filipino veterans’ rights, adolescents with cancer, and immigrants’ rights. She also had musical talent and a fine eye for design, enlivening any event with her singing, dancing, and keyboard skills. After overcoming stage III ovarian cancer at the age of 23, Robin achieved her dream of becoming a lawyer, graduating from Rutgers School of Law-Camden in 2013 with a joint JD/MBA degree. As one of the first members and original Co-Chair of the Public Relations Committee since FALA New York’s inception, Robin was instrumental in establishing the FALA New York brand and lasting communications strategy. Throughout her long battle with cancer, Robin remained committed to her duties at FALA New York.

This scholarship was established to honor Robin’s memory and support talented law students who embody her spirit and commitment to service. The scholarship recipient will receive $2,000.

Applications have closed for the 2024 Scholarship.

NFALA Gala and Annual Meeting Travel Stipend Scholarship

The NFALA Foundation is now accepting applications to receive a stipend to attend the NFALA Gala and Annual Meeting during the NAPABA Convention on November 7 and 8, 2024 in Seattle, Washington. The stipend will be a monetary check that NFALA Foundation will mail post-gala to partially help cover law students’ costs associated with airfare, mileage, hotel accommodation, NFALA gala ticket, NFALA annual meeting/luncheon ticket, and NAPABA convention registration.

Deadline to submit Application: November 4, 2024

Email application to: scholarships@nfalafoundation.org

2024 Scholarship Recipients

Raymond L. O'Campo, Jr. Family Scholarship

Maris Medina | Loyola University Chicago, School of Law (Class of 2025)

Maris Medina is a third-year student at Loyola University Chicago School of Law. As a former political journalist, Maris' interests in institutional accountability and civil rights have served as throughlines in her legal education. Outside of the classroom, Maris has honed her legal skill set via internships with the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, Chicago City Council's government oversight committee, a Chicago-based law firm's employment litigation team, and the Chicago Appleseed Center for Fair Courts. Currently, she is a Law Clerk for the Illinois Attorney General.

Guided by her lived experiences as a Filipina immigrant, Maris served as the President for Loyola's Asian Pacific American Law Students Association, competed in the national rounds of the Thomas Tang Moot Court competition hosted by the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association, and authored a soon-to-be published article for the Loyola Chicago International Law Review regarding abortion access via the Philippine judiciary and political systems. Rooted in the community care to which her parents have devoted their nursing careers, Maris is excited and committed to forging her own career in championing fundamental civil rights for vulnerable communities.

Prior to law school, Maris worked as a video producer for The Hill, a national news publication based in Washington, D.C., covering politics and policy. She has received an Emmy award for her work as a student journalist. Outside of law school, Maris enjoys staying active, exploring Chicago's green outdoors with her dog, and reviewing

      books on her book Instagram.

NFALA President's Scholarship

April Joy Payumo | University of San Diego School of Law (Class of 2025)

April Joy Payumo graduated summa cum laude from San Diego State University with dual bachelor's degrees in Political Science and Communication. Currently, she is a third-year law student at the University of San Diego School of Law. Growing up in a Navy family in San Diego, April is passionate about serving the military community and aims to become a Judge Advocate to support service members and veterans.

She actively participates in both the USD Asian Pacific American Law Students Association and the USD Military Bar Association, where she holds leadership roles as Attorney Outreach Chair and Co-President, respectively. In addition to these responsibilities, April co-founded the USD Filipino Association of Law Students (FALS) and the National Filipino American Law Students Association (NFALSA). April currently serves as President of both USD FALS and NFALSA.

NFALA LGBTQ+ Affinity Network Scholarship Award

Aaron Silva | George Washington University Law School (Class of 2025)

Aaron Silva is a 3L at the George Washington University Law School in Washington, D.C. His involvement with the Filipino-American community began during his time as an undergraduate student at Fordham College at Lincoln Center in New York, serving as part of one of the club's earliest e-boards. At GW Law, Aaron has continued his mentorship of Filipino/Asian-American students, serving as a Writing Fellow, Student Advisor, and Mentor for multiple students, including LLM's, as well as being part of FALA-NY and GW's Asian Pacific American Law Association. He is currently interested in pursuing a career in Government Contracts and/or International Law, and has experience working at law firms and non-profits across five states in the Northeastern United States. Aaron also has experience working as a Legal Intern for the World Bank's Office of Suspension & Debarment, assisting counsel in sanctioning companies and individuals who misappropriate bank funds.

NFALA Government and Public Interest Law Student Scholarship

Ava Ahlstrand | University of California – Irvine (Class of 2027)

Ava Ahlstrand is a 1L at University of California, Irvine and a second generation Filipino-American. Prior to law school, Ava became involved with the Philippine American Bar Association while pursuing her undergraduate degree at UCLA and created a mentorship program between the Pilipinx Pre-Law Pipeline organization at UCLA and PABA to educate Pilipinx-identifying students about careers in law and to connect them with PABA and its greater legal network. Ava was also part of the Center for Asian Americans United for Self-Empowerment (CAUSE) 2022 Leadership Academy cohort where she and her peers identified and engineered remedies for issues faced by constituents of CA Assembly District 49, a predominantly AAPI district, including tactics to increase access to public transportation and affordable housing. At UCI Law, Ava serves as a 1L Representative for PABA and as the 1L Representative for the Public Interest Law Fund organization where she works to ensure funding is provided to law students pursuing public interest internships in the summer. In the upcoming summer, Ava will be interning for the Neighborhood Legal Services of Los Angeles for the Public Benefits team where she will assist immigrant and AAPI community members in receiving federal and state benefits.

NFALA - FALA-New York Robin Mangaser Tizon Law Scholarship

Jana Marquez | University of Nevada, Las Vegas, William S. Boyd School of Law (Class of 2026)

Jana is a 2L at William S Boyd, School of Law at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. She interned as an Education Advocacy Law Clerk at Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada in Las Vegas, where the internship involved advocacy and providing legal representation for children with disabilities who are entitled to special education services under federal and state law. At law school, she is the Director of Social Media for the Music Law Society.

Alyzah Ziga | Syracuse University, College of Law (Class of 2026)  

Alyzah Ziga is a 2L at Syracuse University College of Law. She interned at Volunteer Lawyers of Central New York, where she provided legal research for clients to obtain asylum, including TRIG and firm resettlement. She was a founding member of the National Filipino American Law Student Association and serves as the Northeast Regional Director. Prior to law school, she worked at a nonprofit organization that worked with refugees and helped them to apply for citizenship.