The New Jersey State Bar Foundation this year awarded $75,000 in scholarships to 13 students attending the state’s law schools.
The Foundation supports growth in the legal profession through annual scholarships for students who are full-time, second- or third-year law students or law students who attend part time and have completed two semesters. From one scholarship in 1975 to more than 10 today, the Foundation fosters pride in the legal profession by supporting the education of future lawyers. The scholarships benefit students from all walks of life – first-generation Americans, first-generation college graduates, working parents, full- and part-time students and more. The scholarships range from $2,500 to $10,000.
“We are proud to support these talented next-generation attorneys and are confident that they will make a positive impact through their academic and professional pursuits,” said Ralph J. Lamparello, president of the NJSBF.
Many of this year’s scholarship recipients will attend the Foundation’s annual Medal of Honor Award Celebration on Sept. 17 when retired state Supreme Court Justice Lee A. Solomon and NJSBA Past President Domenick Carmagnola receive this year’s awards. Proceeds from this annual event help fund the Foundation’s Law School Scholarship program. The event will be held at the Park Chateau in East Brunswick. Find out more at moh.njsbf.org.
The scholarship recipients spoke recently about what the financial support means to them:
Melani Cruz-Stokes, a part-time, third-year student at Rutgers Law School - Camden – is interested in pursuing a career in criminal prosecution. She received one of the three Justice Marie L. Garibaldi scholarships, that honor the state’s first female Supreme Court justice.
"Receiving the Justice Marie Garibaldi Scholarship Award is more than financial relief. It is affirmation that my sacrifices as a full-time working mother and part-time law student matter. It fuels my desire to become a prosecutor who champions justice with integrity and compassion. This support empowers me to keep pushing forward, not just for my dreams, but to show my daughter and others like me that perseverance can shape a more just world."
Yasmine Nartey, a third-year student at Rutgers Law School – Newark – is focusing on the area of intellectual property law. She received the Judge Lisa P. Thornton Scholarship, named after the first Black woman to serve as an assignment judge in the state Judiciary.
“As a Black woman in law, receiving the Judge Lisa P. Thornton Scholarship is both an honor and a powerful reminder that I stand on the shoulders of trailblazers like Judge Thornton. Her legacy inspires me to lead with purpose, integrity, and impact, no matter which legal path I pursue. I am truly and deeply grateful for the NJSBF’s support in my legal career.”
Junior Romero, a third-year student at Seton Hall Law School - received a New Jersey State Bar Foundation Scholarship, which honors the Foundation’s mission. He is pursuing a career in the area of property law and litigation.
"There are many incredible advocates and problem-solvers who never become attorneys—often because law school is financially out of reach. This was why I delayed pursuing my J.D. The NJSBF Scholarship has given me the flexibility to better focus on my academics and leadership roles, such as serving as co-president of my law school’s Latin American students group, and to pursue public interest legal opportunities—like the one I’m undertaking this summer—which are always in high demand."
Congratulations 2025 Law School Scholarship Recipients
• Abram D. and Maxine H. Londa Scholarship – Joel Chapman, Seton Hall Law School
• Judge Lisa P. Thornton Scholarship – Yasmine Nartey, Rutgers Law School - Newark
• Justice Marie L. Garibaldi Scholarship
o Amy Conrad, Rutgers Law School - Newark
o Melani Cruz-Stokes, Rutgers Law School - Camden
o Michelle Schoenwald, Seton Hall Law School
• The Justin P. Walder Scholarship – Helen Morejon, Rutgers Law School – Newark
• Theodore A. Schwartz Scholarship for Environmental Law - Adrienne Aiken, Rutgers Law School - Newark
• New Jersey State Bar Foundation Scholarship
o Rahnuma Klotz, Rutgers Law School - Camden
o Daniel Masoud, Seton Hall Law School
o Aniah Murphy, Rutgers Law School - Camden
o Natalie Polito, Seton Hall Law School
o Junior Romero, Seton Hall Law School
o Jamicka Rutherford, Rutgers Law School - Newark