Ban Newsletter - Spring 2025 Edition

The Ruth-Arlene W. Howe Black Student Leadership Initiative (“Howe Scholar”) is awarded annually by BC Law in collaboration with the Black Alumni Network to a rising second or third year student who has demonstrated a commitment to the Black/African descent community at the law school and/or in underrepresented communities. We are pleased to announce THREE Howe Scholars for the 2024-2025 academic year Lucilia Barbosa, Haley Cole, and Elias Massion.

Lucilia “Lucy” Barbosa, a rising 3L and BLSA Co-President navigates this world through an outpouring of love, integrity, humility. Lucy is a student attorney with the Housing Justice Clinic where she works to advise her clients of their legal rights and fight against eviction.  Although it is hard to imagine Lucy has much free time, she spends what time she does have, as an active member of the Psi Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha, Incorporated, and volunteering to help families facing food insecurity and mentoring young Black teenage girls.

Haley Cole, a rising 3L and BLSA Co-President, has dedicated her academic career to examining racial injustice and the uplifting and empowering those who have been historically marginalized by the legal system. Haley’s 3 years as a civil rights paralegal inspired her to pursue courses at BC Law that examine the intersection of racial inequity and the law. As a Law Review Staff writer, Haley’s Note focused on the anti-discrimination protection of the CROWN Act and Black identity.  Haley has dedicated her time at BC Law to fill the need of increasing awareness of public interest career paths by founding the BC Law’s Plaintiffs’ Law Firm Association.

Elias Massion, a rising 3L, has consistently demonstrated his commitment to serving Black and under-represnted communities. At Advance Carolina, a non-profit organization, Ellias advocated for Black economic and political empowerment. Prior to law school, Ellias worked as a public school teacher in New Orleans where he taught social studies to predominantly black middle school students, taking a nuanced and anti-racist approach to history and focusing on building meaningful relationships. Elias has taken initiative to show up and support the Black students at BC Law by serving as BLSA Treasurer. 

Join us in congratulating Lucilia, Haley and Elias!

Every year we are fortunate to have amazing and deserving students apply to be RAWH BSLI Scholars. We are proudly able to award two students per year. With your donations we can continue to grow the fund and award even more phenomenal students annually. Please consider contributing to the Ruth-Arlene W. Howe Black Student Leadership Initiative by visiting this website and selecting “The Ruth-Arlene W. Howe Black Student Leadership Initiative” from the drop down menu in the “Area of Support” section.