The annual Scholarship Luncheon at the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law brings together more than 100 student-scholars with the donors, alumni, partners, and friends connected to their scholarships in celebration and appreciation. This year’s luncheon took place on Feb. 7 in Westminster Hall.
Dean Renée Hutchins Laurent and Vice Dean Deb Eisenberg emceed the program. Welcoming attendees, Laurent said, “I love having this special opportunity to showcase our outstanding students and recognize the extraordinary importance and impact of scholarship giving. Scholarships truly open doors to this law school, and the legal profession.”
Featured student speakers were scholarship recipients Renae Lee ’25 and Alex Tamayo ’25, both of whom shared stories about their law school journeys and what receiving scholarships meant to them.
Lee spoke about coming from a family of ministers who instilled in her a desire to give back. She emphasized her gratitude for the scholarship that is enabling her to do that, saying, “The value in opportunity is not just in having it but in what you do with it.”
The recipient of the Martin Family Public Interest Scholarship, Lee is senior production editor of the Maryland Law Review and a member of the Alternative Dispute Resolution Team. After graduation, she will clerk for Justice Angela Eaves at the Supreme Court of Maryland. The Martin Family Public Interest Scholarship was established by David Martin ’88 in 2019.
Tamayo talked about the fear associated with being the first in her family to pursue higher education. She credits her scholarship with enabling her to pursue a dream that felt out of reach.
“Thanks to a scholarship,” said Tamayo, “I get to become the first person in my family to have graduated from high school, from college, and… from law school. I get to be the person who fought the fear, and I wouldn’t change it for the world.”
At Maryland Carey Law, Tamayo is a star on the National Trial Team, recently placing first with her teammate Ashley Travis ’25 at the National Trial Competition Region 4 and earning a bid to nationals in April. After graduation, she will join Semmes, Bowen, & Semmes as an associate.
Tamayo is the inaugural recipient of the Dean José Bahamonde-González Memorial Scholarship. Kraig Long ’98, a member of the Maryland Carey Law Board of Visitors and a founding donor (along with other alumni and law school colleagues) to the scholarship in honor of the beloved “Dean José,” also gave short remarks. “I know José is looking down on us and is very proud,” Long concluded.
A gallery of photos from the Scholarship Luncheon is available here: https://photos.app.goo.gl/rCKrWXHPq3pLkovc9