Shia Rozier, Lakes Law ’23 – (awarded $5,000)
Shia Rozier is currently a first-year student at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical University, where she anticipates graduating in 2027 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science. Shia currently serves as Freshman Class President and as a member of the Student Government Executive Board. She also launched a scholarship blog for high school seniors, and is a Campus Vote Project Democracy Fellow.
Shia is an alumnus (Class of 2023) of the Center for Pre-Law at Palm Beach Lakes Community High School where she graduated #2 in her class. While a student at Palm Beach Lakes, Shia was dual enrolled at Palm Beach State College. Shia was very active in the Center for Pre-Law, serving as mock trial captain, moot court attorney, Law Club President, Law Honor Society President, and Lead Prosecuting Youth Court Attorney. Shia was a three-time recipient of the 15th Judicial Circuit’s Mock Trial Best Advocate Award, and has also received the Stetson University Overall Performance Award, the Center for Pre-Law Mock Trial Student of the Year Award, and the Florida Moot Court Top Ten. In addition to her law-related extracurriculars, Shia served as a cheerleader, student government treasurer, and President of the Best Buddies chapter. Outside of school, Shia worked as an Administrative and Outreach Assistant for the Legal Aid Society of Palm Beach County.
Ijahala Pottinger, Lakes Law ’16 – (awarded $3,500)
Ijahala Pottinger is currently a first-year law student at Columbia Law School, where she anticipates graduating in 2026 with her Juris Doctor.
Ijahala previously worked as a litigation paralegal for the Law Offices of Esfand Nafisi, and as a senior litigation paralegal for Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP.
Ijahala graduated from Brown University in 2020 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science. While a student at Brown, Ijahala was a Brown in Washington Fellow (where she served as an education policy intern for the U.S. Senate HELP Committee), a Minority Peer Counselor, and the Public Relations Chair for the Black Pre-Law Association. She also interned for the Rhode Island Public Defender’s Office and the Rhode Island Supreme Court.
Ijahala is an alumnus (Class of 2016) of the Center for Pre-Law at Palm Beach Lakes Community High School, where she graduated as class Valedictorian. While a student at Palm Beach Lakes, Ijahala was dual enrolled at Palm Beach State College and was President of the National Honor Society. Ijahala was very active in the Center for Pre-Law, serving as a mock trial team member, Law Honor Society President, and Lead Prosecuting Youth Court Attorney. Ijahala was a three-time recipient of the Center for Pre-Law Gavel Award.
Miriam Vidaurre-Zarate, Lakes Law ’21 – (awarded $1,500)
Miriam Vidaurre-Zarate is currently a Junior at Florida International University, where she anticipates graduating in 2025 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science. Miriam earned her Associate’s Degree magna cum laude from Palm Beach State College in 2022. Miriam is also a 2022 EMSHE Award Recipient.
Miriam currently works as a receptionist at the Teebagy and Medieros Law Group. She previously worked as a receptionist/administrative assistant at Matrix Mediation, and interned for the West Palm Beach Police Department. Miriam has also volunteered as an assistant coach for the Palm Beach Lakes Mock Trial Team.
Miriam is an alumnus (Class of 2021) of the Center for Pre-Law at Palm Beach Lakes Community High School where she graduated in the top 10% in her class. While a student at Palm Beach Lakes, Miriam was dual enrolled at Palm Beach State College. Miriam was very active in the Center for Pre-Law, serving as mock trial captain, moot court attorney, Law Club President, Law Honor Society President, and a Youth Court attorney. Miriam was a three-time recipient of the Center for Pre-Law Gavel Award. She was also a “Think Pink” Committee member, and a member of the City of West Palm Beach Mayor’s Youth Council.