"I’m deeply honored to be selected as a 2025 Outstanding Law Student recipient by the National Association of Women Lawyers (NAWL), and I’m grateful to the faculty and staff who saw something in me and chose to uplift it. This award means more than recognition; it symbolizes the breaking of generational cycles and honors the women in my family who carried the weight of patriarchal expectations without the freedom to dream beyond survival. Lo hicimos. Shoutout to the Fab Five, the powerful women I met in law school who embodied what it means to build community, uplift one another, and grow through every challenge together. I’m excited to return home to NYC and be part of the change I want to see in this world, grounded in community, purpose, and justice."

- Jayvana Perez, a graduating student from Vermont Law and Graduate School.