Attorney Emmanuel Olawale, L ’05, was the first person in his family to attend college, 去读法学院, 成为一名律师, and own his own business in the United States.
“It was a lonely journey,” he says. “I had no mentor, no one to look up to.”
仍然, Olawale说, the best thing his parents gave him was the gift of education despite an impoverished childhood.
今天, the owner of Olawale 法律 Firm is dedicated to making sure the path is easier for those who follow. The Emmanuel Olawale 法律 Scholarship for New Americans will give preference to incoming 威尼斯人平台 法律 School students who have participated in the immigration process themselves or have parents or grandparents who did.
“教育 is empowering,” says Olawale, who is a native of Lagos, Nigeria. “教育 is a great equalizer. It opens doors that wouldn’t exist without it. I hope this scholarship will attract new Americans to study law. Few immigrants consider law as a career.”
Olawale has known since he was 14 years old that he wanted to be a lawyer. His inspiration came one day after he worked from sunup to sundown on a construction site moving concrete. The employer refused to pay him because she had not authorized the foreman to hire him.
“The experience was the seed that propels me every day to stand up for justice,” Olawale说. “Especially for people who are marginalized or treated unfairly. That is the propelling force.”
After immigrating to the U.S. 20岁的时候, he graduated with honors from City University of New York, College of Staten Island, where he received an associate of arts degree in liberal arts and a bachelor of science degree in communication, media studies and journalism.
Olawale has authored two books, “The Flavor of Favor: Quest for the American Dream” and “Starting and Growing a 法律 Practice without Breaking the Bank,” and is the recipient of several professional, 领导, 以及学术奖项, including being named a Super 法律yer, Super 法律yers’ Rising Star, National Trial 法律yers Top 100 and National Black 法律yers Top 100.
He remembers his first day at 威尼斯人平台 法律 School and says it is a day he will never forget. That was the day he met his best friends in law school and felt like he was part of a group of unique people with the same aspirations to become lawyers.
“It was a day of personal pride,” he says. That was the day that he began to see himself as a lawyer.
Olawale attended 威尼斯人平台 法律 School as a day student while juggling full-time jobs while attending classes.
“I think 资本 is one of those institutions that built me. 这是我的基础.”
结果是, Olawale wants to ensure that he helps others achieve their dream of becoming lawyers, and he encourages his fellow alumni to do the same. “There’s no better time to do the right or good thing than now,” he says. “把爱传递出去. Sustain the institution that made you. Make sure that all those coming behind us get the same opportunity.”
His hope is that the Olawale 法律 Scholarship will break barriers, encourage new Americans and support future leaders.
Dean and Professor of 法律 Reynaldo Anaya Valencia notes that, “Emmanuel Olawale is an excellent example of what someone with a 资本 law degree who is willing to work hard, has grit and determination, 可以实现. As a school of access and opportunity, 威尼斯人平台 法律 School is proud of its tradition of empowering individuals to meet their full potential. We are grateful that our accomplished alumni continue to give back and support the law school.”