4 HBAA Law School Student Scholars to Watch

About HBAA

HBAA (The Hispanic Bar Association of Austin) is "an organization of Latino lawyers who volunteer their time and energy towards the betterment of the Hispanic community in central Texas." It is an affiliate of the Mexican-American Bar Association of Texas as well as the Hispanic National Bar Association. Prior to being founded as HBAA in 1995, the organization was the Capital Area Mexican-American Lawyers (CAMAL). The organization is made up of members of the legal profession, which includes law students, local attorneys, government officials, law professors, legislators, judges, and lobbyists. Other members of the legal profession are also welcomed to join the organization. HBAA's mission statement is:

"To foster and encourage the involvement and interest of the Hispanic-American legal professional community in civic, professional, social, educational, charitable, governmental, and non-partisan political issues with a goal toward the betterment and enhancement of all members of the organization and the Austin area Hispanic community."

The Scholars 

The following are four law school students awarded scholarships by HBAA Foundation. Additionally, the HBAA Foundation awarded scholarships to 3 undergraduate students.

Lucie Arvallo

Lucie is in her third year of law school at St. Mary's University School of Law in San Antonio, Texas. Throughout her law school experience, Lucie has succeeded academically and has proved her hard work in order to achieve her goals. In addition to her hard academic work, she has volunteered with her university to help feed the homeless at the St. Mary's Wellness Resource Outreach center.

Trevor Vega 

Trevor is in his third year of law school at the University of Texas School of Law, where he has proved to be an outstanding student. His first year he finished in the top 25% of his class, and he continued that trend by finishing his second year with a high GPA. In the summer, Trevor volunteered with Woolson Real Estate, helping families that still needed assistance after the horrible effects of Hurricane Harvey by cleaning yards and providing families with clothes and other items.

Nathan Salazar

Nathan is in his third year of law school at the Michigan State College of Law, where he has been working diligently to earn high marks. In the last school year, Nathan mentored and assisted a high school student regarding his college applications at Sidney Lanier High School in San Antonio, Texas.

Liz Moreno

Liz is in her third year of law school at the Northwestern Pritzker School of Law, where she has been able to volunteer and thrive academically. During the spring semester, she volunteered once a week at Talcott Elementary by reading to 3rd graders. On campus at the School of Law, she is participating in the Juvenile Justice Clinic, serving as a 3L representative in the Student Bar Association.

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We cannot wait to see these bright students graduate in May 2019.

MAES Scholars 2017

The purpose of MAES (Mexican American Engineers in Science) is to increase the number of Mexican American and other Hispanics in technical and scientific fields. MAES the leading Latino organization for the development of STEM leaders in the academic, executive and technical communities. MAES works to increase the opportunities of students and has extended support to two students.

Micaela Roybal
University of Texas, 2019

Major: Civic Engineering   |   GPA: 2.59

Micaela is an Austin native and a third year student at the University of Texas. During the summer she worked as a server for University of Texas Club in order to save money for the upcoming semester. She continues to stay engaged in HSC activities by serving as a mentor during HSC’s Latino Leaders events and also serving on a panel addressing how college administrators can help engage Latino students on campus.

Kevin Bejarano-Romero

University of Texas, 2018

Major: Math  |  GPA: 3.40

Kevin is in his first semester of his senior year at the University of Texas at Austin. In past semesters, he worked as a host at Maudie's Hacienda for extra money. This summer, in addition to work, he prepped for the Actuarial Professional Exam. He stays connected to HSC by serving on a panel that addresses how college administrators can help engage Latino students on campus.

YHPAA Scholars 2017

Founded in 2006, the Young Hispanic Professional Association of Austin (YHPAA) states its mission as a contribution of leadership and opportunities for professional development for young Latinx professionals in the greater Austin community. YHPAA supports higher education by providing scholarships as well as mentorship programs to students with connections to central Texas. The association has extended support to one returning student as well as to two new scholars, all pursuing undergraduate degrees at the University of Texas at Austin.

Mark Sand

University of Texas at Austin, 2019

Cockrell School of Engineering

Mark Sand is a native of Arlington, Texas and a third year student at the Cockrell School of Engineering at the University of Texas. He studies electrical as well as computer engineering, with plans to pursue robotics after obtaining his masters from UT. Mark is a recipient of the Lawrence F. Ramirez Memorial Scholarship for excellence in engineering and a third year returning scholar.

David Diaz

University of Texas at Austin, 2021

McCombs School of Business

David Diaz is a freshman at the University of Texas at Austin, pursuing a major at the McCombs School of Business. David is a Houston native, and a new recipient of the YHPAA Future Leaders Scholarship, which assists top scholars pursuing higher education.

(not pictured)

Cynthia Lopez

University of Texas at Austin, 2021

McCombs School of Business

Cynthia Lopez is a freshman at the University of Texas at Austin, seeking a degree in Human Dimensions of Organizations as well as one in Spanish, with a minor in International Business. Native to Lockhart, Texas, Cynthia is a newly recognized scholar for excellence by the YHPAA Future Leaders Scholarship fund.

Six Aspiring Lawyers Awarded Scholarships by HBAA Foundation

The Hispanic Bar Association of Austin (HBAA) Charitable Foundation and the Hispanic Scholarship Consortium strive to support students in their educational process through the HBAA scholarship. The scholarship allows aspiring lawyers to receive financial assistance while completing their undergraduate degree. Once the students are in law school they receive further assistance through the Foundation's partnership. In the 2017-2018 school year, the HBAA scholarship welcomed three new scholars and continued supporting three scholars.

Daniel Reyes 

St. Mary's University, 2019

 Major: Political Science

Daniel is currently a sophomore at St. Mary’s University majoring in Political Science. He has been able maintain his academic career while actively serving his community, as he co-founded the St. Mary’s University College Democrats, and volunteered at San Antonio Youth Literacy.

Lucie Arvallo

St. Mary's University School of Law, 2019

Major: JD Candidate

Lucie is continuing to excel academically in law school. She is currently ranks ninth in her class of 222. Despite being in San Antonio, Lucie also remains an active volunteer with HSC. 

Nathan Salazar

Michigan State College of Law, 2019

Major: JD Candidate

Nathan and his wife are settling in to their lives in East Lansing. He is currently in his second year of law school, and was admitted to the Geoffrey Fieger Trial Practice Institute to improve his litigation, trial, and courtroom decorum.

Liz Moreno

Northwestern Pritzker School of Law, 2019

Major: JD Canidadate

Liz has begun her second year in Law School, where she has been able to thrive academically, while volunteering in the community. The summer of 2017 she volunteered in the Thurgood Marshall Summer Law Program mentoring aspiring law students.

Morgan Vega (not pictured)

University of Texas Austin, 2019

Major: Political Science

Morgan is currently a freshman at the University of Texas Austin, majoring in political science. She has been able to successfully manage her academics while being a member of Alpha Delta Pi Sorority, Alpha Delta Pre-Law Fraternity, and National Society of Collegiate Scholars.

Trevor Vega

University of Texas School of Law Austin, 2019

JD Candidate

Trevor is currently in his second year of Law School at the University of Texas Austin, where he has been an outstanding student. His first year he finished in the top 25% of his class, and was awarded the course’s Dean’s Achievement, which recognizes the highest grade in the class.