Law Student Invests in Her Community

Scholarship recipient Lucy Flores hasn't always had a smooth path to her goal of attending law school. Although she grew up in Vegas and knew she wanted to go to law school from a young age, she didn't have the resources as a young student to pursue her education.

"I grew up near CSN on Cheyenne as a child," said Flores, "and I didn't know what the building was." Flores said that, as the first in her family to go to college, she didn't have access to much information about her educational opportunities as a young person.

However, she was encouraged by the people around her, and at age 23, she earned her GED and was accepted to the University of Southern California, where she earned her bachelor's degree in political science.

Because Flores knew she planned to attend law school, she applied to the UNLV Boyd School of Law and was awarded a scholarship to attend. Flores says that the chance to come back to Las Vegas and make an impact on her community was an opportunity she couldn't pass up.

"The scholarship I received made a big difference because it covered almost all of the tuition," said Flores. "I felt that UNLV was investing in me, so I should invest in the community."

And Flores has already begun to make her mark in the community. In addition to attending law school, she is also serving in a two-year appointment to the State Commission on Minority Affairs, where she looks at all issues – including housing, education, and employment – affecting minorities in the state of Nevada.

"I'm very active in the community, and I'm trying to do my part," said Flores.

Flores knows this experience will help her with her professional goal, which is to work in government affairs and policy. She hopes to influence legislation and is primarily interested in education and diversity issues, such as access to education and equal opportunity for minorities.

"I feel so lucky and excited to be able to pursue my law degree here," said Flores. She believes in the power of education. "Education opens doors and is very empowering," said Flores of the importance of her education. "It helps to create opportunity where you might otherwise be limited."