Celebrating 39 Years:
1980-2019
THE HISPANIC BAR ASSOCIATION OF NEW JERSEY CELEBRATED ITS 38th ANNUAL SCHOLARSHIP GALA and AWARDS DINNER and ESTABLISHED the HBA-NJ SCHOLARSHIP AND ENDOWMENT FUND
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 1, 2019
The Hispanic Bar Association of New Jersey (“HBA-NJ”) held its 38th Annual Scholarship Gala and Awards Dinner (the “Gala”) at The Legacy Castle in Pompton Plains, New Jersey on June 22, 2019. Almost 400 attorneys, federal and state judges, law students, and guests attended the Gala where the HBA-NJ recognized three remarkable honorees in the Latinx legal community. Longtime supporter of the HBA-NJ, Parker Ibrahim & Berg LLP was honored as the Law Firm of the Year for its dedicated and demonstrated commitment to diversity and inclusion in the legal profession. Beacon Hill Legal was honored as Corporate Partner of the Year for delivering excellent and trusted service to law firms and companies across the State of New Jersey. Further, the HBA-NJ awarded the Margarita Echevarria Trailblazer Award to Evelyn Padin, who became the first Latina President of the New Jersey State Bar Association in its 120-year history.
HBA-NJ’s 39th President Julia A. López’s said, “The Gala recognized longtime supporters of the HBA-NJ and the Latinx community. The HBA-NJ also made history by presenting over $100,000 between scholarships and the creation of a scholarship endowment that will help sustain HBA-NJ’s goals going forward. I am proud to be part of the history that will help secure the success of the Latinx leaders of tomorrow.” The HBA-NJ specifically awarded $52,000 in scholarships to 12 Latinx law students and 2 American Dream Pipeline Program high school students, and it established the HBA-NJ Scholarship Endowment with an initial check in the amount of $50,000. The HBA-NJ further pledged to make annual contributions to the HBA-NJ Scholarship Endowment.
During the Gala, Carimer N. Andujar passionately spoke about her plight of overcoming obstacles and challenges as an undocumented individual. Ms. Andujar is a Dreamer, and a graduate of the American Dream Pipeline Program and Rutgers School of Engineering Class of 2019. President López remarked, “This year’s theme was Diversity Makes America Great and having Carimer address the guests at the Gala was important to me. She epitomizes the immigrant story of someone who had to flee terrible conditions in order to survive and find opportunities for a better life. Not only did she find those opportunities, but she succeeded. It was important for the guests to hear firsthand from someone who is marginalized in today’s society, but who still attained success through the support of a strong network. Her success is our success, and her story epitomizes the HBA-NJ’s mission at its core. We are proud of Carimer and will continue to support her and other Dreamers and students alike.”
The HBA-NJ thanks its sponsors and Gala attendees for their generosity and support. President López said, “It was great year for the HBA-NJ, which could not have been possible without the support of our sponsors, and I look forward to the celebration of the HBA-NJ’s 40th anniversary next year.” Please save the date for the Installation and Swearing-In Ceremony of our 40th President, Melinda Colón Cox, and the 2019-2020 Board of Trustees on October 22, 2019, at the Pleasantdale Chateau in West Orange, New Jersey.
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About The Hispanic Bar Association of New Jersey
Founded in 1980, the HBA-NJ is a 501(c)(6) nonprofit association that is comprised of attorneys, judges, law professors, law students, and other professionals who share a common interest in addressing the issues affecting Hispanics within the legal community.
The purpose of the Association is to serve the public interest: (i) by cultivating the art and science of jurisprudence, (ii) by advancing the standing of the legal profession, and (iii) by preserving high standards of integrity, honor, and professional courtesy among Hispanic lawyers.
Hispanic Bar Association of New Jersey
P.O. Box 25562, Newark, NJ 07101
For press inquiries, please contact: Alba V. Aviles, Esq., HBA-NJ Press Secretary, at aaviles@daypitney.com or (973) 966-8034. For more information about the Hispanic Bar Association of New Jersey, please visit our website at: www.njhba.org or contact Julia A. López, Esq., HBA-NJ President, at jalopez@reedsmith.com or (609) 524-2022.
©2019 Hispanic Bar Association of New Jersey
