Past Recipient Bios

Ada Erazo-Motino will be a first-year student this Summer at University of Central Florida where she anticipates graduating in 2030 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science with a concentration in International Relations and Comparative Politics.

Ada is currently a Senior (Class of 2026) at the Center for Pre-Law at Palm Beach Lakes Community High School where she will graduate in the top 5% of her class. She is also dual enrolled at Palm Beach State College.

Ada is very active in the Center for Pre-Law, serving as mock trial co-captain, Law Club President, Law Honor Society President, and a Youth Court attorney. Ada was also a four-time Center for Pre-Law Student of the Month and a Center for Pre-Law Gavel Award recipient. Ada also served as a legal intern in the Office of General Counsel of the School District of Palm Beach County and in the Office of Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller of Palm Beach County/Fifteenth Judicial Circuit Court. In addition to her law-related extracurriculars, Ada serves as President of National Honor Society, Vice President of Latinos Unidos, and a member of International Club.

Andre’Anna Hodges is currently a Junior at Florida Atlantic University where she anticipates graduating in 2027 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration (with a minor in Business Law).

As a student at FAU, Andre’Anna serves as a member of Women in Law at FAU, Outreach Coordinator for the League of Women Voters, Community Service Chair for the Women Empowerment Club, Treasurer of the Kelly Strul Emerging Scholars Program, President of In10sity Dance Troupe, and a member of Tri Alpha Honor Society.

Andre’Anna is an alumnus (Class of 2024) at the Center for Pre-Law at Palm Beach Lakes Community High School where she graduated #3 in her class. While a student at Palm Beach Lakes, Andre’Anna was very active in the Center for Pre-Law, serving as a mock trial team member, Youth Court attorney, and Community Service Chair and Senior Class Representative for Law Club. She was also a recipient of the Center for Pre-Law Gavel Award. In addition to her law-related extracurriculars, Andre’Anna served as a member of the National Honor Society and Key Club.

Ijahala Pottinger is currently a third-year law student at Columbia University where she anticipates graduating in 2027 with her Juris Doctor and Master of Social Work.

As a law student at Columbia, she served as Staff Editor for the Columbia Human Rights Law Review, Co-Director of the Suspension Representative Project, Social Chair of the Black Law Students Association, Writing Fellow for the Writing Center, Academic Coach for the Academic Coaching Center, and a participant in the Immigration and Asylum Moot Court.

Ijahala previously worked as a summer associate for WilmerHale, Pre-Law Fellow for Latham & Watkins, LLP, litigation paralegal for the Nafisi Law, PC, and senior litigation paralegal for Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP.

Ijahala is an alumnus (Class of 2016) of the Center for Pre-Law at Palm Beach Lakes Community High School where she graduated as class Valedictorian. While a student at Palm Beach Lakes, Ijahala was dual enrolled at Palm Beach State College and was President of the National Honor Society. Ijahala was very active in the Center for Pre-Law, serving as a mock trial team member, Law Honor Society President, and Lead Prosecuting Youth Court Attorney. Ijahala was a three-time recipient of the Center for Pre-Law Gavel Award.

After graduating from Palm Beach Lakes, Ijahala went on to attend Brown University where she earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science in 2020. While a student at Brown, Ijahala was a Brown in Washington Fellow (where she served as an education policy intern for the U.S. Senate HELP Committee), a Residential Peer Leader and Minority Peer Counselor for the Office of Residential Life, the Public Relations Chair for the Black Pre-Law Association, Events Coordinator for the The League of United Black Womxn, Lead Facilitator for the Community Dialogue Project. She also interned for the Rhode Island Public Defender’s Office and the Rhode Island Supreme Court.

Keen Williams is currently a third-year law student at the Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University College of Law where he anticipates graduating in 2026 with his Juris Doctor.

As a law student at FAMU, Keen interned for the Public Defender’s Office of the Ninth Judicial Circuit, the Honorable Mark A. Skipper of the Ninth Judicial Circuit for Orange County, and the Honorable Juan M. Pulayya of the Ninth Judicial Circuit for Osceola County.

Keen is an alumnus (Class of 2019) of the Center for Pre-Law at Palm Beach Lakes Community High School where he graduated #11 in his class. While a student at Palm Beach Lakes, Keen was dual enrolled at Palm Beach State College. Keen was a five-time Center for Pre-Law Student of the Month and a Center for Pre-Law Gavel Award recipient. Keen was also a Florida Boys State Delegate and a Pathfinder Award Nominee. Keen also served as a legal intern in the Office of General Counsel for the School District of Palm Beach County.

After graduating from Palm Beach Lakes, Keen went on to attend the Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College of Florida Atlantic University where he earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology in 2023. While in college, Keen served as President of the Black Student Union at FAU’s Jupiter Campus, Head Delegate of FAU’s Leon Charney Diplomacy Program, Head Campus Resident Assistant for FAU’s Jupiter Housing, and a Student Admissions Ambassador.

Mariah Williams is currently a second-year law student at the Maurice A. Deane School of Law at Hofstra University where she anticipates graduating in 2027 with her Juris Doctor.

As a law student at Hofstra, Mariah served as Alumni Affairs Chair for the Black Law Students Association, Dispute Resolution Society member, Women of Color Collective member, and fellow in Hofstra’s Long Island Immigration Advocacy Fellowship. Mariah also interned for the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office in the Domestic Violence Unit, the New York Attorney General’s Office in the Investor Protection Bureau, and Legal Services of Long Island.

Mariah is an alumnus (Class of 2021) of the Center for Pre-Law at Palm Beach Lakes Community High School where she graduated #5 in her class. While a student at Palm Beach Lakes High School, Mariah was dual enrolled at Palm Beach State College where she graduated with her Associate’s Degree summa cum laude in May 2021. She was a member of the Law Honor Society, Law Club, National Honor Society, Mock Trial Team, and “We the People” Competition Team. Mariah was also a Youth Court attorney and a legal intern in the Office of the General Counsel for the School District of Palm Beach County.

After graduating from Palm Beach Lakes, Mariah went on to attend Hofstra University’s College of Liberal Arts & Sciences where she earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science in 2023. While in college, Mariah was a Dean’s List student, member of the Caribbean Student Association, and President of the Hofstra Gospel Ensemble.

Miriam Vidaurre-Zarate is a graduate of Florida International University where she earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science (with a minor in Labor Studies) magna cum laude, along with a Certificate in Conflict and Dispute Resolution, in 2025. Miriam earned her Associate’s Degree summa cum laude from Palm Beach State College in 2022.

Miriam currently works as a legal assistant at Roberts, Reynolds, Bedard & Tuzzio, PLLC. She previously worked as a litigation legal assistant at the Law Office of Maaz Quraishi, P.A., a legal assistant/receptionist at Teebagy and Medieros Law Group, PLLC, and a receptionist/administrative assistant at Matrix Mediation, LLC.

Miriam is an alumnus (Class of 2021) of the Center for Pre-Law at Palm Beach Lakes Community High School where she graduated in the top 10% in her class. While a student at Palm Beach Lakes, Miriam was dual enrolled at Palm Beach State College. Miriam was very active in the Center for Pre-Law, serving as mock trial captain, moot court attorney, Law Club President, Law Honor Society President, and a Youth Court attorney. Miriam was a three-time recipient of the Center for Pre-Law Gavel Award. She was also a “Think Pink” Committee member, and a member of the City of West Palm Beach Mayor’s Youth Council.

Morgan Dixon will be a first-year student this Fall at Louisiana State University where she anticipates graduating in 2030 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science.

Morgan is currently a Senior (Class of 2026) at the Center for Pre-Law at Palm Beach Lakes Community High School and is dual enrolled at Palm Beach State College.

Morgan is very active in the Center for Pre-Law, serving as a mock trial team member, Law Club Executive Board member, Law Honor Society Executive Board member, and a Youth Court attorney. Morgan also served as a legal intern in the State Attorney’s Office for the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit. In addition to her law-related extracurriculars, Morgan served as a National Honor Society member, Flag Football team member, Freshman Class President, and Senior Parliamentarian.

Niala Smith is currently a first-year student at Hampton University where she anticipates graduating in 2029 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science and Journalism.

Niala is an alumnus (Class of 2025) at the Center for Pre-Law at Palm Beach Lakes Community High School. While a student at Palm Beach Lakes, Niala was very active in the Center for Pre-Law, serving as a mock trial team member, Law Club President, Law Honor Society President, and Youth Court participant. Niala was awarded the Florida High School Mock Trial Competition’s 2024 “Best Witness” Award and 2025 “Best Attorney” Award. Niala also served as a legal intern in the Office of General Counsel of the School District of Palm Beach County. In addition to her law-related extracurriculars, Niala served as the Secretary of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. Zeta Tau Omega Chapter’s Twenty Pearls Youth Group, and as a member of Best Buddies, Key Club, and Lady Debs & Debonairs. Niala also served as a dancer for the Ram Regiment Band.

Saphira Southall will be a first-year student this Fall at Bethune-Cookman University where she anticipates graduating in 2030 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology.

Saphira is currently a Senior (Class of 2026) at the Center for Pre-Law at Palm Beach Lakes Community High School.

Saphira is very active in the Center for Pre-Law, serving as a mock trial team member, Law Club Executive Board member, Law Honor Society member, and Youth Court participant. Saphira also served as a legal intern in the Office of Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller of Palm Beach County/Fifteenth Judicial. In addition to her law-related extracurriculars, Saphira serves as a member of National Honor Society, Ram Regiment Band, and Chorus/Voices of Unity.

Shia Rozier is currently a Junior at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, where she anticipates graduating in 2027 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism and Mass Communications.

As a student at North Carolina A&T, Shia serves as the Voter Education Workgroup Lead with the Office of Leadership and Civic Engagement, a delegate to the University of North Carolina Association of Student Governments, member of the Student Judicial Council, an Ambassador for the Honors College, the Chapter Vice President of Best Buddies, and the Scholarship Co-Chair and Advocate for Social Justice for the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. Alpha Phi Chapter. Previously, she served as the Freshman Class President of the Student Government Association and a Raising the Bar Fellow and SAB North Carolina Representative for the Campus Vote Project. She also interned with Deloitte Technology’s Office of the CIO and with the District Office of Congresswoman Lois Frankel.

Shia is an alumnus (Class of 2023) of the Center for Pre-Law at Palm Beach Lakes Community High School where she graduated as the Salutatorian of her class. While a student at Palm Beach Lakes, Shia was dual enrolled at Palm Beach State College and was very active in the Center for Pre-Law, serving as mock trial captain, moot court attorney, Law Club President, Law Honor Society President, and Lead Prosecuting Youth Court Attorney. Shia was a three-time recipient of the 15th Judicial Circuit’s Mock Trial Best Advocate Award, and also received the Stetson University Best Overall Performance Award, the Center for Pre-Law Mock Trial Student of the Year Award, and the Florida Moot Court Top Ten. She was also an Administrative and Outreach Assistant for the Legal Aid Society of Palm Beach County.

Shirley Maxime will be a first-year law student this Fall at St. Thomas University College of Law in Miami Gardens, Florida where she anticipates graduating in 2029 with her Juris Doctor.

Shirley is an alumnus (Class of 2019) of the Center for Pre-Law at Palm Beach Lakes Community High School. While a student at Palm Beach Lakes, Shirley served as a member of the National Honor Society, National Spanish Honor Society, Black Student Union, Law Club, and the Flag Football team.

After graduating from Palm Beach Lakes, Shirley went on to attend Palm Beach State College where she earned an Associate’s Degree in 2022. Shirley then went on to attend Florida Atlantic University where she earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology (with a minor in Criminal Justice) in 2024.

Zion Lee will be a first-year student this Fall at Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University where he anticipates graduating in 2030 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science.

Zion is currently a Senior (Class of 2026) at the Center for Pre-Law at Palm Beach Lakes Community High School where he will graduate in the top 5% of his class. He is also dual enrolled at Palm Beach State College.

Zion is very active in the Center for Pre-Law, serving as a Law Club member and a Youth Court attorney. Zion is also a recipient of the Center for Pre-Law Bronze Carat Award. Zion also serves as a legal intern with The Ryles Firm.