Ijahala Pottinger, Lakes Law ’16 – (awarded $5,000)
Ijahala Pottinger is currently a second-year law student at Columbia University, where she anticipates graduating in 2027 with her Juris Doctor and Master of Social Work. Ijahala is also a 2023 EMSHE Award Recipient.
Ijahala previously worked as a litigation paralegal for the Law Offices of Esfand Nafisi, and as a senior litigation paralegal for Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP.
Ijahala graduated from Brown University in 2020 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science. 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 Minority Peer Counselor, and the Public Relations Chair for the Black Pre-Law Association. She also interned for the Rhode Island Public Defender’s Office and the Rhode Island Supreme Court.
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.
Andre’Anna Hodges, Lakes Law ’24 – (awarded $4,000)
Andre’Anna Hodges is currently a first-year student at Florida Atlantic University, where she anticipates graduating in 2028 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration.
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. Andre’Anna was very active in the Center for Pre-Law, serving as a mock trial team member, Law Club member, and Youth Court Attorney. She was also a recipient of the Center for Pre-Law Gavel Award. In addition to her law-related extracurriculars, Andre’Anna served as Senior Class representative, Chair of the Community Service Committee, and a member of the National Honor Society and Key Club.
Miriam Vidaurre-Zarate, Lakes Law ’21 – (awarded $1,000)
Miriam Vidaurre-Zarate is currently a Senior at Florida International University, where she anticipates graduating in 2025 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science and a minor in Labor Studies. Miriam earned her Associate’s Degree summa cum laude from Palm Beach State College in 2022. Miriam is also a 2022, 2023, and 2025 EMSHE Award Recipient.
Miriam currently works as a litigation legal assistant at the Law Office of Maaz Quraishi, P.A. She previously worked as a legal assistant/receptionist at the Teebagy and Medieros Law Group, PLLC, and 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.