California Bar Foundation Selects Downey Brand Diversity Scholar for 2015

October 5, 2015

Downey Brand is pleased to announce that the California Bar Foundation selected Mayra Hernandez as the Downey Brand Diversity Scholar for 2015. Mayra was one of 30 named scholars to receive a Diversity Scholarship this year.

Though contributions from law firms and other donors, the California Bar Foundation’s Diversity Program has been providing financial assistance and confidence-building recognition to incoming first-year law students from communities underrepresented in the legal profession since 2008. The program targets students from a broad array of backgrounds, life experiences and those with financial need that have a desire to make a positive impact as community leaders.

The eldest of the first generation of Mexican-Americans in her family, Mayra has been an advocate for immigrant communities by being an English-language interpreter for her family throughout her life — when visiting the doctor’s office, at parent-teacher meetings and assisting in a variety of other daily life situations. She earned her BA in Criminal Justice from San Francisco State University and currently attends UC Hastings College of the Law.  After earning her law degree, Mayra is interested in pursuing immigration law.

Mayra was recognized at the California Bar Foundation’s Annual Scholarship and Awards Ceremony in San Francisco on September 17, 2015. California’s newest Supreme Court Justice, the Honorable Leondra Kruger delivered keynote remarks.