The Arizona Asian American Bar Association (AAABA) held its 21st annual banquet in Phoenix last month -- and three of the four scholarship winners were Arizona Law students. 

The Thomas Tang Memorial Scholarship is intended to increase awareness about the rights and legal needs of minority communities.

The AABA was founded in 1993 by the late Honorable Thomas Tang ('50), one of the first Asian Pacific American judges to be appointed to the federal bench.  Please join me in congratulating this year's winners of the Thomas Tang Memorial Scholarship from Arizona Law, Hanees Haniffa, Mariah Logan, and Nick Alsaka ... and the AAABA for its 24 years of service to the community and the legal profession.

 

Hanees Haniffa ('20)  

Hanees Haniffa is originally from Sri Lanka.  He came to Tucson to attend the UA for his undergraduate studies, obtaining a B.Sc in Computer Engineering, and an M.Sc in Electrical and Computer Engineering.  As a law student, he hopes to specialize in intellectual property.  He chose Arizona Law because he believes in UA's excellence. 

"I've always been proud of being a Wildcat. A year into law school, I know I made the right decision choosing Arizona Law."

 

Hanees has been fortunate to attend networking and fundraising events held by the AAABA. He says, 

"To me, the award represents the commitment of professionals in the community toward diversity in the legal profession, and public access to legal services. I am deeply honored to have been recognized through this award."

Here Hanees is pictured, at left, receiving his award and, at right, with his very proud mother, who joined him at the banquet.

 

 

Mariah Logan is from Portland, Oregon, and Phoenix, Arizona.  She graduated from Marquette University in 2015 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in criminology and law studies. 

Mariah chose Arizona Law because she believes that the outstanding faculty, alumni network, and hands-on legal clinics will prepare her for a career in law.  She says she finds joy in exploring the different areas of law that the curriculum offers.  However, Mariah's favorite classes have been community property and the Child and Family Law Clinic.

 

"As a recipient of the Thomas Tang Scholarship, I am proud to know that others in the legal profession celebrate differences and share a dedication to diversity."

 

Nick Alsaka is from Orlando, Florida and attended the University of Florida as an undergraduate. He says he chose UA because of its reputation ... and a change of scenery. 

Nick came to the desert in part to experience different places, cultures, and climates before settling on a place to call home. His favorite courses have been those that deal with constitutional law, a field further animated when he served as a teaching assistant in a constitutional law course for our BA in Law students.

 

Of the award from the AAABA, Nick says, 

"I am so honored to have received such a generous award from an association that is making great strides towards inclusion and understanding within the Arizona Law community and the state."