The Black Lawyers Association of Cincinnati would like to congratulate all of the 2022 Scholarship Recipients. We are excited to highlight our Scholarship Recipients and their accomplishments here and wish them all continued success.
CONGRATULATIONS!
Stephanie Darville – Recipient of the Theodore M. Berry Scholarship was born and raised in Nassau, Bahamas. After graduating high school, she moved to the United States where she attended Florida Gulf Coast University and graduated with a bachelor's degree in Health Science Administration. She then pursued her Master of Public Health at Florida International University. It was during her Master’s program where Stephanie gained an interest in the law and decided to attend law school. Stephanie decided to attend the University of Cincinnati based on its tight knit legal community. She knew that Cincinnati was where she wanted to practice long term. Stephanie is currently a law clerk at Thompson Hine, where she spent her first summer as a Summer Intern, after her first year of law school. Stephanie is also a mom to a three-year-old energetic and loving boy. She has spent her entire law school career balancing life as a law student and a single mother. She intends to spend her remaining time in law school and her first years in her career giving back to the legal community that supported her ambitious dreams, as well as encouraging and supporting law students, particularly those who are nontraditional, while they pursue their legal careers.
M. James Gravely – Recipient of the William A. McClain Scholarship is a Cincinnati native and a 2L at the University of Cincinnati College of Law. Before attending law school, James served as a Legislative Aide for the Ohio House of Representatives where he became known for his member management skills, writing abilities, and institutional knowledge. His work for the state legislature included drafting policy, organizing events for the Black Caucus, and serving as the lead staff member for the Hamilton County Democratic Delegation. Prior to that he graduated from The Ohio State University with a B.A. in Political Science, where he began his career in policy by participating in campaigns and government affairs. Currently, James is a Student Contributor writing for Legally Speaking Ohio, which covers cases argued before the Supreme Court of Ohio. He also serves on the executive board for UC’s Black Law Students Association. James spent his first Summer at Katz Teller L.P.A. and will continue in that position this upcoming Summer.
Christi-Anne Beatty – Recipient of the Shanda L. Spurlock Memorial Scholarship is a first-generation landlord and 3rd year law student at the University of Cincinnati. She grew up all over Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky with her two sisters and mother. In 2019, she graduated with a Bachelor in Business Administration Management at 19 years old, and then came to UC Law the following school year. As a law student, she served on the National Black Law Student Association's Midwestern Region of the Board as the Director of Membership from 2020-2021. She has been on the UC Law BLSA Executive Board for all three years, and is now serving as the treasurer. She runs cross country and track and set her undergrad school record in the 5000m in 2019 and went back April 3rd of this year and won 1st place against their current cross country team at their 5k walk/run event. Christi-Anne wants to use the law to work with real estate investors, help small businesses, and individuals facing bankruptcy. She'll spend her personal time investing in her nephew's college fund, learning and teaching about financial literacy, and investing in Cincinnati real estate to rehab and offer as rent-to-own. Christi-Anne works in Coolidge Wall's real estate department.
Maiya Lane - Recipient of the Jack Sherman, Jr. Scholarship is a 1st year student at Salmon P. Chase College of Law. She was born and raised in Louisville, KY. In 2019, she graduated from Eastern Kentucky University with a B.S. in Criminal Justice and Police Studies. After graduating, she began working for Family and Juvenile Services with the Administrative Office of the Courts, where she spent time crafting diversion programs for youth. During her first year at Chase, she competed and won "top prosecutor" in the 1L Opening Statement Competition. She also competed and won 3rd place in the Keating Muething & Klekamp 1L Diversity Case Competition. She currently serves as Public Relations Chair for Chase's BLSA chapter and was recently elected as President for the 2022-2023 school year. Ms. Lane is passionate about litigation, human rights in prisons, and racial disparities within capital punishment. She will be spending her summer at an internship with the Ohio Justice and Policy Center (OJPC).
Scholarships
Application period is currently open for the 2023 Scholarships.
The Black Lawyers Association of Cincinnati invites eligible law students to apply for scholarships. The selection of recipients will be made by the BLAC Scholarship Committee. The selected recipients will be recognized and presented with their scholarships at BLAC’s Annual Scholarship and Awards Banquet.
Each recipient will be asked to submit an appropriate photograph and biography for the program, after the selection. In addition to awarding four law student scholarships, we will present our distinguished service award and introduce graduating students from our two area law schools to the greater Cincinnati legal community. The black-tie optional affair will be held on April 15, 2023. Over 300 lawyers, judges, law students, and friends attend our banquet each year. If you have any questions or concerns, contact us at cincyblac@gmail.com
BLAC Scholarship Application 2023
Now accepting applications through February 25, 2023.