DICKINSON LAW STUDENT SELECTED FOR EQUAL JUSTICE WORKS AWARD
June 2022 — Penn State Dickinson Law student Aranda Stathers ’23 is one of eight law students selected for an Equal Justice Works 2022 Regional Public Interest Award. Chosen from 85 applications, Aranda was selected for her exemplary commitment to public interest law and pro bono work.
“Aranda is a champion of public service, diversity, and inclusion, and we are thrilled and honored to recognize her outstanding contributions in advocating for the LGBTQ+ community at Dickinson Law,” said Aoife Delargy Lowe, vice president of law school engagement and advocacy at Equal Justice Works. “We are grateful to Dickinson Law for fostering a strong public service ethic in their students.”
Stathers has demonstrated a clear passion for public interest law, as shown by her work both on campus and in the community. While serving as president of OutLaw, she was focused on ensuring that the LGBTQ+ community at Dickinson Law felt seen, heard, and supported. This year, Aranda organized the Name Change Assistance Clinic that took place weekly during the spring 2022 semester. This clinic was free and consisted of trained volunteer attorneys and students who met one-on-one with clients to assist with the name and gender change processes. Dickinson Law’s Name Change Assistance Clinic was the only one of its kind in central Pennsylvania.
Additionally, as former vice president of the Public Interest Law Fund (PILF), Aranda was responsible for organizing and fundraising for the Cherie M. Millage Public Interest Law Fund Summer Fellowship. This Fellowship is designed to enable students to work in non-paying, public interest jobs for the summer. Throughout the year, Stathers works with other law students to hold fundraising events and solicit sponsors so PILF can offer as many fellowships as possible.
Outside of campus, Aranda serves as a volunteer Court Appointed Special Advocate for Cumberland County. In this role she advocates for children in the child dependency system's best interests in and out of court.