PENNSYLVANIA BAR FOUNDATION NAMES ALEJANDRA EDWARDS A STOUDT MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP AWARD RECIPIENT
January 2024 — Second-year Penn State Dickinson Law student Alejandra Edwards has been named a 2023 James W. Stoudt Memorial Scholarship Fund winner by the Pennsylvania Bar Foundation. Awarded annually, the fund offers up to three $3,000 scholarships, two of which are specifically designated to support minority law students, to candidates attending any of the nine accredited law schools serving Pennsylvania.
According to a press release from the Pennsylvania Bar Foundation, “Alejandra Edwards’ journey to law school was ignited by her own life experiences and those of individuals who share her identity. Seeing the disparities within the justice system inspired her to pursue a law degree. Edwards is driven to address social injustices and promote diversity and inclusion through the legal profession.
“Since age 14, volunteering has been a major part of Edwards’ life and something she views as a ‘sense of duty.’ Whether teaching English as a second language, mentoring first-generation students or fundraising to provide books for incarcerated individuals, Edwards strives to make a meaningful impact on marginalized communities. In 2018 she founded Peas in a Pod to help students excel through education, mentorship and financial literacy. In 2019, Edwards co-founded Black Millennials in Academia to highlight success stories of people of color from diverse professions who serve as role models for younger generations. In 2020, she co-founded First Gen Youth to guide first-generation students through the university application process because of her struggles navigating the complex world of academia as a first-generation student. She also started Project Genz Finance to provide financial literacy and personal finance education to the Generation Z population.”
Edwards received a bachelor’s degree in criminology and psychology from Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario. At Dickinson Law, Edwards is active in the Business Law and International Law societies. She served as a summer associate at Eckert Seamans, Harrisburg; a research analyst at Cobalt Lawyers, Toronto, Ontario; and as a statistical analyst at the Department of Justice, Ottawa, Ontario. After graduating, Edwards would like to represent underserved communities and bridge the gap between law and technology to create positive change within the legal profession.
The James W. Stoudt Memorial Scholarship Fund was named to memorialize a steadfast supporter of the Pennsylvania Bar Foundation, James W. “Jim” Stoudt, who was instrumental in the creation of the Pennsylvania Bar Trust, where he served in various capacities for more than 40 years. The scholarship is awarded annually and is administered by the Pennsylvania Bar Foundation, the charitable affiliate of the Pennsylvania Bar Association. Information on this and other scholarships is available online.