College of Law Graduates, Alumna Honored at Commencement

May has been a month of top honors for women who have graduated from the College of Law.

Melissa Lopez-Vargas served as valedictorian and Maria Delgado earned the Dean’s Award at the 2018 Commencement ceremony on May 12. Alumna Jessica Dominguez ’00, an immigration law attorney, delivered the keynote address. And the university announced at commencement that graduate Beverly Schelly Vorwaller was the recipient of a Spirit of La Verne award.

“This is another testament to our rich diversity at the College of Law,” said College of Law Dean Kevin Marshall. “We are proud of the entire Class of 2018, but women shined especially bright this year.”

Sixty College of Law students earned Juris Doctor degrees during the ceremony at the Sports Science and Athletics Pavilion.

Lopez-Vargas, No. 1 in her class, told graduates about the challenges she faced as a first-generation student with immigrant parents. With English as her second language and coming from a low-income family, she said statistics painted a bleak picture for her future. But she did not let those numbers daunt her.

“I wanted to succeed, set the bar, and thrive,” she said.

Lopez-Vargas encouraged fellow graduates to be just as passionate about their futures, including when they prepare for and take the bar exam.

Delgado, also a first-generation student raised by immigrants, went to law school so she could give a voice to others. She represented clients through the Disability Rights Legal Center and the Justice and Immigration Clinic. She served as staff editor for the Law Review and business editor of the Journal for Law, Business, and Ethics.

As a student, Vorwaller devoted her time to service, the legal community, and others. The recipient of the Graduating Graduate Student Award took on leadership roles with numerous groups including the Black Law Students Association, the American Constitution Society, and the Women’s Legal Society. As a Delta Theta Phi volunteer, she provided tours of the College of Law to elementary school children.

In addition to working as an attorney, Dominguez has served as a radio, television, and press commentator on immigration law. She was named one of the 25 most powerful women in the U.S. by People en Espanol and appears on Univision’s weekly television show “Despierta América” as the “angel de la justice” or angel of justice.

She immigrated to the U.S. at 14 and obtained a Juris Doctor from the University of La Verne in 2000. She published “Victorious Women” in 2017, challenging women to accomplish their goals and dreams while also maintaining strong and fulfilling relationships with their families.