Five CUNY School of Law students were among this year’s recipients of the Salvador Cheda Jr., Esq. Bar Study Scholarship, awarded by the Latino Lawyers Association of Queens County (LLAQC). The 2025 awards marked a record milestone for LLAQC, which distributed $25,000 to ten outstanding law students—the largest scholarship allocation in its history.
CUNY Law students Jennifer Cardoza, David De La Cruz, Havolin Tejada, Max Romero, and Carolina Zeballos were celebrated at the LLAQC Annual Scholarship Gala, joining peers from across New York who are preparing to enter the legal profession with a deep commitment to community and service. The scholarships honor outstanding law students whose dedication to justice reflects LLAQC’s mission to advance access, education, and excellence in the legal profession.
“CUNY Law drew me in because it stands for more than a degree — it stands for purpose and transformation. As I begin to prep for the bar, I’m grateful for spaces like CUNY Law and LLAQC, that nurture and support future Latinx lawyers, dedicated to serving and protecting our communities,” shared Jennifer Cardoza.
Max Romero added, “There are so many reasons why I chose CUNY Law for my legal education. But one reason was its goal of making the legal profession accessible to students like me. Thanks to CUNY Law and organizations like the LLAQC, I am actively achieving a dream that I never thought would be possible. I am grateful for what CUNY has done for Queens kids like me—QGTM!”
Presented by LLAQC President Robert A. Miklos, Esq., and Hon. Karina E. Alomar, Justice of the Supreme Court and Chair of the Scholarship Committee, the awards highlight the strength of Queens’ legal community and its investment in the next generation of lawyers rooted in service and representation. The Association’s leadership, including CUNY Law alumni, emphasized the importance of recognizing students whose values reflect the communities they will one day serve.
At CUNY Law, that connection runs deep. The recognition of these five students reflects the shared pride of a legal community grounded in Queens, one defined by diversity, belonging, and a collective commitment to justice. It underscores the power of community institutions like LLAQC to open doors, expand opportunity, and nurture the next generation of public interest lawyers.