Mireya TJ Manigault Memorial Scholarship

My name is Ketlyne Bonne-Annee, and I am a proud first-generation college student and BIPOC student. Although I'm from New York, I was raised in a difficult environment, and I learned how to persevere. It was the same in my classroom; the values that had been guiding me through my studies in college are even more so to make a positive impact on society. Having journeyed through college with no road map, I see firsthand the trials of first-generation students and the need to pave the way for them, paved with the glass ceiling on the other side. I am currently completing my final undergraduate semester with a stellar GPA and a full plan for my future. My aspirations to combine law and international policy lie in CUNY Law, where I am pursuing a JD/MIA dual degree, an aligned option. I will specialize in human rights and global governance, fighting to empower marginalized populations and shaping policies that foster equality and justice across the globe. I was drawn to this career path because I have witnessed the systemic inequality impact a family and an individual’s community; I want to be part of the solution. My service is rooted in my experience that I have working as a part of nonprofit organizations. These can be community development programs or youth empowerment initiatives. Those experiences were my first taste of the power of an advocacy life story and solidified that law is more than a career; it is my tool for transformation, and I believe doing so is my life’s purpose, at least in terms of doing the fight for meaningful legislation. They also confirmed my resolve to put my education to use to support others and open avenues for those who were in greatest need. These are quite difficult costs, however, if not impossible. I have a hard time studying for law school because it entails large sums of money for LSAT registration, study materials, and application fees. There is no way that I, as an undergraduate without parents, am a first-generation student without a financial safety net, which so many others use, so this scholarship is a necessity for me. A scholarship would ease my strain, enabling me to concentrate on being academically brilliant and grow on the professional front, while not being forced into the same schedule that I currently have in applying to law school. In addition to providing financial support, this scholarship is a vehicle to help set me on my path for continued shattering barriers and an example for those already in my community. I appreciate your support for all of this, and I would take the next major step towards becoming a law professional who works for the sake of justice and equity. Then, I want to advocate for not only individuals but, as I see it on a personal level as well, I want to help influence policies that produce real, long-term systemic change.