Through the years, the Spouses of Houston Barristers has awarded nearly $300,000.00 in scholarships to well-over 60 law students attending Houston-area law schools. Most of these scholarship recipients have been admitted to the Texas Bar and are successfully practicing as solo practitioners, government attorneys, a state court judge, community leaders, or associates or partners at well-known law firms including:
- Cozen O’Connor
- Norton Rose Fulbright LLP
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Jackson Walker LLP
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Shell Oil Company
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Lam, Lyn and Philip PC
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Bracewell LLP
We would like to thank our individual and corporate donors for their generous contributions over the past sixteen years. For without their help, our scholarship program would not be possible.
2021 Scholarship Recipients
Spouses of Houston Barristers (SHB) awarded scholarships to the following law students:
Lia Nicotra | South Texas College of Law
Eric B. Williams | South Texas College of Law
Tamsin Woolley | Thurgood Marshall School of Law at Texas Southern University
2020 Scholarship Recipients
Spouses of Houston Barristers (SHB) awarded scholarships to the following law students:
Xperanza Uviedo University of Houston Law Center
Wesley Okereke Thurgood Marshall School of Law at Texas Southern University
Charles Graham Jr. Thurgood Marshall School of Law at Texas Southern University
2019 Scholarship Recipients
Spouses of Houston Barristers (SHB) awarded scholarships to the following law students:
Morgin Ward Thurgood Marshall School of Law at Texas Southern University
Toni Ojomo Thurgood Marshall School of Law at Texas Southern University
Kenesha Starling South Texas College of Law
Alisha Wilson South Texas College of Law
Hannah Addison South Texas College of Law
2018 Scholarship Recipients
Spouses of Houston Barristers (SHB) awarded scholarships to the following law students:
Nnamdi Ezenwa, Jolene Robin-McCaskill, Megan Mitchell, Ashley Lopez and Adrian Rogers (Not Pictured)
Nnamdi Ezenwa Thurgood Marshall School of Law at Texas Southern University
Adrian Rogers Thurgood Marshall School of Law at Texas Southern University
Ashley Lopez University of Houston Law Center
Megan Mitchell South Texas College of Law
Jolene McCaskill South Texas College of Law
2017 Scholarship Recipients
Spouses of Houston Barristers (SHB) awarded scholarships to the following law students:
Ieshia Champs, Wesley Nash and Justin Tolston
Thurgood Marshall School of Law at Texas Southern University
Marianne Xu
University of Houston Law Center
2016 Scholarship Recipients
Spouses of Houston Barristers (SHB) awarded scholarships to the following law students:
Guy Holman Thurgood Marshall School of Law at Texas Southern University
Blessing Ananti Thurgood Marshall School of Law at Texas Southern University
Clarissa Medrano University of Houston Law Center
Calvin McKnight University of Houston Law Center
Simone Bray University of Houston Law Center
Guy Holman, Blessing Ananti, Clarissa Medrano, and Calvin McKnight
2015 Scholarship Recipients
Treshaun Meredith & Belashia Wallace | Thurgood Marshall School of Law
Hector Chavana, Jr. & Jonathan Hernandez | South Texas College of Law
Taneska Jones & Zeinab Kachmar | University of Houston Law Center
2014 Scholarship Recipients
Spouses of Houston Barristers (SHB) awarded scholarships to the following law students:
Reginald Wilson | Thurgood Marshall School of Law at Texas Southern University
Alexia McWhinney | Thurgood Marshall School of Law at Texas Southern University
Erin Quander | Thurgood Marshall School of Law at Texas Southern University
Lisa Virgen | University of Houston Law Center
Lisa Virgen, Reginald Wilson, and Erin Quander.
2013 Scholarship Recipients
In August 2013, Spouses of Houston Barristers (SHB) awarded scholarships to the following law students:
Christopher D. Lopez | Thurgood Marshall School of Law at Texas Southern University
Kevin L. Hardaway | South Texas College of Law
John Riggs | The University of Houston Law Center
Nilakshi Ray | South Texas College of Law
Attorney A. Martin Wickliff, Jr., Christopher Lopez, Mrs. Susan Wickliff, Nilakshi Ray, Kevin Hardaway, and John Riggs.
2012 Scholarship Recipients
Starting with the top row: Mia Breaux, Sireesha Chirala, Michael Pham, Shanice Newton, Kimberly Murphy, Sharonda Pettiett-Warner and Stacy Hanks (Scholarship Co-Chair)
2011 Scholarship Recipients
Leila C. Clewis, is a 3rd year law student attending Thurgood Marshall School of Law at Texas Southern University. Her scholarship, has been awarded in the name of Lam, Lyn, & Philip, P.C.
“I am so honored and grateful to be a recipient of the SHB scholarship. This award not only eases the financial burden of increasing tuition, but also serves as both encouragement to continue striving for excellence and recognition of my hard work. I am thankful to Spouses of Houston Barristers for affording me this amazing opportunity to focus on school and simply enjoy learning.”
Jordan M. Sanders, is a 2nd year law student attending the University of Houston Law Center. Her scholarship has been awarded in the name of A. Martin Wickliff, Jr.
“I am honored to be a recipient of this prestigious scholarship. The Spouses of Houston Barristers have made me feel more confident in my talents and successes in law school. Because of this wonderful scholarship opportunity, the constant worry I had about repaying my student loans has been kept at bay. I am able to enjoy learning and have devoted time to exploring areas of law and activities that I am most passionate about. I am forever grateful to the Spouses of Houston Barristers for recognizing and rewarding my hard work. Thank you ladies for adding to my amazing law school experience.”
Michelle N. Tran, is a third year law student attending South Texas College of Law. Her scholarship has been awarded in the name of Shell Oil Company.
“It is an honor and a blessing to be named a Spouses of the Houston Barristers scholar. The organization has a tremendous reputation within the legal community, and it has allowed many young people to take an additional step toward achieving their dreams. The decision to attend law school came at a significant expense, however the scholarship has allowed me the opportunity to purchase textbooks and class supplements and to pay for my bar preparation course. I am truly grateful for the award and plan to use my legal degree to serve the needs of my community in any way possible.”
Jennifer C. Frank, is a 2nd year law student attending the University of Houston Law Center.
“I am honored to be a recipient of the Spouses of Houston Barristers Scholarship. This scholarship not only validates my current pursuits by rewarding my accomplishments thus far, but also serves as tangible hope that with continued perseverance, I may obtain all of my law school and career goals.”
2010 Scholarship Recipients
All five of our most recent scholarship recipients (Fall of 2010), are well on their way to success, having landed on the Dean’s List at their respective law schools. 
Starting with the top row: Sylia Gallegos, Kelvina Wiley, Brandon Ball, Tiffany A. Johnson, Summer J. Norwood, Collette L. Johnson, Laura Whitley (President), Stacey Hanks (Scholarship Co-Chair) and Erin Patterson (Treasurer)
2009 Scholarship Recipients
We are pleased to recognize our 2009 recipients: Camisha Dixon, Shawn Grady, Kenneth Hardin, Lillian Henny, Benjamin James and Robert Williams.
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Meet Some of Our Other Scholarship Recipients:
Chevazz G. Brown, 2005 & 2006 Scholarship Recipient. Chevazz is an associate in the Litigation section of Jackson Walker L.L.P. After graduating summa cum laude from Thurgood Marshall School of Law at Texas Southern University, Chevazz served as law clerk to the Honorable Kenneth M. Hoyt of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas — Houston Division. While in law school, he also served as judicial intern to the Honorable Rogelio Valdez of the Thirteenth Court of Appeals.
“With the cost of law school exorbitant, the SHB scholarship allowed me greater freedom to focus on the learning process of law school. Specifically, the proceeds funded most of my non-tuition expenses, such as books, supplies and study materials. The SHB is a wonderful organization and one with which I am so very proud to be associated.”
Juan Garcia, 2003 Scholarship Recipient. Juan graduated summa cum laude from South Texas College of Law in 2004. He is currently employed as an Associate with Sutherland Asbill & Brennan, LLP.
Juan Garcia has experience in a variety of legal areas including business torts, products liability, commercial lease disputes, personal injury defense, and general contractual matters. He also represents, counsels, and assists regional transit authorities on land acquisitions through condemnation for expansion of light rail transit systems. He serves on the Board of Directors of the Hispanic Bar Association of Houston, & is a member of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Legal Advisory & Go Tejano Committees.
“First of all, I really want to thank the Spouses of Houston Barristers for awarding me the scholarship when I was in law school. Apart from the obvious benefit of financial assistance, receiving the award instilled in me a greater level of confidence and confirmed to me that I was on the right track. With this frame of mind, I accomplished my goals in law school and have continued to do so in my legal career.”
Alaina King Benford, 1999 Scholarship Recipient. After graduating with honors from Thurgood Marshall School of Law at Texas Southern University, Alaina joined the Houston office of Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P. in September 2000. On January 1, 2011, Alaina became a partner. She is an experienced litigator who maintains a diverse litigation practice that focuses on real estate litigation, including eminent domain and condemnation matters, as well as admiralty litigation and personal injury defense. Alaina has represented Fortune 500 corporations and individual clients and handled all aspects of litigation, including fact and expert discovery, mediation and motion practice. She has first-chaired jury trials to verdict in state and federal courts and has represented clients in multi-party cases involving real estate litigation, eminent domain and condemnation, breach of contract, wrongful death claims, premises liability and personal injury claims. For the last three years, she has been a faculty member of the firm’s litigation training program for new litigation associates. Alaina served three years on the Houston office’s clerkship committee and she continues to take an active role in the firm’s recruiting efforts.
“More than a decade later, I still proudly display the plaque that I received as a Spouses of Houston Barristers Scholarship Recipient in my office. I am thankful to the Spouses of Houston Barristers for its early acknowledgment of my hard work and for lessening the financial burden of my legal education.”
