Dillard’s L.E.A.D students prepare for National Law School Signing Day, receive over $1 million in scholarships

By: Danielle Miller

NEW ORLEANS — Students in Dillard’s Legal Education Advancing Diversity (L.E.A.D) Programwill reveal their selected law school during National Law School Signing Day on Wednesday, April 6 at 11 a.m. in the Harold and Rhea Lucien Pavilion located in the Professional Schools Building. The event will feature keynote speaker Traci Mundy Jenkins, president of the National Association for Law Placement. The event will also stream on Dillard Live.

Seven students from the L.E.A.D program will participate in National Law School Signing Day — Chad Fuselier ‘22, Holly Neely ‘21, Taylor Ponds ‘22, Amaya Ronczyk ‘22, LaJeanne Shelton ‘22, Renee Simien ‘22 and Amaya Sweeny ‘22. The students received over $1 million in scholarships from various institutions. 

Fuselier is an accounting major from Lafayette, Louisiana. After graduating from Dillard he plans to attend law school and become a tax attorney. Fuselier is the president of the Beta Phi chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., president of the Daniel C. Thompson/Samuel DuBois Cook Honors Program and captain of Dillard’s nationally ranked Honda Campus All-Star Challenge Team. 

Neely is a New Orleans native and graduate of Dillard and Delgado Community College. She was acknowledged by the Thompson/Cook Honors Program for her high achievements in academic performance. 

Ponds, an Oklahoma City, Oklahoma native, majors in criminal justice with a minor in urban studies and public policy. Ponds is a member of the President’s Organization of Dillard’s Up-and-coming Superstars (PODUS),  the Dillard University Mock Trial Team, the Thompson/Cook Honors Program, Alpha Chi National Honor Society, the Kappa Mu National Honor Society and the National Association of Blacks in Criminal Justice. Ponds also interns with the Louisiana Center for Children’s Rights and Southeast Louisiana legal Services.

Ronczyk is an urban studies and public policy major from Miami, Florida. She currently serves as the president of the mock trial team. As an urban studies and public policy major, she has conducted research on environmental racism, climate gentrification, juvenile recidivism and mass shootings. Ronczyk has also served as a government affairs intern and Next Generation Leadership fellow for In Our Own Voice: National Black Women’s Reproductive Justice Agenda, where she tracked reproductive justice and voting rights legislation and created programming for Black women on campus. 

Shelton was born and raised in San Francisco, California. She is a psychology major with a minor in political science. Shelton is a member of:  the mock trial team; Pi Sigma Alpha, the National Political Science Honor Society; Omicron Delta Kappa honor society; Psi Chi national honor society for psychology; and the Melton Foundation. Shelton plans to focus on either international and comparative law or public interest law.

Simien is a political science major from Lake Charles, Louisiana; and she plans to become a children’s advocacy attorney. Her love for law has been sharpened by her participation in the mock trial team. 

Sweeney is a political science major from Ida, Louisiana. She currently serves as senior class senator and is the former Miss Black and Gold. Sweeney plans to practice government and international relations law.

Through the support of Dillard’s L.E.A.D program, pre-law students receive the preparation they need to join the legal profession. The program is designed to help students gain admission to law school which is one of the most challenging steps in joining the legal profession, especially for students of color. The program is also open to students from Xavier University of Louisiana and Southern University at New Orleans. The program consists of a 10-week LSAT Prep Book Camp, a year-long mentorship program with attorneys and judges in the community, law school application assistance and individual advising. These resources not only assist students with gaining admission to law schools but they also provide them with lasting support.