Mercedes “Mercy” Candelaria is currently in the process of applying to law school after completing the LSAT in April. (Wish her luck!) She is passionate about giving back to the community she is extremely grateful for, so she’s supported local Filipino organizations, coordinated programs and events for community members, and engaged and learned from empowering leadership conferences.

Mercy graduated from Seattle University with a Bachelor’s in Business with a concentration in Marketing and Management. During undergrad, Mercy gained valuable experience as a Public Relations Intern at Communiqué PR, a Corporate Intern at GEICO, and a Social Media Coordinator at Lamano Law Office. At Seattle U, she was an active collegiate leader serving as President of the Management Advancement Club, Chief of Staff at NorthWest Filipino American Student Alliance, and Fundraising Chair of the United Filipino Club. More recently, she was an Account Executive at Karbo Communications and an Associate at Vested. Outside of work, you can find her on the volleyball court, exploring Bay Area views, or enjoying coffee at one of San Francisco's many cafés.

About the Scholarship: This scholarship commemorates Judge Nisperos, California’s first Filipina American attorney and FBANC’s first President. It is awarded to a college student or graduate applying to law school. This scholarship is in the amount of $3,000.

Learn about past scholarship recipients here.