Notre Dame Hispanic Law Students Association recognizes Justice Mary Yu with Graciela Olivárez Award and honors 3L graduates
The Notre Dame Law School Hispanic Law Students Association recently recognized Washington Supreme Court Justice Mary Yu ‘93 J.D. at its annual banquet in April with the Graciela Olivárez Award.
Graciela “Grace” Olivárez was the first woman to receive a J.D. from Notre Dame Law School in 1970 and a lifelong advocate for the Hispanic community and those in poverty. Each year, the award is given in recognition of an outstanding Hispanic lawyer or judge who best exemplifies Olivárez’s principles and ideals, including commitment to community service, demonstration of the highest ethical and moral standards, and dedication to justice.
HLSA selected Justice Yu, who is the first Latina, first Asian, and first member of the LGBTQ+ community to serve on the Washington Supreme Court, for her commitment to serving her communities, extending opportunities to underrepresented populations, and promoting a fair and equitable judicial process for all. She received her J.D. from Notre Dame Law School in 1993.
Victoria Villanueva, HLSA president, gave opening remarks at the banquet and offered a short biography of both Olivárez and Yu, noting the overlap in their careers: drive and dedication to hard work, service to others, and tenacity in the face of adversity.
Yu spoke about her experiences as the child of immigrants and her own determination to break down barriers for fellow Latinos. She also discussed how she has remained connected to her Mexican and Chinese heritages, the advice she would offer to recent law school graduates, and how her faith impacts her legal work.
“The Hispanic Law Students Association is thrilled to continue this important tradition of recognizing outstanding Hispanic lawyers with the Graciela Olivárez Award,” said Villanueva. “Hosting Justice Yu was a privilege, and she is an inspiration to so many students at NDLS. We were truly honored she could join us and share her story.”
3L Awards
In addition HLSA honored two graduating students with awards. Sebastián Ramírez received the Servicio con Dedicación Award, which honors a third-year law student in HLSA who has dedicated their time at Notre Dame Law School to exceptional leadership, teamwork, and embodiment of Notre Dame values.
Corina Martinez received the Servicio con Distinción Award, which honors a third-year law student whose efforts to support Hispanic students through leadership and dedication throughout their time on the Notre Dame campus has greatly improved the experience of Hispanic law students.