Rutgers Law Student Heading to Capitol Hill After Graduating on May 22

For Immediate Release

CAMDEN – Zorayda Moreira-Smith is about to learn the inner workings of the United States government as the only graduating law school student in the nation to receive a highly prestigious Congressional Hispanic Caucus fellowship.

But first, she will receive her Juris Doctor degree during the commencement ceremony for the Rutgers School of Law—Camden, to be held at the Susquehanna Bank Center on the Camden Waterfront at 1 p.m. Thursday, May 22.

Moreira-Smith is one of only 20 students nationwide to be accepted into the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute’s Graduate and Young Professional Fellowship Program based on their leadership potential and superior academic and communications skills.  The fellowship places students in a legislative subcommittee office, federal agency, national non-profit advocacy organization or corporate office. As the only law fellow selected for the 2008-09 term, the Rutgers—Camden graduate will develop and execute a policy roundtable to promote public policy issues to Latinos and a publication about a public policy issue. 

While Moreira-Smith is the nation’s only law student selected for this particular honor, three other Rutgers—Camden law graduates have won similar public policy fellowships and will join her in Washington this summer.

Born in Esteli, Nicaragua, Moreira-Smith is the first in her family to graduate from a professional school.  As a Rutgers—Camden law student, she was president of ALIANZA, the Latino law student association; vice president of committees for the law student division of the Hispanic National Bar Association; and president of the Region III law student division of the Hispanic National Bar Association.

She received numerous honors as a Rutgers—Camden law student, including the 2008 Rutgers Pro Bono Award; the Mary Philbrook Public Interest Award; the Campeones De La Justicia honor; and the Philadelphia's Young Lawyer's Division Scholarship.

Moreira-Smith, 25, received her bachelor’s degrees in Spanish and international business from the College of Charleston.  She is married to Ricky Smith.

More information about Commencement 2008 at Rutgers-Camden.

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