CD Law is pleased to announce Ava Rodriguez as the recipient of its First Gen Scholarship, recognizing her academic achievements, entrepreneurial skills and commitment to expanding her marketing expertise
Rodriguez, a student at Brown University, was selected for her strong academic record, resilience, and drive to use marketing as a storytelling tool for representation and change
In her essay, Rodriguez reflected on growing up in a first-generation household where college was not a familiar path. She also described attending schools that emphasized higher education as an expectation, rather than a guaranteed outcome in her own personal experience
“I felt as though I was being inundated daily with deceptive words of college as something attainable for me,” she wrote
Rodriguez described how her perspective changed as she encountered educators who shared similar backgrounds and had created their own paths to higher education. In her essay, she noted that many of those mentors would pay it forward by returning to teach in the communities they once came from
“Success meant returning the favor, and personal triumph wasn’t enough when people were struggling just as they once had,” Rodriguez said
That realization helped shape her interest in marketing and its power in expanding representation and visibility for underrepresented communities
“Marketing isn’t always about selling a product or service,” she wrote. “By showcasing the successful business of a person of color or the science magazine with women on the cover, representation becomes the rule rather than the exception.
She added that attending college signifies both personal achievement and a generational shift
“To me, attending college represents so much more than just receiving an education. It represents the generations of poverty that came before me. It represents all the women in my family whose only two options in life were to become a wife and a mother,” she wrote. “It represents every family member I have whose highest education level stopped at grade school. It represents the ability to break generational poverty, to invest in the communities who have raised and supported me, and to dismantle notions that your background will define your life’s outcomes.
Marketing Director Gustavo Munguia, who was involved in selecting the recipient, said Rodriguez’s story stood out for its authenticity and alignment with CD Law’s values. He noted that her perspective on marketing reflects the firm’s belief in using communication as a tool for impact and representation
At CD Law, awarding the scholarship reflects the firm’s commitment to supporting the next Generation of professionals. The firm believes higher education opens doors for students in the same way it has for members in our own team
CD Law congratulates Rodriguez on her achievements and looks forward to her continued academic and professional success.
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June 02, 2026