First-Gen Achievers Scholarship Winner 2025: Isabella Ambeliz

Our team at CD Law understands that paying for higher education can be a significant challenge, particularly for students who are the first in their family to attend a university.

In support of these trailblazing students, CD Law has proudly created the First-Gen Achievers Scholarship to award $1,000 to a first-generation student to support their pursuit of higher education.

We are proud to announce our 2025 Scholarship Winner: Isabella Ambeliz

Isabella Ambeliz is a first-generation student who is a part of the University of Southern California’s class of 2028, pursuing a bachelor’s in chemical engineering. She is from a suburb near Chicago and is a graduate of West Leyden High School in Northlake Illinois. Isabella is a proud Mexican and Guatemalan-American woman. She is also the eldest daughter of a single mother and the first in her mother’s entire family to attend college. Isabella was an Illinois State Scholar and has contributed several hours of service to her community by being a teen coach, feeding veterans on Thanksgiving, and more. Some activities Isabella enjoys include running, listening to music, and traveling.

After learning she won the 2025 scholarship award, Isabella had this to say: “I was so surprised and so proud of myself. I am so grateful to receive the scholarship, but also to be able to share my story of what it means to be a first-generation student. I felt excited and accomplished, and the first thing I did was call my mom to tell her that my story meant something to others. I feel great, and it was a reminder of why I work so hard as a student and as a person in general, and it reminded me of my purpose and why I strive for success. The feeling of earning this scholarship is beyond what words can describe, and it’s safe to say that my family and friends share this pride with me.”

We are incredibly proud to have Isabella represent CD Law as our 2025 First-Gen Achievers Scholarship recipient. We’re honored to be a part of her journey and we know this is just the beginning. Isabella has a bright future ahead, and we are confident she will go on to do great things!