Two ASU Law students honored for civil rights advocacy through national Ms. JD scholarship

Nicole Fordey and Abdi Lopez, law students at the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at Arizona State University, have been awarded the 2025 Ms. JD Civil Rights Breonna Taylor & Kenneth Walker Civil Rights Scholarship. The national honor is given to law students annually who are committed to civil rights legal work.

Named in memory of Breonna Taylor, who was killed during a police raid executed under a no-knock warrant, the award also recognizes Kenneth Walker, her boyfriend who was present during the incident. It aims to support students who are actively working toward justice and equity for underserved and marginalized communities.

Nicole Fordey: Champion for disability rights

Fordey, a rising third-year JD student, is a first-generation college student and wheelchair user whose work centers on disability civil rights. She’s completed legal externships with Disability Rights Arizona, the U.S. Department of Justice and Women Enabled International. She credits  ASU Law’s Advance Program with helping her thrive in her first year and has become a strong advocate for accessibility on campus.

“I am honestly still a bit in shock on receiving the Ms. JD Scholarship specific for civil rights,” Fordey said. “Receiving this recognition for my commitment to civil rights work, and particularly disability civil rights, is truly an honor. Often, disability rights are left out of conversations about civil rights, despite the discrimination, inaccessibility and exclusion that disabled people face every day domestically and internationally.”

“Nikki is an impressive advocate for disability rights,” said Alyssa Dragnich, clinical professor of law. “I am delighted that her accomplishments are being recognized in this way, and I can't wait to see what is in her future."

Fordey said she uses moments of exclusion as teaching opportunities to help create more inclusive systems.

“Being a wheelchair user inherently comes with challenges,” she said. “I have attempted to use moments of inaccessibility or exclusion to demonstrate how to adapt policies and procedures to address the needs of students with disabilities in a proactive manner.”

Before coming to law school, Fordey worked as a licensed clinical social worker and addiction counselor.

“There are larger societal problems that no amount of therapy can fix,” she said. “I decided I needed to join the fight and go to law school to become a lawyer who could combine personal and professional passion into meaningful changes for people with disabilities.”

She also encourages other students with disabilities to speak up and advocate for themselves.

“You deserve your spot in law school. It is absolutely possible to succeed as a disabled person in higher education... but the only way things will change is if we can name the issues and demand action for a more inclusive community.”

In honor of Disability Pride Month in July, ASU Law reaffirms its commitment to fostering an inclusive environment that respects, empowers and uplifts individuals with disabilities.

Abdi Lopez: Advancing justice for immigrant communities

Lopez, a rising second-year JD student, is a first-generation college student and daughter of immigrant farmworkers. She draws on her lived experience to advocate for underserved communities across Arizona.

“This scholarship is an affirmation of the work I think I do invisibly — where advocacy begins before the spotlight finds it,” Lopez said. “Personally, it is a reminder that my community matters, that our stories deserve space and that we are not invisible. Professionally, it opens doors I could not access on my own.”

Raised in Maryvale, Arizona, Lopez witnessed the school-to-prison pipeline and often stepped in as a translator and advocate. “The down payment on my family’s first home came from a farmworker dispute — justice was literally in the soil beneath our feet,” she said. “These early responsibilities shaped my identity and taught me that survival often requires advocacy.”

At ASU Law, Lopez leads the Phoenix Chapter of the Association of Professionals and Students, organizes “Know Your Rights” forums and works with consular offices and legal professionals to combat civil rights violations. She also serves as a communications strategist for the William E. Morris Institute for Justice and advises on policy through the State of Oregon Latino/a/x and Indigenous Student Success Advisory Group.

This summer, Lopez is participating in advocacy and policy programs sponsored by the Federal Communications Bar Association and the Hispanic National Bar Association. She is also preparing a proposal for the Judiciary Committee focused on removing barriers to economic resources for underserved inventors and entrepreneurs.

Looking ahead, she hopes to combine business and legal knowledge to drive systemic change.

“My calling is rooted in stewardship. Even before I had the language for ‘advocacy,’ I felt a deep responsibility to use my voice, education and experiences to uplift others,” she said. “My goal is to shape policies that turn innovation into shared prosperity. At its core, this is civil rights work — ensuring that the future is built by many hands, not just a privileged few.”

Vanessa Pineda, ASU Law’s director of public interest, praised Lopez’s dedication and vision.

“Abdi’s long-standing commitment to underserved communities in Arizona makes her an exceptional choice for the Breonna Taylor & Kenneth Walker Civil Rights Scholarship — a well-deserved honor for a first-generation law student who advocates for the civil rights of immigrant families and low-income Arizonans,” Pineda said. “Abdi is such an empathetic law student and we are lucky to have her at ASU Law.”

Lopez plans to use the scholarship funds to travel to Washington, D.C., where she’ll meet with leaders working to close the justice gap in IP deserts and advance equitable access to innovation.

“I’m deeply honored to be seated among trailblazers, and I carry my community with me to that table,” she said. “I’m grateful to my mentors — both professional and spiritual — who continue to instill in me a deep commitment to service, justice and fidelity to my community.”

Written by Crystal Jimenez and Kourtney Kelley