Three WashU Law students were recognized at the Honorable Scovel T. Richardson Scholarship Dinner, hosted by the Mound City Bar Foundation and the Mound City Bar Association. This event celebrates the legacy of Judge Richardson and provides support for promising incoming law students at St. Louis law schools through scholarships and mentoring.
Esther Laguerre, WashU Law class of 2028, and a recent graduate of the University of Alabama, holds both a bachelor’s degree in political science and a master’s in public administration. Originally from Port-au-Prince, Haiti, and raised in Alabama, she has interned with the Tuscaloosa City Attorney’s Office and has been active in both civic and church communities. A polyglot and first-generation student, Laguerre is passionate about international civil rights and administrative law.
Bernard Elegbede, WashU Law class of 2028, earned his bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Over the past three years, he has worked in Washington, D.C. as a global public policy specialist for Adobe. His professional experience includes internships with the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, Boston Scientific, and various legislative offices. His interests lie in data privacy and the role of AI in the law.
Avrye King, WashU Law class of 2025, is a Kansas City native and graduated valedictorian from Philander Smith College with a degree in political science. During her time at WashU, she has served as a 1L Representative and later President of the Black Law Students Association (BLSA), was a 2025 Dean’s Book Award recipient, and the Managing Editor of The Journal of Law & Policy. With a strong interest in public interest law and civil justice reform, King will return to Kansas City after graduation to join Lewis Rice, where she previously summered as a 1L and 2L.
Dean Lindquist was also honored with a plaque recognizing her commitment to the mission of the Mound City Bar Foundation and Association and her continued support of the organization’s work to uplift lawyers and law students in the St. Louis area.
WashU Law is proud to support and celebrate students who are shaping the future of the legal profession.