In Puerto Rico, the Federal Court for the District of Puerto Rico and the Puerto Rico Community Foundation (FCPR) announced the award of the first four scholarships from the Federal Bench and Bar Scholarship Fund. The fund, established in 2025 with an initial investment of $20,000, aims to provide financial support to law students with economic need while honoring the legacy of Judge Juan R. Torruella and Judge Carmen C. Cerezo.
Four law students from accredited universities in Puerto Rico will receive $5,000 scholarships each for the 2026-2027 academic year. The selection process involved a rigorous evaluation and interview of candidates, considering academic merit, economic need, and program criteria. The fund has two components: the Judge Juan R. Torruella Scholarship and the Judge Carmen C. Cerezo Scholarship, each supporting two students per year.
Judge Raúl M. Arias Marxuach, president of the Federal Court, and Vivian I. Neptune Rivera, president of the FCPR, expressed their pleasure in honoring the legacy of Judges Torruella and Cerezo while supporting the next generation of jurists in Puerto Rico. The recipients are Stephanie Cruz Riquelme, Angélica C. Martínez Nevárez, María D. Ortíz Antongiorgi, and Karla M. Pérez Gerena, students at the Interamerican University of Puerto Rico and the University of Puerto Rico.