Leila Bathke

(Member of the Navajo Nation born for the Tsenjikini clan)

Leila Bathke is a new J.D. Candidate in the UCLA Class of 2025 who has been bestowed with the honor of receiving the Graton scholarship. At the young age of 20, Bathke received her Bachelors of Arts at UCLA in American Indian Studies in 2021. During her undergraduate career, she worked for two years at the UCLA American Indian Recruitment project where she mentored and tutored Native American students in grades K-14. She also interned at the Fernandeño Tataviam Band of Mission Indians Tribal Government office helping with the social media and outreach team. For many years she has had a volunteer position as a facilitator of a youth group dedicated to doing community service while growing their individual spiritual intelligences. Leila is very passionate about working towards justice across all underprivileged intersectionalities, leading her to choose the Critical Race Studies specialization at UCLA Law. 

Mary Cruz

(Zapotec)

Mary Cruz is a 1L Graton Scholar, member of the David J. Epstein Program in Public Interest Law and Policy, and Critical Race Studies Program at UCLA Law. She earned a B.A. in Politics and Latin American Studies from the University of San Francisco. Prior to law school Mary worked at the Durfee Foundation where she supported Los Angeles based nonprofit organizations and leaders. In this role she helped launch the Lark Awards, a grant which funds collective care and renewal of BIPOC staff at grassroots nonprofits to combat burnout in the sector. Prior to Durfee, Mary worked with the California Immigrant Policy Center where she supported their government affairs, policy, and advocacy work in Sacramento. In addition, she has worked to address the intersections of social inequities impacting immigrant and low-income communities at organizations including La Raza Centro Legal, the University of San Francisco law clinic and the Law Offices of Curiel & Parker. Mary’s commitment to social change lies at the intersection of immigrant justice, Indigenous rights, and language access stemming from her experience growing up in a Zapotec migrant family and community.

Aine Lawlor

Aine grew up in Helena, Montana and attended Bowdoin College in Maine. Throughout college, she studied Indigenous rights on the international level with a focus on environmental law and policy in the Arctic. She spent numerous years as an intern for the Arctic Rivers Project. Following graduation, Aine continued to pursue these interests and she worked for the Democratic Staff in the U.S. House Natural Resources Committee where she contributed to various projects related to Indian country, energy development, and environmental justice. At UCLA Law, Aine plans to focus on the intersection between Indigenous rights and environmental law. Upon graduating law school, Aine would like to work in the natural resources field to help provide legal and political support to Native communities and Indigenous peoples and work to co-create a more equitable and just future.

Kyler McVoy

(Member of the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma)

Kyler, 25, is an Indiana native and proud member of the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma. Kyler attended Indiana University for his undergraduate studies, where he received a Bachelor's degree in Political Science and Japanese. Since graduating, Kyler has worked in a variety of fields aimed at protecting vulnerable people, including non-profits, government agencies, and a law firm representing disabled veterans. Kyler is beginning his 1L term as one of four Graton Scholars for the class of 2025. After graduating, Kyler hopes to pursue a legal career in Federal Indian Law or in labor law, including worker's rights and organizing.