Wake County Bar Association awards scholarships to two Campbell Law students

The Wake County Bar Association (WCBA) Memorial Scholarships have been granted to two Campbell Law School students — third-year Claudia Barcelo ’22 and second-year Sofia Baneth ’23 — for this academic year. Both students live in Raleigh and received $4,000 each, the WCBA announced.

Barcello’s studies are focused on child trafficking, particularly child sexual exploitation and related cybercrime. Her research not only exposed her to the medical perspectives on human trafficking but demanded in-depth collection, synthesis and presentation of complex data. Barcello intends to work for the State Bureau of Investigations in North Carolina.

Given her passion in public service, Baneth aspires to work for the state of North Carolina or the federal government to represent the under-served after graduating from law school. Because of the interwoven relationship between individual and economic well-being, Baneth is especially concerned with legislative issues regarding housing and tenant rights. 

The WCBA scholarships are awarded annually to law students or persons about to enter law school who have Wake County ties and are funded through donations, the annual golf tournament and late fees from district bar dues. The scholarship fund was founded in memory of Edwin S. Preston Jr., former Wake County Chief Resident Superior Court Judge.

Membership in the Wake County Bar Association is voluntary for lawyers and judges who practice and reside in Wake County and are engaged in private practice, government service, corporate employment and the judiciary. Currently, there are more than 2,300 members who have chosen to better themselves, the profession and the public by providing better access to and understanding of the legal system, according to the WCBA website.

The women are featured in the latest WCBA Flyer below.