When I was diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer seven years ago and was told that I “might” have a year to live, local attorneys Steve Malm and Howard Watkins approached me with a proposal. They wanted to establish the Mike Rhodes Social Justice Scholarship Fund at the San Joaquin College of Law (SJCL) in Clovis.
The purpose of the scholarship fund is to support students at the SJCL who have an interest in working on social justice issues when they become an attorney.
Watkins and Malm organized a fundraiser at Fulton 55 with local musicians, a letter was sent to potential donors and soon more than $20,000 was raised—enough to give $1,000 a year to a deserving law student.
The first recipient was Esmeralda Kinney, who I ran into a couple of years ago when helping our neighbors who are from Nicaragua with attaining legal status in this country. The random synchronicity of that experience was a powerful reminder about the importance of supporting attorneys who care about social justice.
Geovanna Waters, the 2025 recipient of the scholarship, says that being “a Dreamer and a DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) recipient have instilled in me a deep passion for social justice and community service.
“Becoming an attorney is more than a personal achievement—it is a calling to advocate for those who continue to face uncertainty and hardship. I have always embraced leadership in my community, and as a U.S. citizen, I now believe the sky is the limit.
“With your support, I am empowered to use my education and experiences to create lasting, positive change.”
Rebeca Delgado, who received the scholarship in 2024, notes that she is from a “rural and low-income community in Fresno County where water was often contaminated and food was never a guarantee.
“However, I was lucky enough to have a community that helped my family and families like ours. The support of people like you truly makes a deep impact on people like me.
“I’m incredibly honored to be a recipient of this scholarship. I hope I can make you all proud as I continue my education.”
It is an honor to have this scholarship fund at the SJCL, knowing that it will help a law student with an interest in social justice even after I have made the transition to the great beyond.
According to Janice Pearson, dean and professor of law at the SJCL, the students there “reflect the diversity of the community in which the college lives. For the period 2015–2023, a significant majority of entering students were non-white, with all categories of students passing the California bar exam at comparable rates.
“We often say that SJCL has changed the face of the legal profession in the San Joaquin Valley. Many of these students do not have the family or personal resources to pay for a legal education.
“Scholarships are crucial financially for students as well as supporting students’ beliefs that they are capable and belong.”
Support the Scholarship Fund
To support the Mike Rhodes Social Justice Scholarship Fund, write a check to the San Joaquin College of Law with a notation that it goes to the “Mike Rhodes Social Justice Scholarship Fund.” That memorializes the donor’s intent so that the funds cannot be used for something else. Mail the donation to SJCL, 901 5th St., Clovis, CA 93612.
