Graduate Spotlight

Lashawn Ford, 15A

Dream realized

Born into a challenging environment, Lashawn Ford decided to blaze her own trail. For her determination and scholarship, Ford earned a 2015 Fulbright Study/Research grant to pursue her master’s degree in criminology at the University of Kent in Canterbury. There she will explore the comparatively higher incarceration rate of U.S. juveniles against that for British youths.

She arrived at UofL with Porter and Cardinal Covenant scholarships in hand. This May Ford graduated with honors from the College of Arts and Sciences with degrees in justice administration, sociology, psychology and philosophy. Before accepting her diploma, she completed her undergraduate honors thesis on the consequences for children of incarcerated parents.

“Coming from a background where going to college did not seem possible, this award is a symbol to me, my family and other people who are disadvantaged that it is possible to achieve what seems to be the impossible,” said Ford.

As for her parents, Ford inspired them to go to college to earn their own degrees.