Nominations for the 2026 apaba awards is now open

APABA Colorado and the APABA Foundation are pleased to announce that nominations for the 2026 APABA Awards are now open. Please complete the nomination form to recognize individuals for the Minoru Yasui Community Service Award—awarded each year to an individual or group whose community service exemplifies Mr. Yasui’s achievement challenging the laws applied to Japanese‑Americans during World War II and advocating for civil rights and liberties for all—and the Governor Ralph Carr Award—given to a young attorney (10 years of practice or less) who has shown a commitment to public service or substantial community service; the stipend is directed to CLE or repaying law school loans, honoring Governor Carr’s courageous call to welcome Japanese‑American evacuees to Colorado and his defense of their basic rights despite the political cost.

Nominations can be submitted here.  The nomination window will close on February 9, 2026. 

2024-2025 Scholarship Award Recipients

Nicole Bishay – Nicole is a 3L at University of Colorado Law School. She is interested in practicing in civil litigation and plans to begin a career in the health law sector after sitting for the California Bar. She served as Co-President for CU’s chapter of the Asian Pacific American Law Students Association (APALSA) during her 2L year and plans to take an active role in APABA after graduation.

Zoe Glepa – Zoe Leonore Glepa is a rising 3L at the University of Colorado Law School who is passionate about the intersection of technology and law. She served as Co-President of the Asian Pacific American Law Students Association (APALSA) during her 2L year, and now serves as the Southern Regional Director of the National Asian Pacific American Law Students Association. (NAPALSA).

Angelica Perez -Angelica is a third-year law student at the University of Denver Sturm College of Law. Prior to attending law school, she graduated from the University of Texas at Austin. While in law school, Angelica was a student attorney in Denver Law’s civil litigation clinic and has had a wide array of externship experiences – ranging from the federal judiciary to a Denver-based litigation firm. In terms of extra-curricular activities, Angelica is the secretary for Denver Law’s Asian Pacific American Law Student Association (APALSA) and is a staff editor for Race to the Bottom (Denver Law’s Corporate Law Blog). Additionally, she is heavily involved in her law school’s DEI initiatives as a DEI and Social Justice Assistant.