Meet the recipients of the CNP Diversity Internship Program

History of the Honorable Clarence "Chuck" N. Patterson Diversity Internship Scholarship

In 2007, the York County Bar Association's Diversity Committee (now Justice, Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion Committee) encouraged the Bar Foundation to establish the Clarence “Chuck” N. Patterson Diversity Internship Scholarship program and began efforts to raise funds for this purpose. The internship is named after the late Honorable Clarence Nicholas Patterson, Jr., who was a pioneer for diversity and served as York County’s first African-American judge.

The Clarence "Chuck” N. Patterson Diversity Internship Scholarship program provides internship opportunities for eligible minority first or second year, full-time law students. Interns receive $6,000 for a 10-week-long summer internship at the York County Office of the Public Defender.  Since inception, there have been 18 interns, and several have returned to practice law in York County or within the region.

When you give to the York County Bar Foundation during Give Local York, your support will enable two law school students to secure The Honorable Clarence “Chuck” N. Patterson Diversity Internship Scholarships at the Offices of the District Attorney and Public Defender in the future!

Meet the Interns

2022 - Alexyss Coles, a native from Morgantown, WV, studied law at Widener Commonwealth Law School. While attending law school, she was employed part time at Crisp & Associates as well as bartending at a catering company. Alexyss previously interned at Dickie, McCamey, & Chilcote, LLC. while finishing her undergraduate studies at Washington and Jefferson College, from where she obtained a B.A. in Political Science in 2019. She served as the the Chief Justice of Phi Alpha Delta, Secretary of the Black Law Student Association, on the Criminal Law Society Board, and a Student Ambassador. Alexyss has volunteered for the following organizations: Habitat for Humanity, Big Brothers, Big Sisters of America, and Alex's Lemonade Stand. She interned in the Public Defender's office from May-July 2022.

2022 - Bryan Eras, is a first-generation law student and comes from an Ecuadorian background. He studies law at Widener University Commonwealth Law School. He is a native of York, a graduate of Central York School District and of York College of Pennsylvania majoring in Criminal Justice and dual minor in Political Science and Legal Studies. Bryan's motivation to become a lawyer was sparked from participating in the York County Alliance for Learning (YCAL) and YCBA's Law Mentoring Program (Thank you Attorney Walt Tilley!) early on in his education as well as a desire to help those in his community. He worked in the District Attorney's office from June-August 2022 and is set to intern once again in the Summer of 2023. 

2021 - Zainab "Z" Aliyu, studied law at Penn State University, Dickinson Law. Zainab is a graduate of Air Force Girls Military School, Jos and California State University, San Bernardino. While at Dickinson Law, she was active in multiple student associations and served as the honor code representative for her class. Z interned for the summer in the office of the York County District Attorney. 

2021 - Mohanad "Mo" Elmassalemah, studied law at Widener University Commonwealth Law School. Born in Syria, he moved to the US when he was 3 and has been a Kingston, NY native since. Mo is a graduate of Kingston High School and a graduate from Siena College with a B.A. in History. While at Widener, Mo was accepted to work at the Clinic which is a work study associated with the school. He has also interned at the Ulster County District Attorney’s Office and for one of the top attorneys in the Ulster district in private practice. In 2021, he interned at the York County Office of the Public Defender.

2020 - Qingcheng (Christine) Han, is originally from China and lived in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. In 2013, she graduated from Beijing Foreign Studies University with a B.A. in Russian Language, Literature, and Culture. After graduation, Christine went to Russia and studied in Derzhavin Tambov State University, where she majored in Theoretical Aspects of History of Russia Literature. At the time of her internship, she was a rising 3L at Penn State’s Dickinson School of Law with full tuition scholarship. She has a great interest in literature, classic music and hiking. Before law school, Christine was a published writer.

2020 - Anthony Ciarlante, studied law at Penn State Dickinson Law. Originally from Chambersburg, PA, he graduated from Shippensburg University with a B.S. in Criminal Justice in 2018. Tony grew up in a poverty-stricken trailer park, surrounded by crime, mental health problems, and substance abuse. As the only child born to loving but poor parents, he became an Emergency Medical Technician to work himself through college before earning a full-tuition merit scholarship to Penn State Dickinson Law. Inspired by his father’s long-fought but ultimately lost battle to depression, Tony was working towards a career in criminal defense to work with men struggling with mental health and substance abuse issues. He volunteers as a mock trial coach at his alma mater and at Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers.

2019 - Ashley Jemison, studied law at Widener Commonwealth Law School. During the summer of 2019, Ashley worked at the York County Public Defender's Office. 

2018 - Rocio Alers (L) & Francisco Blondet (R), are both natives of Puerto Pico and studied law at the University of Pittsburgh. They had to flee the effects of the devastating hurricane at home, and the paid internship was extremely helpful in a time of tough transition. Rocio and Francisco are pictured with Lavinia Ghergulescu, 2012 CNP Intern.

2017 - Pilar Diaz, studied law at Duquesne University School of Law and was a Student Member of the Allegheny County Bar Association. At the Allegheny County Public Defender’s Office and Duquesne Law Civil Rights Clinic, Pilar had opportunities for significant client contact with low-income clients in need of representation. Many of them were Latino and she was able to put her fluency in Spanish to work. Having always planned to work in the public interest field as such, she also volunteered at Christian Legal Aid during the school year. Pilar greatly values the importance of indigent representation and hoped to be a criminal defense attorney after graduation in 2018. Pilar is a Merit Scholarship and a McGinley Public Service Law Fellowship Recipient. She was also involved in the Public Interest Law Association and is Co-Vice President of the Black Law Student Association.

2016 - Maureen Rostad, was selected as the 2016 Clarence “Chuck” N. Diversity Internship Scholarship recipient. A 3rd year student at Dickinson School of Law, Maureen received her undergraduate degree from Southern New Hampshire University with a major in psychology and minor in criminal justice.

2015 - Anthony Cox, graduated from Old Dominion University with a Bachelor's Degree in Political Science and Criminal Justice. He completed law school at Widener University School of Law Harrisburg and worked in the Public Defenders Office during his summer internship. Anthony planned to pursue a career as a criminal defense attorney after graduating law school with the goal of become a public defender. He now is an Associate Attorney at Eckert Seamans practicing commercial litigation and professional liability.

2013 - Jane He, pictured left, graduated from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law. Jane said of her 10-week internship at York’s Office of the Public Defender, “I loved it. There’s a strong sense of community here and the Public Defender’s office is a wonderful place to learn. York is a great place, and I’d love to return there.”

2012 - Lavinia Ghergulescu, was born in Romania, and moved with her family to this country when she was nine due to political reasons. She says that, “the law profession is rather uncommon in Romania and I’m the first in the family to go to law school. Coming from an old Communist nation really triggered my interest and appreciation for the U.S. Constitution.” Ghergulescu interned with the York County Public Defenders office in 2012, between her second and third years at Widener University School of Law, an experience she found invaluable. Lavinia now works as an Attorney at the Office of the District Attorney in York. 

2011 - Lily Dideban, studied law at Rutgers Law School and interned at the Pennsylvania Immigration Resource Center.

2011 - Michael Fallings, studied law at Rutgers Law School and interned in the York County Public Defenders office.

2010 - Corey Scott Smith, originally from York County, interned at the York County Public Defenders office.

2010 - Alvincent Hutson, studied law at Howard University School of Law and interned at the Pennsylvania Immigration Resource Center during the Summer of 2010. Alvincent current works as Legal Counsel for the Virgin Islands Department of Education.