For generations, FAMU has produced judges, lawmakers, business leaders and advocates whose influence extends far beyond its Tallahassee campus. Today, that legacy is increasingly reflected in the national opportunities its students earn before they graduate.
The latest example comes from the FAMU College of Law, where rising second-year student Sashauna Bailey has been named a 2026-2027 Holland & Knight LLP Scholar, a prestigious award recognizing academic excellence and leadership potential.
The scholarship covers Bailey's tuition for the upcoming academic year and includes a coveted summer internship with Holland & Knight, one of the world's largest law firms, which employs more than 2,200 attorneys and professionals in 35 offices worldwide. The selection gives Bailey firsthand experience in a global practice spanning corporate law, litigation, finance, government, health care and real estate.
Bailey's selection is another sign of the FAMU College of Law's growing national stature. Reestablished in Orlando in 2001 after the State of Florida defunded the original law school in 1968, the College of Law has steadily expanded its reputation by producing graduates who are competing for opportunities at some of the nation's most respected legal institutions.
"I am extremely thankful for the opportunity," Bailey said. "I will demonstrate my appreciation by consistently delivering exceptional work product."
Bailey said she was drawn to Holland & Knight because of its reputation for developing top legal talent and the breadth of its practice areas. During the internship, she hopes to deepen her understanding of corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions, contracts, credit agreements and litigation.
Her interest in corporate law stems from her background in accounting. Before entering law school, Bailey earned an undergraduate degree in accounting and spent six years as a corporate accountant.
"I am eager to build upon my knowledge and apply it to the practice of corporate law," Bailey said.
While corporate law is her immediate focus, Bailey ultimately hopes to serve on the bench, using the law to expand access to justice and advocate for underserved communities.
"We are excited to welcome Sashauna as a Holland & Knight Scholar and to support her professional journey," said Glenn Adams, executive partner in the firm's Orlando office. "Programs like this reflect our commitment to investing in future leaders of the legal profession and creating opportunities for students to translate academic success into impactful legal practice."
Bailey's selection also highlights a partnership between Holland & Knight and FAMU Law that has helped launch legal careers for nearly two decades. Since 2008, the firm has annually awarded a scholarship to a first-year FAMU law student while providing the opportunity to participate in its summer associate program.
"Sashauna's selection as a Holland & Knight Scholar reflects both her academic excellence and FAMU College of Law's commitment to producing outstanding advocates," Dean Simone Marstiller said. "Our longtime partnership with the law firm continues to open doors for exceptional students to connect legal education with legal practice."
Beyond the classroom, Bailey has distinguished herself as a campus leader. During her first year, she served as the Corporate & Business Law Society's first-year representative, worked on the Student Bar Association's Academics and Curriculum Committee and Elections Committee, and represented BARBRI's first-year students. This fall, she will serve as president of the Corporate & Business Law Society.
Her accomplishments reflect a broader trend at FAMU, where students are increasingly securing competitive internships, fellowships and employment opportunities with leading corporations, government agencies and national organizations. For Bailey, the Holland & Knight scholarship is both a recognition of her achievements and another example of FAMU's enduring mission: preparing graduates to lead, serve and excel at the highest levels of their professions.