Three Delaware Law Graduates Named 2026 Klothen Public Interest Award Honorees
Three members of Widener University Delaware Law School’s class of 2026 have been recognized for their contributions to public interest work and community-focused legal service. Carolina Parra, Veronica Valentin, and Beth Wilson have been selected as 2026 Eve Biskind Klothen Public Interest Award honorees, a regional distinction presented by the Philadelphia Bar Association to law students demonstrating exceptional commitment to public service and pro bono engagement. The award acknowledges their sustained involvement in public interest placements and their efforts to expand access to legal services for underserved communities.
Parra graduated with nearly 10 years of prior experience in immigration legal services. At Delaware Law, she served as a certified legal intern in the Delaware Civil Law Clinic, represented survivors of domestic violence in protection from abuse matters, and completed placements with the Delaware Department of Justice and Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas Judge Dominic Pileggi. She also supported worker-advocacy initiatives through Justice at Work and Resilience Force. Parra will return to Justice at Work in Philadelphia as a worker justice fellow.
Valentin previously worked in child welfare and dependency matters and holds bachelor's degrees in criminal justice and political science from Widener University. During law school, she completed pro bono service with Legal Aid of Southeastern Pennsylvania, or LASP, assisting clients with family law matters, protection from abuse cases, and estate planning documents for seniors. Valentin now serves on the LASP board of directors and will join The Castro Firm as an associate attorney while preparing for the Delaware and Pennsylvania bar examinations.
Wilson, who graduated with pro bono distinction, completed constitutional and civil rights work through the Dignity Rights Clinic and the ACLU of Delaware, including support for Eighth Amendment litigation and LGBTQ-related advocacy. Wilson held leadership roles in the First Generation Law Student Association, OUTLaw, and the Sports and Entertainment Law Association, and volunteered at naturalization clinics and moot court competitions. They received the Harvey A. Chernoff Memorial Scholarship and the Honorable William Duffy Memorial Scholarship and will continue civil rights litigation with the ACLU of Delaware.
These alumni reflect Delaware Law’s ongoing commitment to public service and practice-ready legal training.