Bella Sobah Memorial Scholarship

The Bella Sobah Memorial Scholarship was created in honor of Bella Sobah. Bella earned her bachelor’s of science in genetics from UW-Madison in 2016 and her J.D. from UW-Madison Law School in 2020. Bella was a tireless advocate for people of color, disabled, immigrant, and LGBTQ+ communities. She was a lifelong resident of Madison, Wisconsin and cared deeply for her community. She was involved with several organizations, including as Chair of the Disability Rights Commission for the city of Madison, as Social Media Intern for the Orpheum Theatre, and as host of her own local radio show. Throughout her life she belonged to organizations that were creating change. As a law student, Bella worked with the Neighborhood Law Clinic to help disadvantaged clients find justice in and out of the courtroom and also served as Vice President of the UW-Madison Black Law Students Association. After graduating from law school, she began working as an attorney in the Dane County District Attorneys Juvenile Unit with hopes of fighting mass incarceration.

Bella was outgoing, confident, and passionately inspired others to be advocates for social justice and equality. One of Bella’s close friends described her as the "Beyoncé of the Law School and all our lives” because her strong voice and star power was reminiscent of the iconic singer loved by many. Bella lived with a disability, spinal muscular atrophy, and willingly shared her story to help educate and advocate for others. Her brother, Elias Sobah, reminds us that "she lived life to the fullest and did so unapologetically” and “with humility, humor and joy.” (Source: UW News) In June 2020, Bella passed away unexpectedly at the age of 25, and the world lost this incredibly talented, young changemaker.

Conditions of Award To be eligible for this award, you must:

• Be a full-time, first-year UW Law student in good academic standing
• Be a member of the University of Wisconsin Black Law Students Association
• Have demonstrated a commitment towards supporting or advocating for an historically marginalized community

This scholarship may impact your financial aid package. Please contact the Office of Student Financial Aid to learn about potential impact on your current aid package.

For more information about Law School scholarships, visit the Law School’s website.