RALEIGH – Campbell Law School is proud to announce the recipients of its four highly prestigious, full-tuition 2026 Competitive Scholarships, awarded annually to incoming students who demonstrate exceptional academic achievement, leadership, service and professional promise.
This year’s cohort — Abigail Yang ’29, William A. Dunn III ’29, Maddie Brother ’29 and Ryana Hanafieh ’29 — represents an extraordinary range of accomplishments across legal, academic and community‑driven pursuits.
Abigail Yang — Achievement Scholarship Recipient
Yang, of Williamson, New York, is the recipient of the Ben & Patrice Thompson Achievement Scholarship, which is awarded annually to one high-achieving student who has overcome significant obstacles in life, such as socio-economic or educational hardships, disabilities or other major challenges. Yang graduated magna cum laude from Nazareth University with a bachelor’s degree in Legal Studies and a minor in Political Science. Her resume highlights extensive legal experience, including internships in Social Security Disability, Workers’ Compensation, Criminal Defense and Family Law. She currently works as an Estate Planning and Medicaid Legal Assistant, where she drafts wills, powers of attorney and health care proxies, manages attorney calendars and handles client correspondence.
William A. Dunn III — Public Service Scholarship Recipient
Dunn, who hails from Greenville, North Carolina, is the recipient of the Janette Soles Nelson Public Service Scholarship, which is given each year to one exceptionally qualified student with plans to practice law in service to the public. Dunn brings a global perspective shaped by a master’s degree in International Studies from North Carolina State University, a triple major from East Carolina University and immersive study abroad experiences in Belgium and Kosovo. His thesis, “Operationalizing Neo‑Colonialism,” reflects his deep engagement with diplomacy and international systems. Professionally, he has supported U.S. foreign assistance and security initiatives through roles at Chemonics International, CRDF Global and the U.S. Department of State’s International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP). He also served as an AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC) Team Leader, coordinating disaster‑relief projects across multiple states.
Maddie Brother — Advocacy Scholarship Recipient
Brother, of Louisville, Kentucky, is the recipient of the Cheshire Schneider Advocacy Scholarship, which is awarded annually to one student with demonstrable success in advocacy programs such as debate or mock trial during high school and/or college experiences. Brother graduated from the University of Louisville with a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and minors in Communications and Legal Studies. A highly involved campus leader, she has served as a Resident Assistant and Senior Resident Assistant, a role requiring crisis response, conflict mediation and administrative oversight. Her early legal experience includes drafting interrogatories and wills at Steve Neal Law.
Ryana Hanafieh — Leadership Scholarship Recipient
Hanafieh, who is a native of Raleigh, North Carolina, is the recipient of the Leary & Joy Davis Leadership Scholarship, awarded annually to one student with demonstrated leadership skills and the potential to become a leader in the law. Hanafieh graduated from the University of North Carolina–Chapel Hill with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a minor in Neuroscience. Her academic and research background includes work in the Brain and Early Experience (BEE) Lab, where she conducted behavioral assessments, supported MRI‑based studies and contributed to longitudinal child‑development research. She also brings legal experience as a legal intern at Jordan Price Law Firm, where she reviewed contracts, attended hearings and assisted attorneys in HOA and housing‑related matters.
ABOUT CAMPBELL LAW SCHOOL
Since its founding in 1976, Campbell Law has developed lawyers who possess moral conviction, social compassion, and professional competence, and who view the law as a calling to serve others. Among its accolades, the school has been recognized by the American Bar Association (ABA) as having the nation’s top Professionalism Program and by the American Academy of Trial Lawyers for having the nation’s best Trial Advocacy Program. Campbell Law boasts more than 5,000 alumni, who make their home in nearly all 50 states and beyond. In 2026, Campbell Law is celebrating 50 years of graduating legal leaders and 17 years of being located in a state-of-the-art facility in the heart of North Carolina’s Capital City.