Six students from South Windsor High School attended the Civil Rights Youth Summit: Attorney Pipeline Program at the UCONN School of Law Campus on November 1, 2025. 

The seven-hour long event began in the Stuart F. Smith Reading Room, a long hall lined with thick volumes and elaborate portraits of past graduates, the ceiling carved with beautiful architectural patterns. 

The six Bobcats, including a few members of the Mock Trial Club, enjoyed the continental breakfast and views of the fall foliage outside the ancient windows.

At the front of the room, Attorney Cheryl Sharp began the opening remarks. However, instead of a dull introduction to the day’s events, the Bobcats were treated to a passionate speech on diversity and possibility. 

A graduate of the law school, Sharp asked the students to look around at the diverse array of portraits in the hall and reminded the audience that during her time at the school the portraits only depicted white men. 

“We are going to introduce this notion of social justice,” said Sharp. “You may change this world.”

Speakers of all kinds made similar statements, including the Dean of UCONN School of Law, who stated that many citizens are not aware of the fact that Connecticut even has a public law school. 

“UCONN Law is here in Hartford, serving Hartford,” said Dean Nelson. 

After the opening remarks, a special panel of attorneys was called to the stage, with such famed and prevalent figures as Brooke Goff, founder of Goff Law Group. 

Each attorney discussed not only the practice of law, but provided inspiration by detailing their personal experiences. They highlighted their youth and education, with a special emphasis on how wealth or race does not decide your career or school. 

“I’m really looking forward to spending the day with lawyers and judges in this very, very nice room on this amazing campus,” SWHS freshman Yilin Lin said. 

The students broke away into three sessions of their choice, including panels and discussions on environmental justice, racial equality, and educational equality. 

Two of the three sessions took place in the school’s beautiful courtrooms, where students got to address the attorneys and judges on their chosen topic.

After the first session, an hour-long networking lunch took place, where students had the opportunity to interact with judges, politicians, attorneys, law students, investigators, professors, and more. 

“The lunch was delicious and I thoroughly enjoyed it,” SWHS sophomore Suhani Kapil. 

The second session proved even more interactive and interesting, with topics on mock law school cases, immigration and equality, and disability rights. 

Just as the event began, the amazing experience came to a close with a panel and more remarks. This time, three local judges wearing their official robes engaged the audience with their personal stories and experiences.

Cheryl Sharp took the stage once more to thank the school, the organizers of the event, the judges and attorneys, and the students in attendance. 

“We work together, to bring about a change, to educate, to train, to create, and foster and encourage and breathe life into the next generation of civil rights and social justice leaders,” Cheryl Sharp said.

Her closing remarks were met with a standing ovation as the summit came to a close in the late afternoon.