The Julian T. Pierce Legacy Foundation Presents $30,000 in Scholarships to Law Students

North Carolina Central University (NCCU) School of Law and the Julian T. Pierce Legacy Foundation celebrated the life and legacy of distinguished alumnus Julian T. Pierce '76 during a check presentation on Oct. 27, 2025.

Harvey Godwin Jr. and Lisa Hunt of the Julian T. Pierce Legacy Foundation presented a $30,000 scholarship award to NCCU Law students Aminah Ghaffar and Nolan Locklear. Funds for the scholarship are raised annually through the Julian T. Pierce Memorial Scholarship Art Dinner, which underscores the Foundation's commitment to supporting future generations of attorneys who embody Pierce's dedication to justice, fairness and community service.

"I was born and raised in Robeson County, and his story is one of many that inspired me to pursue politics and come to law school at NCCU," said Aminah Ghaffar, one of this year's recipients. "His story highlights perseverance in the face of injustice, and I am honored to carry on his legacy as a scholarship recipient."

A native of Pembroke, North Carolina, Julian T. Pierce rose from humble beginnings to become one of the most influential Native American attorneys of his time. A tireless advocate for those whose voices often went unheard, Pierce became the first director of Lumbee River Legal Services, now known as Legal Aid of North Carolina, an organization established to serve low-income residents throughout Robeson and surrounding counties.

Pierce was weeks away from making history as the first Native American Superior Court Judge in Robeson County when he was found shot in his home. Despite his untimely passing, Pierce was elected posthumously by more than 2,000 votes.

"Growing up in Robeson County, I saw how Julian Pierce used his education to give back to his community," said Nolan Locklear, scholarship recipient. "Being a recipient of the Julian T. Pierce Scholarship not only eases the financial burden of law school but also inspires me to follow his example and one day return home to uplift my community."

For more information about the Julian T. Pierce Scholarship and ways to support NCCU School of Law students, visit https://www.nccu.edu/law.