Kivu Passion Scholars – Kivu Immigration Law

Kivu Passion Scholars Program

The Kivu Passion Scholars Program is a 12-week summer mentorship program for local high school students who are passionate about exploring immigration and community impact through creative and intellectual inquiry. This program provides rising juniors, rising seniors, and graduating seniors the opportunity to develop a passion project under the guidance of local immigration attorneys, young professionals, and accomplished college student mentors from across the nation. The program takes place at the Kivu Law office in Worthington, Minnesota, with flexible scheduling to accommodate other summer commitments.

Applications for the Winter 2026 cohort will open in November 2026. Please direct questions to info@kivulaw.com.

Empowering Rural Youth Leaders

Students in rural communities often lack access to diverse professional mentorship and structured opportunities to explore careers in law, advocacy, policy, and community organizing. Many Worthington students have deep connections to immigration—as immigrants, refugees, children of immigrants, or engaged community members—but rarely have the chance to explore these experiences meaningfully or see how their stories connect to broader social issues.

The Kivu Passion Scholars Program addresses this gap by empowering students to turn their curiosity into action. Scholars identify a topic they care about, whether it’s a family story, a community issue, a policy question, or a creative inquiry, and develop a burning question to explore through a passion project. This program builds on the success of Kivu’s Summer Internship and Law Fellowship programs, now creating pathways for high school students to engage with immigration and community impact.

What will Kivu Passion Scholars gain from their summer experience?

Triple mentorship model: Work one-on-one with a local immigration attorney or legal professional, receive guidance from a college student mentor (Kivu Internship alumni), and benefit from peer support within your scholar cohort.
Hands-on project development: Create a meaningful passion project such as oral histories, podcasts, research papers, documentaries, community resource guides, policy analysis, creative writing, or multimedia art.
Professional skills: Develop research, writing, interviewing, storytelling, public speaking, and civic engagement skills.
Community showcase: Present your completed project at a public event, building confidence and gaining recognition for your work.
College application materials: Walk away with a compelling project and narrative to strengthen college essays, resumes, and scholarship applications.
Long-term professional network: Build lasting relationships with attorneys, professionals, and college mentors invested in your success.
Access to resources: Utilize Kivu Law’s meeting space, case examples (with permission), legal frameworks, and community contacts to support your project.

Eligibility Requirements for Kivu Passion Scholars

Applicant must be a current high school sophomore, junior, or senior (rising junior, rising senior, or graduating senior).
Applicant must demonstrate curiosity about immigration, migration, community impact, or related topics.
Applicant must commit to attending 1-2 group meetings per month and dedicating 5-8 hours per week to their passion project.
Applicant must be in good academic standing (no specific GPA requirement).
At the time of selection, applicant must be able to participate in the full 12-week program (late May through early August).

We welcome students of all backgrounds—whether you hold a personal connection to immigration or simply curious about these topics. No prior experience in research or creative projects is required. We’re looking for students with genuine curiosity, commitment, and potential for leadership.

Application Components

Unofficial transcript (PDF or image upload)
Personal Statement Short Response (300 Word Maximum)
Leadership Short Essay (150 Word Maximum)

Applications for the Winter 2026 cohort will open in November 2026. Please direct questions to info@kivulaw.com.

Questions?

Contact Luis Angel Mendoza, Program Coordinator, at info@kivulaw.com

Summer 2026 Kivu Passion Scholars

Fitsum Girma is a Passion Scholar at Kivu Immigration Law PLLC. He is a rising sophomore at Worthington High School. Fitsum is an active competitor and student, demonstrated by his membership in BPA (Business Professionals of America) and SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions). Through volunteering and involvement in school clubs, he has built a foundation in public speaking and a passion for serving his community. During the Kivu Passion Scholars Program, Fitsum builds on his interest in journalism by reporting and publishing stories that break the silence often surrounding immigration in small towns. Outside of school, Fitsum’s interests include painting, playing tennis, and watching TV in his free time.

Emillymarie Hurtado Rivera, also known as Emilly, is a Passion Scholar at Kivu Immigration Law PLLC. Emilly was born and raised in Worthington, Minnesota and is entering her senior year at Worthington High School. Emilly enjoys challenging herself academically, which is why she takes Postsecondary Enrollment Options (PSEO) courses as a high school student. She is an active student at Worthington High School, serving as President of the AOK (Art, Optimist, Kiwanis) Club and as a Senior Representative on Student Council. During the Kivu Passion Scholars Program, Emilly blends her love of visual art with storytelling, creating an original piece that reflects the cultural makeup of Worthington and the people within it. Outside of school, Emilly loves volunteering, creating new projects, and raising awareness for causes she believes in.

Mayra Lopez is a Passion Scholar at Kivu Immigration Law PLLC. Mayra was born and raised in Worthington, Minnesota and is entering her senior year at Worthington High School. Mayra’s interest in cultural storytelling drew her to become a Passion Scholar. During the Kivu Passion Scholars Program, she is capturing the diversity of her hometown through a series of one-on-one interviews with Worthington community members, surfacing the range of backgrounds, cultures, and personal journeys that make up the town. Mayra is fluent in English and Spanish. Outside of the program, she enjoys playing tennis, running, and listening to music.

Francell Nicole Lopez Rodriguez is a Passion Scholar at Kivu Immigration Law PLLC. Francell was born in Nicaragua and moved to Worthington, Minnesota in 2021. She is a rising senior at Adrian High School, where she learned English. Francell has a passion for serving her community, volunteering in different spaces to support those around her, and at Adrian High School she values academic excellence, reflected in her membership in the National Honor Society. During the Kivu Passion Scholars Program, Francell is working to create a fund for students seeking scholarships for higher education, with a focus on undocumented students who face barriers to college access because of their legal status. Through her project, she hopes to shed light on the inequality within immigrant communities when it comes to education, while highlighting the resilience, achievements, and merit behind the goals and dreams of undocumented students. Outside of school, Francell works on becoming a well-rounded student and person by participating in sports, spending time with her family, going to church, and reading.