Student Scholarships
For the past 21 years, the Black Entertainment and Sports Lawyers Association, Inc. (BESLA) has awarded over $150,000 in scholarships to deserving law students seeking careers in the entertainment and sports industries. During this anniversary year, ten students from the recognized Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) were selected and approved by their Dean were awarded a scholarship. Additionally, for the third year, one law student received a $2,500 award who participated in the fund raising outreach effort, "Students Helping Students" Scholarship Fund.
We are pleased to announce the 2010 BESLA Student Scholarship Recipients
Recipients Bios
 Colt Justin Fore
As a teenager I Attended Live Oak High School in Denham Springs, Louisiana where I excelled in sports, predominantly baseball, where as an eagle I played varsity and helped my team go to the state playoffs every year. However my athletic career was ended abruptly after a knee injury. Afterwards I turned my efforts towards academics. I attended Tech de Monterrey University, in Mexico, during the summer after my junior year in High School, where I studied Spanish. I have a bachelor’s degree from Louisiana State University in Political Science. After graduating from LSU, I was fortunate enough to obtain employment where I worked for a prominent Financial Firm in Louisiana.
I was accepted into Southern University Law Center in 2008. God willing, it will be this wonderful institution that I will graduate from in the spring of 2011 with a Juris Doctorate. My legal studies have been very well rounded over the years and I have had the opportunity to take courses in Sports Law as well as many other fine subjects, all of which I have enjoyed immensely. I am very eager to apply my studies in real life situations after I graduate. Upon passing the bar exam I know that the opportunities will be infinite. I hope that my competitive nature from being an athlete and my interest in sports can contribute to my career in this great endeavor.
I would like to thank BESLA for considering me for this award.
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 Fatmatu Jollah
“Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery…none but ourselves can free our minds.”
– Bob Marley
The legendary Mr. Marley’s challenge tends to emerge from my memory in most aspects of my life and choices I make. The idea that individuals are responsible for freeing themselves from preconceived notions through continual learning and re-examination has long motivated me to liberate myself through knowledge.
Born and raised in Sierra Leone, West Africa, I moved to the U.S. when I was 15 years old, in the midst of watching my country implode from civil war. Being uprooted from everything I had ever known and having to establish myself in an unfamiliar society helped me to develop a strong sense of identity, confidence and maturity. I know that many of my family and friends were not fortunate enough to be able to come to the United States, and I am determined to take full advantage of the opportunities I now have available.
My desire to become more informed regarding the issues that have plagued my country introduced me to Heart of Africa (HOA), a non-profit organization affecting positive change in countries throughout Africa. In August of 2004 I assisted in organizing and executing a trip to Sierra Leone to deliver and distribute food, clothes and educational supplies to children displaced from their homes, some with limbs amputated in rebel attacks. For the first time I personally witnessed the impacts of the war, an experience that radically intensified my interest in the nation’s rehabilitation and reconstruction. Sierra Leone has been left with a crumbling infrastructure, a struggling economy, an ineffective legal system in the midst of a population riddled with apathy. The trip strengthened my sense of responsibility and desire to become an impetus for change in my home country.
This summer of 2010, Mr. Marley’s challenge again resonated for me when I was given the opportunity to work with the defense team in the Hague, Netherlands on the Charles Taylor trial. I had to free myself from the preconceived notion that Charles Taylor is responsible for the crimes against humanity due to his allege involvement with the over 10 years of civil war in Sierra Leone. I was faced with immense pressure from most of my family and friends that already strongly believe that Charles Taylor should be held liable for the atrocities committed in Sierra Leone. However, I took the opportunity as a continued learning process and encompassed the critical analysis and application of the law to Charles Taylor’s role. This opportunity ultimately left me feeling highly emancipated from mental slavery.
As a third year law student I continue to persevere and look forward to the endless possibilities and challenges that I will be exposed to with a law degree.
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 Watson Pierre
Watson Pierre was born in Canada and raised in Brooklyn, New York. He graduated from Temple University in May 2004 with a Bachelor of Business Administration. Mr. Pierre is currently in his third year of law school and will receive his Juris Doctorate degree from Thurgood Marshall School of Law (TMSL) in 2011.
Prior to attending law school, Mr. Pierre worked on Wall Street as a premium auditor. During his tenure he worked directly with presidents and ceo’s of Fortune 500 corporations and detailed their financial records. This experience gave him a tremendous insight on how business works form the top level down.
Mr. Pierre is well traveled. He has visited over six countries in the past two years, thus his interest in pursuing a career in international business and sports and entertainment. In addition to visiting, Mr. Pierre also studied international law in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and international business transactions in Cape Town, South Africa. The relations he built in these countries are continuously fostered today.
Mr. Pierre currently serves as the President of the Thurgood Marshall School of Law Sports & Entertainment Law Society (“SELS”). His primary goal for the organization is to allow the students to be exposed to the real work (not all the glamour) that practicing sports and entertainment lawyers do. This semester he has brought in four (4) speakers with hopes to bring in ten (10) more before the end of the academic year. In addition, Mr. Pierre and SELS will host a Sports & Entertainment Law CLE in the Spring where they will host nationally recognized panelists.
Mr. Pierre’s background is in production and engineering. He plans to continue in this area through the representation of producers as well as run his own production house. He is also the GrammyU campus representative for Thurgood Marshall School of Law for the year 2010-2011.
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 Rodney Jones
Rodney Jones was born and raised in Houston, Texas, and graduated with honors from Clark Atlanta University with a B.A. in Business Administration in 2004. Mr. Jones is currently in his third year of law school and is expected to receive his Juris Doctorate degree from the historical Thurgood Marshall School of Law (TMSL) in 2011.
Prior to attending law school, this young entrepreneur, made a name for himself in the entertainment industry, by publishing the #1 nationally distributed magazine geared towards college students and young professionals, LOOK Magazine. Charged by his success in the publishing industry and proven marketing strategies within the college demographic, Rodney was called upon by various major companies such as Ford Motor Company, Sony/BMG, Gospel Music Channel and Universal Music Group to either assist or head their marketing and sales campaigns aimed at colleges and universities around the nation.
With a natural talent for negotiations, inherent business prowess and an undeniable take-charge attitude, law school was undoubtedly the next step in Rodney’s professional career. As the former President and current Treasurer of the Sports and Entertainment Law Society, Rodney has expressed a continued interest in field of entertainment law and plans to practice in the areas of contract negotiations and intellectual property.
Still employed by Universal Music Group as a College and Lifestyle Marketing Representative, Jones makes it a priority to excel in his law school curriculum while maintaining balance in his spiritual, family and work life. Led by his God-given vision of becoming one of the nation’s preeminent business and entertainment attorney’s, and empowered by his faith and family values, Rodney Jones is well on his way to achieving his dreams. Because he is equipped with a strong intellect, a zest for life and a desire to help those around him, it will not be a surprise to see Jones’ name mentioned with not only the entertainment law elite, but also among individuals known for making a difference globally.
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 Shayan Modarres
Shayan Modarres comes to the Florida A&M University College of Law from the Maryland/D.C. area where he attended American University. As a Dean’s List student, Mr. Modarres obtained his Bachelors degree in Law & Society with a minor in political science prior to coming to law school. In his first year at the College of Law, Mr. Modarres expressed an interest in the possibility of studying and practicing entertainment law subsequent to graduation, and in the fall he became a member of the Entertainment, Art and Sports Law Society. He obtained a student internship with the entertainment law and criminal defense firm, the Ligon Law Group, in Orlando, Florida and has since worked for the Law Offices of Stanley E. Baritz in Rockville, Maryland as well as the Office of the Public Defender for the Ninth Judicial Circuit in Orlando, Florida.
Mr. Modarres has excelled academically throughout his law school career, placing in the top 15% of his class and maintaining a 3.2 grade point average. He is the recipient of the Dean’s Top Performer Scholarship, has received the highest grade in his Criminal Procedure and Constitutional Law classes, and also serves on the Editorial Board of the Florida A&M University Law Review Journal as the current Articles Editor. Subsequent to graduating from the College of Law, Mr. Modarres hopes to open his own law firm and utilize his relationships to the music industry to practice entertainment law.
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 Katrice Peterson
Education
Florida A&M University College of Law, Orlando, FL, Candidate for Juris Doctor, May 2012, Cumulative GPA: 3.17/4.0
Honors:
- Ranked in Top 11% of class (17/151)
- Served as Student Ambassador for 5th District Court of Appeals Oral Arguments, February 2010
Activities:
- Student Bar Association, fall 2009-current; Executive Chair of Community Service Committee, fall 2010
- Entertainment, Arts, Sports Law Society, fall 2009-current
- Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity, International, fall 2009-current
- American Bar Association, 3-Year Member, 2009-2012
- BARBRI Representative, fall 2009-current
- National Black Law Students Association, Jerry S. McCrary, Jr. Chapter, fall 2009-spring 2010
- Women’s Law Caucus, fall 2009-spring 2010; Served on Travel Committee for WLC Conference, February 2010.
Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, Bachelors of Arts Degree, May 2009, Cumulative GPA: 3.1/4.0
Major: Classical Studies (concentration in Classics), Minor: African American and Diaspora Studies
Honors:
- Achieved Dean’s List (3.7 GPA), May 2009
- Named Second Best Trial Advocate and Apart of the Second Place Team in the SE Regional Undergraduate Diversity Minority Mock Trial Competition, February 2009
- Awarded the Sue Sugg Piant Memorial Scholarship for Classical Studies, fall 2008-spring 2009
- Received the Tennessee Hope Scholarship, 2005-2009
Activities:
- Performed in Collegium Vocale Music Ensemble, fall 2005-spring 2009
- Volunteered with Circle K, fall 2007-spring 2008; Leadership Committee, fall 2007
Legal Experience
Judicial Intern, The Honorable Toni E. Clarke, Circuit Court for Prince George’s County, Upper Marlboro, MD, Summer 2010
- Shadowed Judge in various court cases (Family/Domestic, Criminal, Juvenile, Civil), Prepared Memoranda for various Motions & Judicial Reviews, Categorized various Discovery documents (Motions, Oppositions, Orders)
REO Title Analyst Intern, Shapiro & Kirsch, LLP, Memphis, TN, Summer 2009
- Corrected real estate title defects, Drafted affidavits, Made daily updates to clients’ file
Volunteer Law Clerk, Shelby County Public Defender’s Office, Memphis, TN, Summer 2008
- Maintained files for hearings, Interviewed clients, Researched TN and US Supreme Court cases, Prepared case briefs
Civic Service
SBA Peer Tutor, Florida A&M University College of Law, Orlando, FL, September 2010-present
- Provide tutoring services to College of Law students (3 hrs/week)
Book Reader for Book’em + Reading is Fundamental, Nashville, TN, October 2008-April 2009
- Read and Distributed books to elementary students while emphasizing positive character traits
Health Mentor for CASTLES, Vadnerbilt University, Nashville, TN, September 2008-April 2009
- Educated youth on maintaining healthy lifestyles, Participated in trainings to further develop knowledge on nutrition
High School Mentor for College As Reality (CAR), Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, August 2006-May 2007
- Mentored high school students and assisted with their college applications, resumes, business etiquette
- Served as Board Member and Mentor Relations Co-Chair in pairing students together and planning workshop events
Developmental Screenings Clinic for Vanderbilt’s Center for Child Development, Nashville, TN, September 2006-December 2006
- Conducted development screenings on youth 4-60 months for any mental, social, psychological deficiencies
Professional Experience
Soprano Section Leader, Cathedral Church of St. Luke, Orlando, FL, September 2009-current
- Guide sopranos in learning musical repertoire by emphasizing accurate notes, pitch, rhythm, and tone
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 Zalika Headley
Zalika M. Headley is currently a second year student at Howard University School of Law. At Howard she is an active member of both the Intellectual Property Students' Association and the Sports and Entertainment Law Students' Association. Her interest in entertainment stems from her undergraduate internships with Bad Boy Entertainment, Universal Motown, and Def Jam. These internships allowed her to witness firsthand the importance of securing for artists property rights for their work. Zalika had the fortunate opportunity of spending the summer after her first year working with entertainment attorney Lisa Bonner, of Bonner Law PC in New York City. The internship allowed her to experience firsthand the hard work that it takes to protect an artist’s image and to build their brand.
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 Marcus Moore
Marcus Moore is a second year student at Howard University School of Law. He entered law school knowing that Entertainment Law was his primary interest. He has been an active member of the Intellectual Property Student Association and the Sports and Entertainment Law Association. This year, Marcus also attended the 10th Anniversary Future of Music Coalition Policy Summit hosted at Georgetown University. The summit focused on the legal and social issues concerning musicians. Additionally, at the completion of his first year of law school, Marcus was awarded a scholarship reserved for Entertainment Law focused students funded by the Fats Waller Trust Fund.
Marcus’ interest in Entertainment Law did not begin in law school. In undergraduate, he majored in Jazz Performance and worked
professionally as a musician and concert producer. While working at Jazz at Lincoln Center, he assisted in concert and tour planning with numerous musicians such as Wynton Marsalis, John Legend, Lenny Kravitz, and Willie Nelson. Marcus’ passion for arts and entertainment inspired him to be a legal advocate for the arts.
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 Tara Ann Canada
Bio coming soon.
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Krystal Johnson
Bio coming soon.
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