In 2014 Samantha graduated from Hope College with degrees in international studies and political science. Samantha went on to attend Wake Forest University School of Law where she earned her juris doctor in 2018. Following her time at Wake Forest, she became a judicial law clerk/attorney advisor at the Chicago Immigration Court for the Executive Office of Immigration Review. Most recently, she serves as general attorney for U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Department of Homeland Security. She has also used her law skills to volunteer at CARPLS, a legal aid hotline that provides free legal services for qualifying Cook County residents, and with the DePaul Asylum and Immigration Law Clinic. She currently volunteers with Soul Trak Outdoors, an organization that connects communities of color to outdoor spaces. “Being a student at Hope helped me to better understand myself in a world around me that often looked very different from me and held different values than my own,” she said. Her intelligence and understanding in her field challenge others to consider new ideas and perspectives.
Hope College is proud to honor Samantha Poon ’14 with the 2022 10 Under 10 Award. The 10 Under 10 Award honors emerging leaders who are making significant contributions by living out their callings; engaging in the local and global community through professional and/or volunteer involvement; and using their education to think about important issues with wisdom and clarity. Award recipients also communicate effectively to bridge boundaries that divide human communities and act as agents of hope living faithfully into their vocations. Designed for alumni who are within 10 years of graduation, these awards are presented by the Hope College Alumni Association. Make a nomination today.
