Anthony Lawson was only 17 when his older brother David Josiah Lawson was murdered while away at college. It took time, but Anthony and his family have managed to turn tragedy into inspiration.

Anthony’s interest in advocating for the rights of disadvantaged groups has led to his participation in various extracurricular events on and off CSUN’s campus, where he is a sophomore majoring in psychology. His activities include the Rights for All Movement, Black Lives Matter, and food and coat drives. While grieving the loss of his brother, Anthony has excelled in school, maintaining his GPA and making the dean’s list for three years running.

He plans on becoming a family psychiatrist to help, support and counsel those who have faced ​similar situations.