Ezekiel Hopkins ’26 Honored with Tyler Lawrence Memorial Peacemaker Award 2026
04.27.26 — The Tyler Lawrence Memorial Peacemaker Award honors the memory of a 13-year-old boy whose life was cut short by violence in January 2023, but whose spirit — described by those who loved him as that of “a peacemaker who brought people together” and “a force for good” — lives on in the work of Northeastern Law students. Established by Professor Richard Daynard and his wife, Carol, in memory of Tyler Lawrence, grandson of Northeastern Law friend and colleague Stan Lawrence, the award recognizes students who carry on that legacy through youth advocacy and community-building work in experiential learning. This year, that recognition belongs to Ezekiel Hopkins ’26, whose dedicated pursuit of justice and community-centered legal practice reflects exactly the impact Tyler was destined to have on the world.
“I am honored to have received the Tyler Lawrence Peacemaker Award. It means a lot to be recognized for my work that has always been rooted in community — work shaped by the people and experiences that have challenged me to think more critically about justice and my role within it. This award reminds me to keep showing up with intention, to listen closely and to remain accountable to the communities I serve,” said Hopkins, who will join the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office as an assistant district attorney following graduation.
Hopkins’ path towards legal advocacy began at Villanova University, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in political science and criminology. There he deepened his commitment to public service through work with the Sophomore Service-Learning Community and the Philadelphia Justice Project.
At Northeastern Law, he built on that foundation through his co-ops, clinical work and leadership roles. He participated in the Prisoners’ Rights Clinic as a student attorney, served as a teaching assistant in the Legal Skills in Social Context research and writing program, and held leadership positions as co-president of the Criminal Law Association, vice president of the Black Law Students Association and chief diversity editor of the Northeastern University Law Review. Through co-ops at the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Boston, the Office of the Solicitor General for the District of Columbia and the Civil Rights and Restorative Justice Project, he deepened his understanding of client-centered advocacy and the tangible impact of thoughtful, creative and engaged public service.
About Northeastern University School of Law
The nation’s leader in experiential legal education since 1968, Northeastern University School of Law offers the longest-running, most extensive experience-based legal education program in the country. Northeastern provides its students with unparalleled practical legal work experiences through its signature Cooperative Legal Education Program. More than 1,000 employers worldwide in a wide range of legal, government, nonprofit and business organizations participate in the program. With a focus on social justice and innovation, Northeastern University School of Law blends theory and practice, providing students with a unique set of skills and experiences to successfully practice law.
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