Six Things To Know About The First Haitian American To Serve As US Attorney In South Florida

the standard of excellence on which this office is built.” notable pro bono practice. He received the Legal Aid/ Put Something Back Pro Bono Award in Child Advocacy and the Daily Business Review’s Most Effective Lawyer Award for Pro Bono in Family Law.

2: Lapointe was born in Port-Au-Prince, Haiti and immigration to Miami at age 16 to live in the Liberty City neighborhood.

6: On September 15, 2022, President Joe Biden nominated Lapointe to be the United States attorney for the Southern District of Florida. On December 1, 2022, his nomination was reported out of the Senate Judiciary Committee by voice vote. On December 6, 2022, his nomination was confirmed in the Senate by voice vote.

- NewsAmericasNow.com

It’s been almost a month already since history was made in South Florida and a Haitian immigrant was sworn in as the first Haitian American United States Attorney in South Florida. Here are 6 things to know about this Caribbean immigrant:

1: He is Markenzy Lapointe, 54, who took the oath before Chief U.S. District Judge Cecilia M. Altonaga on January 9, 2023. Lapointe replaces Juan Antonio Gonzalez, a career federal prosecutor who had led the office since March 2021. “I am deeply honored to serve my country and community as U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida,” said Lapointe. “The proud history of this office stems from decades of commitment to justice, fairness, integrity, and community service. I will follow these principles and strive to uphold

3: He went to Edison High School and then Miami Dade College and joined the United States Marine Corps Reserve. He then went on to earn a Bachelor of Science degree in finance from the Florida State University in 1993 and a Juris Doctor from the Florida State University College of Law in 1999.

4: From 1999 to 2001, he worked as a law clerk for Florida Supreme Court Justice Harry Lee Anstead. From 2002 to 2006, he served as an assistant United States attorney for the Southern District of Florida. Lapointe then went into private practice as a partner at Boies Schiller Flexner LLP and later in the Miami office of Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP, where he handled commercial, high exposure product liability, professional malpractice, and criminal investigation matters. He also co-chaired the law firm’s Advancement of Diverse Attorneys Committee, promoting the retention and advancement of attorneys from diverse backgrounds.

5: Throughout his career, Lapointe has maintained a

YDR Born Bow Valley College Graduate Wins Top Prize In Prominent Industry Competition

A Dominican Republic-born immigrant is the winner of the top prize in the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA) Student Design Competition. Beatriz Hernandez of Bow Valley College won for her recommendations for a kitchen remodel, that stood out amongst dozens of applicants in Canada and the United States. “I couldn’t believe it. It is an honour to be recognized for something I’m passionate about and that I put a lot of passion into,” Hernandez, who is an international student, said. “I wanted to provide the clients with a beautiful and functional renovation that will work for them now and in the future. I put together a construction plan and design statement that offers a combination of meeting personal tastes and needs and timeless finishes that will add to the value of their home.”

Hernandez graduated from Bow Valley College in December 2022 with a Kitchen and Bath Design Post-Diploma Certificate. She said she chose the program to supplement her degree in architecture, expanding her expertise in residential interior design. Hernandez gained practical experience with Krista Hermanson Design in Calgary, where she is now working fulltime as a designer assistant.

The NKBA Prairie Provinces Chapter honoured Hernandez at a lecture at Bow Valley College on January 26, 2023. Her award includes a $5,000 scholarship and an all-expenses paid trip to Las Vegas for the annual Kitchen and Bath Industry Show (KBIS), the largest trade show of its kind in the world.