Gift supports Purdue Global Law School students facing unexpected crises

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Ariadne Jamila “Jam” Maglaya Alagar was looking forward to earning her law degree from Purdue Global Law School and helping people who, like her, had immigrated to the United States.

“Jam was very passionate about helping legal immigrants transition well into society,” said Cherry Maglaya-Lee, Alagar’s mother.

Two months before completing her law degree in 2022, Alagar died of cancer at age 27. She was awarded a posthumous degree that year, which was accepted by her mother. Now a new endowment at Purdue Global Law School ensures that when other students face their own medical or personal crises, they won’t have to walk that path alone. The fund is managed by the Purdue for Life Foundation.

Established by her family through their nonprofit, Maglaya Medical-Legal Missions Inc., the Ariadne Jamila Maglaya Alagar, JD Endowment provides emergency funding to law students facing unexpected hardships. The family launched the fund with an initial $50,000 donation.

“We know that when students don’t complete our program, it often has more to do with personal circumstances than scholastic abilities,” said Martin Pritikin, dean and vice president of Purdue Global Law School. “This endowment will help us help our students when life gets in the way of them achieving their goals.”

In addition to the donation to establish the endowment, $8,795 was raised for the designated fund from 53 donors during Purdue University’s 13th annual Day of Giving on April 29.

“Our family is grateful for the response from Purdue Global when we requested to establish the endowment,” Maglaya-Lee said. “We are overwhelmed with gratitude for the generous donations from the Purdue Global community to help carry on Jam’s legacy.”

“This endowment is a beautiful and fitting tribute to honor Ariadne’s memory and one that dovetails with Purdue Global Law School’s own access mission,” Pritikin said.