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Li Ko

Li Ko

Fred and Bernice Hansen Memorial Scholarship Recipient

MITCHELL HAMLINE SCHOOL OF LAW

Li Ko entered law enforcement to help serve immigrant communities. That work led him to take a new path and make an even bigger impact.

Li began his law enforcement career by patrolling the streets and public transit in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. “When I worked in South Dallas, which has some of the city’s lowest-income areas, that really opened my eyes,” he said. “When you meet people and hear their stories, you start to realize the disparities in how the poor and minorities are treated. You learn how the lack of access to proper legal representation can significantly impact the course of someone’s life. It’s heartbreaking.”

One encounter with a woman in distress changed the course of Li’s life. The woman, who spoke only Mandarin, was riding a train in search of a police officer who could help her. Li spoke with her in Mandarin and learned the woman’s daughter had lost custody of her newborn due to a domestic dispute. The new mother was desperate to be reunited with her baby, but due to language barriers, she didn’t know where to turn.

“I felt helpless in that situation,” Li said. “As a police officer, you can only do so much. We are committed to keeping them safe and enforcing the law, but we can’t help them navigate a legal situation. I started thinking, what else can I do?”

Li said he took inspiration from the woman’s persistence in seeking help for her family. “You have to be brave to jump on a train in a foreign country and approach a stranger to seek help,” Li said. “That woman’s bravery and determination taught me that hope comes from action. The action you take can bring someone hope.” The action Li decided to take to bring others hope was to study law, empowering those who need legal aid.

“My goal is to become a lawyer and to educate immigrants and train police officers who deal with immigrants,” Li said.

Education creates hope, and through that hope, people can experience freedom.

Li Ko

2023 Founders Memorial Scholarship Recipient

Education creates hope, and through that hope, people can experience freedom.

Li Ko

2023 Founders Memorial Scholarship Recipient

Education creates hope, and through that hope, people can experience freedom.

Li Ko

2023 Founders Memorial Scholarship Recipient

Li began studying law through the Mitchell Hamline School of Law in Minnesota, in a program that offers a blend of virtual and in-person classes. He continues to live in Texas with his family, working as a private investigator and volunteering as a reserve peace officer while also building his Amway business with his wife, Susan.

Li says his education is showing him how the fundamentals of the American legal system have the potential to give everyone a voice.

“I have come to appreciate the U.S. Constitution as a remarkable document that our Founding Fathers crafted with great care and thought,” Li said. “Knowledge is power, and knowing the Constitution can empower us to protect our freedom and bring hope to others.”

As he studies and prepares for a law career, Li is deepening a lifelong passion to serve others and provide hope.

“The more I read and study, the more I have hope in the possibility for justice,” Li said. “But there has to be someone to fight for justice, and they have to have the desire to give people hope.”

IBO FOUNDING FAMILY: FRED + BERNICE HANSEN

The Hansen family is pleased to honor the recipients of the Founders Memorial Scholarship Program. We celebrate the next generation of dreamers, scholars and achievers. With the hard work and persistence of these excellent and enterprising young people, the future is bright. We continue to be grateful for a legacy of determination, dedication and dreaming big.

– The Hansen Family