Makira Burns, originally from Orlando, FL, graduated from Florida A&M University (FAMU) in Spring 2023 with a B.S. in Political Science and a minor in Pre-Law. She plans to attend law school in the near future and is currently in a rotational program at Latham & Watkins, a prestigious global law firm. Most recently, she was accepted into the inaugural class of the Yale Law School Launchpad Scholars Program.

Before graduating, Makira served as Student Body Vice-President, a Legislative Intern for the Florida House of Representatives, and a Foreign Service Intern at the U.S. Embassy in London. She was also a Fellow for the Florida Gubernatorial Fellows Program and an Ambassador for the White House Initiative on HBCUs under the Biden-Harris Administration.

As a first-generation college student, Makira faced financial challenges but took matters into her own hands by applying for numerous scholarships. Her efforts paid off, and she won several local scholarships totaling over $40,000. She continued to apply for scholarships and internships throughout college, securing multiple national scholarships and competitive internships each academic year.

Makira founded Igniting Scholars to help high school and college students achieve academic and professional success. Specializing in professional development and college readiness, she assists students in securing scholarships and internships. Her initiative was inspired by her own experiences and the success of a high school student she mentored, who won over $35,000 in scholarships.

Igniting Scholars offers services such as resume building, interview preparation, personalized scholarship lists, and personal statement development. Makira has helped her classmates secure internships at top law firms and win substantial scholarships, including through the Thurgood Marshall College Fund. She also posts informational videos on applying for internships, reaching millions of students globally.

As a passionate advocate for her community, Makira has discovered the transformative power of servant leadership. She aims to influence future generations through the legal field while empowering individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds to realize their potential and reshape their futures.