WASHINGTON (Diya TV)—The American Constitution Society (ACS) has named three Indian-American law students to its prestigious 2025 class of Next Generation Leaders (NGLs), recognizing their outstanding contributions to legal advocacy, public service, and progressive legal values.
The honorees—Varun Cidambi, Akanksha Balekai, and Ruchika Sharma—were selected nationwide for their leadership in promoting civil rights, democracy, and judicial equity within their respective law school communities and beyond.
The NGL program, launched in 2007 by the ACS, spotlights promising law students who represent the future of the progressive legal movement. This year’s cohort includes 12 student leaders nationwide. “At a time when we need them more than ever to join us in the fight for the rule of law and our democracy, these students are stepping up,” said ACS Interim President Zinelle October in a statement.
Varun Cidambi, a second-year student at the University of Notre Dame Law School, has been honored for his leadership in organizing meaningful discussions on democracy, civil rights, and judicial fairness. As president of the Notre Dame ACS Student Chapter, Cidambi has broadened the organization’s programming to include topics such as voting rights, judicial ethics, and economic justice.
He has also prioritized fostering dialogue across ideological lines within his campus community. “Serving as president of Notre Dame’s ACS Student Chapter has been the most meaningful experience I have had during my time here,” Cidambi said in a statement released by ACS.
At the University of Illinois College of Law, Akanksha Balekai has emerged as a force for connecting students with national legal thinkers and reform advocates. As president of the school’s ACS chapter, Balekai has organized influential programming that brings pressing legal and policy issues into the classroom and beyond.
She has also maintained an active role within the national ACS network, helping expand its reach and influence among emerging legal professionals. Her work has focused on building bridges between student activism and long-term systemic reform.
Ruchika Sharma, a doctoral candidate at American University’s Washington College of Law, brings a strong background in civil rights and public policy to this year’s NGL class. Sharma has previously interned with the U.S. Department of Justice and the American Bar Association and has consistently championed equity and justice throughout her academic career.
An alumna of George Washington University with a BA in international relations, Sharma co-founded a nationwide ACS initiative uniting more than 1,200 law students in defense of the rule of law during the Trump administration’s public attacks on lawyers and judges. Her work has helped galvanize student-led efforts to protect judicial independence and promote accountability in the justice system.
The ACS describes the Next Generation Leaders program as a launching pad for emerging legal professionals committed to upholding the Constitution and advancing equity. Participants receive mentorship, career development, and opportunities to contribute meaningfully to ACS’s broader legal network of scholars, practitioners, and advocates.
With their achievements, Cidambi, Balekai, and Sharma exemplify the qualities ACS seeks to elevate through the NGL program. Their selection underscores the growing impact of Indian American voices in the nation’s legal and policy arenas.
