5 Reasons We ♥ Tomás Clasen ’18

1. What’s in a name?

For Tomás Clasen, ancestry, pride, opportunity. “My parents are German and Irish, and my birth mother is Guatemalan. When I was 12, my school in suburban Milwaukee put together a cultural fair.

I made the decision to learn more about my Guatemalan heritage and my birth mother. I learned she gave me my name and that she gave me up for adoption because she couldn’t provide the life she wanted for me. “

I helped my adopted mom start an annual volunteer trip for my high school to assist a Guatemalan orphanage, and twelve years later, it’s still going strong. I am really proud to have been a part of the start of this program.”

2. His peers believe in him…and he believes in them.

“When I started on the Wisconsin Law Review, there wasn’t much diversity. Last
year, I was encouraged by my peers to run for editor-in-chief. Being elected to the position has been very meaningful to me— and very humbling. I hope it is meaningful to other law students, to make them feel like they can do it, too.”

“During the write-on process last summer, I texted, called, and emailed minority law students to encourage them to consider joining the Law Review as a member, and then running for a board position down the road.”

3. He’s heading to a top firm in his favorite locale: Milwaukee.

“Next fall, I am joining Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren as an associate in the real estate group. I like the collaborative and transactional nature of real estate law. I like being able to look at something tangible—like a building—and know that I’m working on that. After spending four years in New York City and three years in Madison, I am happy to be returning home to Milwaukee.”

4. His call of duty: helping kids.

“I wanted to give back to the United States, which, through adoption, has given so much to me. That’s why I participated in Teach for America and ended up teaching a total of four years. I am looking forward to figuring out how I can give back to the Milwaukee community through either my my pro bono work or during my personal time. In particular, I want to support Milwaukee’s youth.”

5. He’s paying back a debt of love.

“I always knew I wanted to be a lawyer, and I’ve also felt the need to do something with the opportunity that was given to me as a result of being adopted. “I got lucky. I have a great family and attended a great school.

The truth is my birth mother made an immense sacrifice for love and for my well-being by giving me up for adoption. She gave me a debt of love at a very young age, and I’m trying to pay it back, by loving and supporting people.

I try to encourage and help those around me. I try to do this not just in words, but with my time. I may be busy, but that doesn’t mean I don’t have time to support those around me.” •

By Karen Koethe