This fall, Maine Law will welcome two new students who already know what it means to stand side by side in service to their community and to one another.
Maine State Representative Sophia Warren and youth advocate Boniface Kabongo will begin their law school journey together as 1Ls less than a month after they were married in mid-August.
Warren, who represents her hometown of Scarborough in the Maine State Legislature, said her decision to pursue law school grew out of the same motivations that first brought her into public service.
“What drew me to the legislature is the same thing that draws me to Maine Law: fighting climate change, protecting our environment, and caring for my community,” she explained. “I’ve come to understand that it’s not just about passing laws, but enforcing and using them to their fullest extent.”
Kabongo’s path was shaped by his years working with young people in Lewiston at Tree Street Youth, where he witnessed firsthand the challenges of the juvenile justice and immigration systems. “I realized I wanted to put myself in a position where, if a young person needed help, I could be the one they called,” he said. “Being a mentor to kids who share my background and showing them what’s possible—that’s what drives me.”
The couple first met as teenagers at Seeds of Peace, the youth-centered leadership program that addresses legacies of global conflict. They were close friends for years before beginning a relationship, supporting one another through college, studies abroad, and the launch of their careers in Maine.
“Boniface has been fundamental in every step of my journey,” said Warren. “He was even instrumental in my campaign for the legislature, strategizing with me, cheering me on, and working alongside me on legislation. I’m so excited to see him bring that same passion and brilliance to law school.”
For Kabongo, the feeling is mutual. “There’s nothing like having your home team with you,” he reflected. “Sophie is incredibly intelligent and committed, and she knows how to think outside the box. Law school isn’t easy, but being able to cheer her on—and be cheered on by her—will make all the difference.”
Both said that coming to Maine Law together felt like a natural progression of their careers and also their partnership. They want to remain rooted in the state that shaped them and to build on the relationships, service work, and community connections they already value. “We’ve both received so much from Maine, and this is our way of giving back,” Warren explained. “Good things don’t happen by accident; they happen because good people step up. That’s what we hope to do.”
“We’ve always pushed each other to be the best we can be. Now, we get to take this next step side by side, supporting each other in the classroom, in our community, and in the future careers we’re building,” Kabongo agreed.
The couple took a brief honeymoon in Puerto Rico before returning to Maine to begin their studies. Their shared vision and mutual support suggest they will bring as much dedication to Maine Law as they already have to their communities—and to one another.
