Bertolino LLP Awards $2,500 Scholarship to Ajok “Jolie” Bul for Forward-Thinking Vision on the Future of Cosmetics Regulation
Bul’s compelling argument that today’s legal distinction between cosmetics and drugs may be obsolete by 2075 earned her $2,500 toward her studies at Southern Methodist University.
Austin, TX – Bertolino LLP and its Texas professional license defense lawyers are proud to congratulate Ajok “Jolie” Bul on winning the 2026 Impact in Government Scholarship. This scholarship invited applicants to respond to one of two prompts. Bul chose to answer:
“What do you see in the law today that will be obsolete in 2075 and why?”
Bul’s video, “When Beauty Becomes Medicine,” zeroes in on a regulatory contradiction hiding in plain sight. South Korea regulates sunscreen as a functional cosmetic, while the United States classifies it as an over-the-counter drug. As biotechnology, artificial intelligence, and personalized skincare continue to advance, Bul argues that the legal distinction between cosmetics and drugs may not survive the next 50 years.
Bul also brought firsthand experience in the skincare industry to the topic. She founded Nile Glow, a social-impact skincare initiative that supports fair-wage employment for young women in South Sudan. The experience gave her a practical understanding of the beauty industry.
“When I encountered the prompt asking what law today might be obsolete by 2075, I immediately thought of the inconsistency in how a product as simple as sunscreen is regulated,” Bul shared. “That contradiction became the foundation for my video.”
The selection committee was equally impressed by the breadth of Bul’s achievements outside the classroom. Her accomplishments include the following:
- Selection as one of 11 students in the NexPoint John G. Tower Scholars Program, a competitive four-year interdisciplinary cohort focused on global economic systems and policy analysis
- Selection as the only Tower Scholar to conduct original research on U.S.-Japan trade relations, which she presented at the Sun & Star Business and Geopolitics Symposium co-hosted with Kwansei Gakuin University
- Recognition as a Gerald & Gail Turner Scholar
- Service as Director of Programming for the Association of Black Students, where she increased freshman meeting attendance by more than 60 percent
- Work as a Brand & Marketing Outreach Intern for HANDS International in partnership with UNICEF, helping generate more than $150,000 in international funding to support more than 20 girls displaced by conflicts in the Middle East
- Founding of Nile Glow, a social-impact skincare initiative supporting fair-wage employment for young women in South Sudan
- Volunteer service with Hope Farm in the Dallas-Fort Worth area
- Membership in Alpha Kappa Psi Business Fraternity and the SMU African Student Association
The $2,500 scholarship will support Bul’s continued studies in Economics with Financial Applications, with minors in Public Policy & International Affairs and Business Administration. She plans to pursue a career at the intersection of business, government, and international development.
Students interested in applying for next year’s Impact in Government Scholarship can find updated eligibility criteria and application details on the scholarship’s terms and conditions page.
About Bertolino LLP
Bertolino LLP is an Austin-based law firm that has defended thousands of Texas licensed professionals since 2003. The firm’s attorneys represent doctors, nurses, real estate agents, teachers, and professionals across dozens of regulated fields before Texas licensing boards and agencies.
Bertolino LLP built its practice around one principle: a professional’s license represents years of training, sacrifice, and dedication, and it deserves a serious defense. The firm treats every case with the same level of preparation and attention, regardless of the stage of the proceedings.
Licensed professionals facing board complaints, investigations, or disciplinary actions can contact Bertolino LLP to speak with a team that understands what is at stake.