As part of the firm’s commitment to promoting diversity in the legal profession, Warner Norcross + Judd LLP has selected the recipient of a $20,000 scholarship and summer associate position.
Eboni White, a first-year law student studying at the University of Michigan Law School, has been selected as the 2023 recipient of the firm’s $20,000 Diversity Scholarship and 1L Summer 2023 Employment Opportunity.
Applications were received from students representing 21 different law schools from around the country, and required a written personal statement, undergraduate and law school transcripts and a current resume for consideration. Members of the firm’s Diversity, Equity + Inclusion Action Committee and Summer Associate Committee reviewed and selected the winner of this year’s scholarship.
Eboni’s background includes time as an engineer at Ford Motor Company and as a member of Detroit’s 2022 New Leaders Council Institute, which focuses on creating equitable social and political change within the Detroit community.
Her personal statement shared, “As an African American growing up in Grand Rapids, I recognized early on that we are all more alike than different, and focused my efforts on finding common ground with others to build relationships... I learned how to advocate, not only for my opinions, but for others, and became skilled at persuading people to listen to my perspectives.”
Eboni will be a 2023 summer associate in the firm’s Detroit office and will receive her scholarship payments over two semesters.
Upon receiving the news, Eboni shared: “I am ecstatic to be working with Warner Norcross + Judd this summer. Each person I've met at Warner has been sincere and kind. Most importantly I immediately felt included and seen. They have an extremely accepting culture that takes concrete steps to diversify their staff at all levels. Receiving their 1L DEI scholarship puts me closer to my goal of becoming attorney. I am deeply humbled and grateful for this opportunity.”
Warner Associate and Diversity, Equity + Inclusion Action Committee member Zainab Hazimi shared: “Warner’s DEI Scholarship signifies the firm’s continued commitment to fostering an inclusive and diverse work environment. The scholarship afforded us the opportunity to recruit with intentionality. The result led us to finding an exceptional summer associate who is similarly passionate about promoting diversity and inclusion in the legal profession and broader community, while also giving us the opportunity to make an additional investment in the success of this law student. I look forward to increasing our pipeline of diverse summer associates while also promoting the advancement and retention of diverse talent within the firm.”
This $20,000 scholarship and employment opportunity is the newest in a series of scholarships and programs designed to promote diversity in the legal profession. To date, Warner has contributed more than $300,000 to a number of initiatives, including scholarships for law students, paralegals and legal secretaries, as well as study courses to prepare for law school entrance exams.
For more information on Warner’s commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion, visit www.wnj.com/firm/overview/commitment-to-diversity/. For questions about the scholarship please contact Courtney Failer, Warner’s community relations manager at cfailer@wnj.com.
