Warner Norcross + Judd LLP has awarded three scholarships to college students through the firm’s Diversity Law Scholarship Program and Law School Admissions Test Preparation Course Scholarship Program.
Two students received Diversity Law Scholarships, which are competitive academic scholarships for students of color that are administered and awarded by the Grand Rapids Community Foundation. Now in its 20th year, the scholarship provides monetary assistance to help cover the educational costs associated with a legal secretarial studies or paralegal studies and a law degree, awarding $1,000 to a secretarial student or $2,000 to a paralegal student and $5,000 to a law school student.
The scholarship winners are:
Additionally, GVSU student Yessenia Aguillon received a scholarship to assist with the cost of tuition for an LSAT Preparation Course, consisting of self-paced, live online and in-person classes offered by Kaplan Test Prep and Admissions. Now in its 14th year, the LSAT Preparation Course Scholarship Program provides scholarships of up to $1,500 each to enable college students of color to participate in a study course to prepare them to take the LSAT. Studies have shown that students who take a formal LSAT prep course score higher on the test, which determines entrance into law school.
Warner established the two scholarship funds with the Grand Rapids Community Foundation in 1998, and the first scholarship was awarded in 2001. The winners were chosen after reviewing essays that summarized the goals and challenges that drew them to the field of law.
Since it began offering scholarships, Warner has provided more than $210,000 to support programs that encourage students of color to pursue a law career. To date, the scholarships have assisted 114 students.
As part of its ongoing commitment to promote diversity within the legal profession, Warner has formed a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Action Committee, which assists with the scholarship awards. The committee also works to develop and implement systems and processes that foster workforce diversity, equity and inclusion, focusing on the areas of hiring, training, retention and employee relations.
For more information on these scholarships, visit https://www.wnj.com/firm/overview/commitment-to-diversity/diversity-law-scholarship-and-applications.
About the Grand Rapids Community Foundation
The Grand Rapids Community Foundation leads Kent County in making positive, sustainable change. With its endowment, Grand Rapids Community Foundation support local nonprofits, leads significant social change and helps donors achieve their philanthropic goals. For more information, please visit www.grfoundation.org.
About Warner
By providing discerning and proactive legal advice, Warner Norcross + Judd LLP builds a better partnership with our clients. One of Michigan’s largest law firms, we’re focused on providing the best legal solutions and exceptional client service to organizations throughout the world. Connect with us on wnj.com, LinkedIn, Twitter or Facebook.
# # #