For the 15th consecutive year, the law firm of Warner Norcross + Judd LLP has provided academic scholarships to assist minority students from Michigan in completing their legal studies.
A competitive scholarship administered and awarded by the Grand Rapids Community Foundation, the Warner scholarship program provides monetary assistance to students to help cover the educational costs associated with a law degree or paralegal studies. The 2015 recipients are:
Since it began offering scholarships, Warner has provided more than $162,000 to support programs that encourage minority students to pursue a career in the law. To date, the firm has provided scholarships to nearly 80 students.
The 2015 winners were chosen by a selection committee at the Grand Rapids Community Foundation based on essays that outlined personal goals and challenges that have drawn them into the field of law. Warner established the scholarship fund at the Grand Rapids Community Foundation in 1998; the first scholarship was awarded in 2001.
Favorite, who received the law firm’s $5,000 Law School Scholarship, earned her bachelor’s degree from Spelman College in Atlanta. As an undergrad, Favorite chose to major in English so she would grow accustomed to the large amount of reading and writing she knew would face in law school.
Favorite plans to attend the University of Michigan Law School. Upon becoming an attorney, she intends to improve federal policy, “transform institutions” and ensure essential resources for individuals in need.
“Having accepted an offer of admission into the University of Michigan Law School, I am eager to exercise the law’s power as a change agent for troubled communities,” Favorite said.
Webster received the law firm’s $2,000 Paralegal/Legal Assistant Scholarship. She plans to complete her degree at Oakland Community College and hopes to use her education to become a certified paralegal. She plans to continue to develop her work as a freelance paralegal as a flexible income source in the event she decides to further her education by attending graduate school. Her career plans include becoming a member of the U.S. Senate.
“I chose the Oakland Community College paralegal program because it is ABA accredited,” Webster said. “I knew I would get a quality education that would allow me to compete in the workplace with my peers.”
In order to be considered for a scholarship, applicants must:
In addition to its longstanding tuition scholarship program, Warner also annually provides scholarships to minority students in their junior or senior year of college to pay the costs of a study course for the Law School Admission Test. Information about these scholarship programs is available on the firm's website here.
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.
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