For DonorsFor Applicants

Justice Adolpho A. Birch Jr. Scholarship

$5,000
1 winner$5,000
Awarded
Application Deadline
Jul 8, 2024
Winners Announced
Aug 15, 2024
Education Level
Undergraduate, Graduate
Eligibility Requirements
Education Level:
Undergraduate or graduate student
Race/Ethnicity:
BIPOC
Career Goal:
Lawyer
Education Goal:
Law School

Easing barriers to higher education, especially for underserved and underrepresented students, is critical to making a legal education accessible. This scholarship seeks to honor the life of Justice Adolpho A. Birch, Jr., the only Tennessean to serve on every level of the state's judiciary and the first African-American Chief Justice of the Tennessee Supreme Court.

Any BIPOC individual currently in the law school application process may apply for the scholarship.

To apply, please answer the below essay questions and please also upload a copy of your resume.

Selection Criteria:
Ambition, Drive, Passion
Published April 8, 2024
Essay Topic

Please answer each of the following questions. When responding, please distinguish each response by starting each paragraph with "Question 1... Question 2..." etc.

  1. When do you plan to begin law school? If you are matriculating this Fall (August 2024), please list the law schools you have applied to and heard back from. If you have already placed a seat deposit at a particular school, please indicate so.
  2. How do you pursue learning and intellectual growth outside of formal education? Please provide examples of how this pursuit shaped your legal aspirations.
  3. Describe a moment when you stood up for what was right despite facing opposition and/or knowing you would be negatively affected. How did you navigate the dilemma and what did you takeaway from the experience?
  4. Imagine you had the resources to create a philanthropic initiative. What cause would you support, and why?
500–750 words

Winners and Finalists

August 2023

Finalists
Caili Anderson
Alexandra Sarkis
JLen Bester
Andres Moreno III
jayda peets
Abigail DeMonte
Danielle Miles
Ann Pusselwhyte
Johnathan Fuentes
Calia Johnson
Piaja Brooks
Kennedy Freeman
Elias Massion
Copenhagen Elliott
Arianna Bivins
Jhoana Merino-Martinez
Christian Viegas
Nathaniel Cambridge
Christina Houston
Codey Bates
Vivian Wong
Nicholas Fox
Jasmyne Hinson
Jalen Brown
Thierno Diallo
Brianna Adams
Sherman King
Olivia Chijioke
Briana Napoleon
Chandler Rankin
Sparrow Caldwell
Denisha Emmanuel
Freddy Wong

Winning Application

Bianca Hayles
Pace University - Westchester CampusJamaica, NY
Question 1: I'm going to start law school in August 2024. I applied to 18 schools, including New York University School of Law, Fordham University School of Law, Cardozo Law School, Brooklyn Law School, St. John's Law School, CUNY Law School, Albany Law School, New York Law School, Hofstra Law School, Rutgers Law School, Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University, New England Law | Boston, Touro Law Center, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, Vermont Law School, Western New England University School of Law, Suffolk Law School, and Quinnipiac University School of Law. After receiving eight acceptances and four waitlist offers, I paid a seat deposit and will start at Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University in late summer. Question 2: Outside formal education, I enhance my learning and intellectual growth by staying curious about the world and its people, which involves volunteering in my community and engaging in oral storytelling. Previously, I volunteered at the Fortune Society, an organization dedicated to assisting formerly incarcerated individuals in their transition back into society. During this time, I worked closely with young people. Their real-life experiences and needs exceeded what I absorbed from textbooks and scholarly articles. Through listening to their stories, as a future attorney, I learned to connect with people, genuinely comprehend their needs, and work towards solutions that align with their necessities rather than imposing my own beliefs. As an advocate, I must support the desires of my clients vigorously. Specifically, these experiences have ignited a passion within me to drive initiatives in the legal field that benefit youth in underserved communities and ensure their voices are heard and acted upon. Question 3: Taking care of my autistic older brother has been a challenging journey. One of the biggest challenges I encountered was dealing with the public busing services the New York Department of Education provided. My brother and other disabled students used to ride to their schools on public buses without air-conditioning. The buses would become unbearably hot, often exceeding 100 ºF during the late spring and summer months. This heat caused my brother to have nosebleeds, and his peers would frequently have seizures. Despite this, none of their elected representatives have taken action to help them. As my brother's protector, I decided to take matters into my own hands. Advocacy can bring about significant change. I contacted the state office responsible for student transportation and advocated for my brother and his bus mates, pushing for air-conditioning installation. It took numerous phone calls and letters over several months before the Department of Education finally agreed to my requests. While I was relieved that my actions would benefit my brother and his peers, I wanted to formalize the air-conditioning policy change for all special needs students in New York City while interning for New York State Assembly Member Aravella Simotas. During my time in her office, I worked with her team to research and draft legislation requiring air-conditioning on New York City public school buses during warm weather. The following spring, I was thrilled to see the mandate we had worked so hard for come into effect. I am thankful for Assembly Member Aravella Simotas and her team's support and collaboration. They shared my vision and worked tirelessly to make it a reality. From this experience, I learned that change is powerful but not easy and requires determination not to give up in the face of obstacles. Question 4: If I had the resources to initiate a philanthropic project, it would be my passion project: The Hidden Youth Campaign (THY Campaign), a social media movement I established. Its main goal is to create awareness surrounding the often-overlooked group of disabled youth in the Juvenile Justice System and address societal misconceptions about them. Our primary objective is to break down the Disability to Prison Pipeline, the School to Prison Pipeline, and other related institutional barriers. This Campaign is built on three main pillars: Teach. Highlight. Yearn. It urges individuals to educate themselves and others about disabled youth involved in the justice system, shed light on the unique injustices they face within their communities, and strive for societal, political, and economic changes to help them realize their full potential. As the sister of a disabled brother and an advocate for educational equity as someone who grew up in under-resourced school districts, I intuitively support disabled youth, especially those impacted by the justice system. All youth deserve an equitable, stimulating, and comprehensive educational experience that enables them to succeed.
Kamilah Newton
Fordham UniversityThe Bronx, NY

FAQ

When is the scholarship application deadline?

The application deadline is Jul 8, 2024. Winners will be announced on Aug 15, 2024.