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Scholarships and Awards

Calvin named scholarships for pre-law students

A number of scholarships are available specifically for Calvin College upperclassmen who have declared their intention to enter the field of law. Additional information about these scholarships is available from the Admissions and Financial Aid Department or by clicking on the scholarship name. The scholarships include:

Bere' Memorial Scholarship
Ronald Buikema Scholarship
Honorable John Feikens Memorial Pre-Law Scholarship
Kenneth L. Ryskamp Scholarship
Jacob and Rena VanDellen Scholarship
Waalkes Memorial Scholarship
Johan and Wilma Westra Scholarship

Interested students should submit the completed application as noted in the scholarship details available at the above links by March 1st to be considered for these awards for the subsequent academic year.

Outside scholarships and awards

Search for non-Calvin scholarships and financial aid through Calvin's Office of Admissions and Financial Aid.

ABA Legal Opportunity Scholarship Fund

$5,000 in financial assistance is awarded annually to a scholarship recipient attending an ABA-accredited law school. Recipients are selected based on their qualifications for the scholarship, not on the selected law school. First year students receiving the award may be eligible for renewal for an additional two years of financial assistance. You may download the application here or from the American Bar Association, and are due by March 1st.

Warner Norcross & Judd LLP Scholarships

LSAT Preparation Scholarship

Up to $1,500 is awarded to selected minority students, to enable them to attend a study course to prepare for the LSAT. Scholarships will cover the cost of tuition for a LSAT Preparation Course offered by Kaplan Test Prep and Admissions.

Eligible applicants must:

  • be a Michigan resident or currently attending a Michigan college or university
  • be a junior or senior during the 2011-2012 academic year
  • have a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher
  • have demonstrated financial need
  • take the LSAT prep course by December, 2012

Applications are available here or from Warner Norcross and Judd's web site. Deadline for submission, including the Financial Information Form, is April 30, 2012.

Congratulations to Kara Shin, a 2009 recipient of the Warner Norcross & Judd LSAT Preparation Course Scholarship!

Minority Scholarship Program

$5,000 will be awarded to a law school student, $2,000 to a paralegal/legal assistant student and $1,000 to a legal secretarial student who is currently accepted or enrolled in an accredited school in Michigan and is a current or former resident of Michigan. The deadline for submitting applications to the Grand Rapids Community Foundation (who selects the winners) is April 1 of each year.

Interested students should complete an online application.

Questions should be directed to Ruth Bishop, Grand Rapids Community Foundation, at 616.284.4903 or to Rodney Martin, Warner Norcross & Judd LLP, at rmartin@wnj.com.

NALS (the association for legal professionals) Scholarships

The Michigan NALS Chapter will provide one $1,000 scholarship and the West Michigan Chapter is offering one $500 scholarship for students pursuing a career in the legal or legal services-related field. The scholarships are non-renewable, may be used only for books or tuition, and will be awarded based on scholastic or legal career achievements, future career goals, demonstration of financial need, and leadership ability. Applications must be postmarked no later than November 2, 2009 for the West Michigan award, and by January 15, 2010 for the Michigan scholarship.

Michigan NALS Application and Award Rules and Regulations [for application in pdf format]
West Michigan NALS Application and Award Rules and Regulations [for application in pdf format]

Varnum Law Diversity and Inclusion Scholarship Program

The scholarship, which is designed to provide financial assistance and adequate preparation of undergraduate students who desire to attend law school and demonstrate a commitment to promoting diversity and inclusion within the legal profession and/or their community, has two parts:

  • Two $4,000 scholarships will be awarded to first-year law students
  • Two scholarships of up to $1,500 will be paid for junior undergraduate students to attend a LSAT preparation course offered by Kaplan Test Prep and Admission.

Selection criteria for the first-year law students include:

  • Cumulative minimum GPA of at least 3.0
  • Member of an ethnic or racial minority, or demonstrate significant commitment to issues of diversity of inclusion
  • A Michigan resident accepted to or currently attending an accredited law school within the U.S., or a non-Michigan resident attending an accredited Michigan law school.

To be eligible for the LSAT preparation course scholarship, recipients must:

  • be a junior level student currently attending an accredited Michigan college or university
  • have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher
  • be a member of an ethnic or racial minority or demonstrate a significant commitment to issues of diversity and inclusion

Applications are due by March 15, 2011, and must include an official academic transcript and a personal statement of goals. Scholarship applications may be completed online at www.varnumlaw.com/Diversity-and-Inclusion.

Congratulations to Phanuelle Duchatelier for winning a 2011 Varnum LSAT Preparation Course Scholarship!

Congratulations to Ben Shoemaker, a 2010 recipient of the Varnum LSAT Preparation Course Scholarship!