National Black Law Students Association 2011-2012 Scholarship Opportunities

Building Pipelines to Enrich the Academic Experience

Greetings NBLSA Family, I am pleased to serve as your 2011-2012 National Director of Education and Career Development. In addition to creating employment and professional development opportunities for our membership, our team has been working on ways to recognize the excellence of our talented membership base. To achieve this, we have assembled a team of individuals on our national board that is particularly interested in acknowledging the achievements of NBLSA members. The Education Committee is comprised of National Board members who are dedicated to academic and career development. They have worked diligently to improve the scholarship application process this academic year. We are pleased to present three scholarship opportunities to NBLSA members and one scholarship to pre-law members: the Sandy Brown Memorial Scholarship, the Rodney Pulliam Memorial Scholarship NBLSA Most Outstanding Student Award and the Nelson Mandela Scholarship. This packet provides information on the qualifications and application requirements for each scholarship award. In addition to providing general information, applicants must submit an essay. Essay submissions are graded for content, style and organization. Completed applications must be submitted online by December 26, 2011, at 11:59 PM EDT. Nelson Mandela stated, Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world. We recognize that you, our members, are incredibly talented and possess the tools to change the world. Thus, we invite you to take advantage of this excellent opportunity for recognition of your hard work and achievements. We look forward to receiving your scholarship applications! In NBLSA love, Julie M. Wenah National Director of Education and Career Development educationcareer@nblsa.org

Julie M. Wenah
National Director of Education and Career Development Chair, Education Committee National Black Law Students Association

Sandy Brown Memorial Scholarship

Scholarship Deadline | Monday, December 26, 2011
urpose P
The Executive Board of the National Black Law Students Association (NBLSA) is pleased to announce the Sandy Brown Memorial Scholarship. The namesake of the scholarship, the late Sandy Brown, served as NBLSAs Western Regional Director. This scholarship is available to dues-paying NBLSA members currently in their first or second year of law school (or equivalent in a part-time or joint-degree program).

Essay Question
NBLSAs theme for 2011-2012, Building Pipelines for the Future, reflects our commitment to creating a diversity pipeline into law school and the legal profession. What does the concept of a pipeline meant to you? Do you believe pipeline initiatives are effective and/or important? Please discuss your reasoning in 1,000 words or less. Responses should be typed and double-spaced.

Application Requirements and Submission

A complete application consists of the following materials submitted electronically www.nblsa.org/sandybrown: 1. A completed online application 2. Your response to the essay question; and 3. A letter from your current BLSA Chapter President or Treasurer certifying that you are a dues paying member for the 2011-2012 academic year.

Applications must be submitted electronically with supporting documents by Monday, December 26, 2011 at 11:59 pm EDT.

Rodney Pulliam Memorial Scholarship

Scholarship Deadline | Monday, December 26, 2011
Purpose
The Executive Board of the National Black Law Students Association (NBLSA) is pleased to announce the annual Rodney Pulliam Memorial Scholarship. Mr. Pulliam served as NBLSAs National Chair in 1998-1999. Mr. Pulliam was an inspiration to all who knew him as a husband, father, minister, attorney and community activist. This award recognizes a NBLSA member who exemplifies Mr. Pulliams dedication to social action and community service. The award will be a scholarship that will be used for bar preparation. This award is only available to NBLSA members who are third year law students with plans to work in public interest upon graduation.

Essay Question
NBLSAs theme for 2011-2012 is Building Pipelines for the Future. As an organization, we recognize the importance of cultivating relationships and partnerships that will advance the mission of our organization, and assist us in providing resources to further the professional development of our members. How have your community service efforts built pipelines that will foster long-lasting partnerships for the profession and community? Please discuss your contributions, and how they have resulted in important partnerships in a typed, double-spaced document containing 750 words or less.

Application Requirements and Submission

A complete application consists of the following materials submitted electronically at www.nblsa.org/rodneypulliam: 1. A completed online application form; 2. Response to the essay question; 3. A letter from your current BLSA Chapter President or Treasurer certifying that you are a dues paying member for the 2011-2012 academic year; and 4. A one-page resume , including any relevant community service and/ or public interest experience.

Applications must be submitted electronically with supporting documents by Monday, December 26, 2011 at 11:59 pm EDT.
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NBLSA Most Outstanding Student Award

Scholarship Deadline | Monday, December 26, 2011
Purpose
The Executive Board of the National Black Law Students Association is pleased to announce the annual Most Outstanding Student Award. The purpose of this award is to recognize the NBLSA member who has excelled academically while actively serving their local chapter and community. First, second and third year law students are eligible for this award. For consideration, applicants must write a response to the essay prompt posed below.

Essay Question
Please describe how your engagement with your school and/or community is consistent with the purpose, goals and mission of NBLSA? How has your extracurricular involvement assisted NBLSA in furthering its purpose? (NBLSA purpose found in Article II of the Constitution). Please discuss this in 750 words or less.

Application Requirements and Submission

A complete application consists of the following materials submitted electronically www.nblsa.org/outstandingstudent 1. A completed online application form; 2. Your response to the essay question; 3. A letter from your current BLSA Chapter President or Treasurer certifying that you are a dues paying member for the 2011-2012 academic year; 4. A one-page resume; and 5.An unofficial copy of your most recent transcript, including any information on your schools grading system. Applications must be submitted electronically with supporting documents by December 26, 2011 at 11:59 pm EDT.

Nelson Mandela Scholarship

Pre-Law Students Only
Scholarship Deadline | Monday, December 26, 2011
Purpose
The Executive Board of the National Black Law Students Association is pleased to announce the annual Nelson Mandela Scholarship. Nelson Mandela has dedicated his life to fighting against injustice and the scourge of apartheid. This award will recognize a Pre-Law Division member who exemplifies Mr. Mandelas dedication to justice and equality. To be eligible for an award, entrants must be a member of the Pre-Law Division and be of African descent. Applicants must write an e s s a y o n t h e i s s u e p o s e d b y t h e e s s a y q u e s t i o n b e l o w.

Essay Question
Before his presidency, Nelson Mandela was an anti-apartheid activist, who subsequently led his party in the negotiations that led to multiracial democracy. He also introduced polices aimed at combating poverty and inequality in South Africa. Although his efforts were mostly aimed at South Africa, his influence had a global impact on race relations. In less than 1500 words, describe how you intend to use your law degree in a way that will have a global impact on minorities.

Application Requirements and Submission

A complete application consists of the following materials submitted electronically www.nblsa.org/nelsonmandela: 1. A completed online application; 2. Your response to the essay question; and 3. A one-page resume.

Applications must be submitted electronically with supporting documents by December 26, 2011 at 11:59 pm EDT.

Selection Criteria, Process and Notication

Members of the NBLSA Education Committee will select the scholarship recipients. Scholarship recipients will be chosen based on the quality of their essay, which must be the original written work product of the applicant. The quality of the essay will be determined based on responsiveness to the question, grammar, organization and style. We will only consider submissions that meet the formatting requirements articulated above. Late or incomplete applications will not be considered. Scholarship recipients will be notified by email and recognized during the Awards Banquet at the National Convention in Washington, DC. We highly encourage award recipients to attend National Convention; however, attending the convention is not an application requirement.

For Additional Information

Please direct all questions regarding this scholarship to the National Director of Education and Career Development, Julie M. Wenah, at educationcareer@nblsa.org.