ACBF distributes $47,750 in educational awards
This year, the Allegheny County Bar Foundation has awarded a total of $47,750 in educational loans and scholarships to law school and high school students. Through various named funds, the bar foundation provides financial assistance to students who demonstrate financial need and strong academic performance.
The ACBF Loans & Scholarship Committee selects the majority of award recipients. The Committee's selection process involves interviewing applicants and then meeting to discuss the applicants' qualifications. The Committee considers financial need and academics, but also places emphasis on a candidate's willingness to remain in Allegheny County upon graduation and to actively contribute to both the legal profession and the community.
Committee member Leo Keevican has sat on the Loans & Scholarship Committee since the mid-70s. Having been a recipient of the Louis Little Loan, Keevican joined shortly after graduation.
"[Former Executive Director] Jim Smith recruited me... I was delighted to get the call and have been glad to serve [on the Committee] ever since."
Keevican stated that the quality and integrity of the applicants is the most interesting aspect of sitting on the Committee.
"I truly enjoy interviewing [the applicants]," says Keevican. "Some of their stories have been deeply emotional including one applicant who was going to law school, caring for a disabled brother, and working all at the same time."
In addition to the Loans & Scholarship Committee, other groups, such as the Mansmann Scholarship Committee, select recipients for awards which have more restrictive eligibility requirements.
This year, more than 30 law students applied for the various educational awards provided by the bar foundation. The following are descriptions of the educational funds administered by the ACBF.
Academy of Trial Lawyers William S. Schweers, Sr. Educational Fund
Established in 2000, this fund, in honor of William S. Schweers, Sr. supports the Academy of Trial Lawyers' annual essay contest, which allows high school students the opportunity to explore much-debated current legal issues.
Daniel B. Dixon Scholarship Fund
Established in 2007 by the Real Property Section to honor Daniel B. Dixon's lifelong commitment to the law, this fund distributes awards to students at the University of Pittsburgh School of Law who demonstrate an interest in real estate law, academic excellence, and financial need.
Kennedy T. Friend Scholarship Fund
This fund, established by the will of Kennedy T. Friend, a distinguished member of the Bar of Allegheny County, was created with the purpose of providing financial assistance to children of ACBA members attending Yale University or the University of Paris. This fund is administered by PNC Institutional Investments.
Hon. Gerald K. Gibson Memorial Fund
Created in 1987 by the Commercial and Bankruptcy Section of the ACBA, this fund makes annual cash awards to deserving students participating in the Creditors & Debtors Rights course at the University of Pittsburgh and Duquesne University School of Law.
Hon. Carol Los Mansmann Memorial Fund
Established in memory of the Honorable Carol Los Mansmann, the first woman appointed to the U.S. District Court for the Third Circuit, this fund annually awards a scholarship to one or more female law students at Duquesne University who have demonstrated a potential for leadership and a commitment to the advancement of women, as well as financial need and academic excellence.
F.C. Grote Fund
Under the umbrella of the bar foundation's Lawyers Fund, this fund annually awards $5,000 scholarships to deserving students at the University of Pittsburgh School of Law and the University of Pennsylvania Law School. Louis Little Attorneys' Memorial Fund Established in 1963 from a bequest left by Louis Little, a prominent criminal attorney, this fund provides low-interest loans to law students with financial need.
Lynette Norton Memorial Fund
Created in 2002 in memory of Lynette Norton, an accomplished Allegheny County trial lawyer, this fund provides awards to students graduating from Duquesne University School of Law who have exhibited academic excellence, skills in oral advocacy through moot court programs, and a keen sense of ethics and professionalism.
James I. Smith, III Notre Dame Law School Scholarship Fund
Established in 2001 in honor of the retirement of James I. Smith, former Executive Director of the ACBA after 38 years of service to the bar, this fund awards scholarships to law students from Allegheny County who attend Smith's alma-mater, the University of Notre Dame.
Hon. Joseph H. Ridge Memorial Scholarship Fund
This fund, established in 2006 in memory of the Honorable Joseph H. Ridge who presided over the Criminal Division for 21 years and was a dedicated supporter of his alma-maters, Central Catholic High School and Duquesne University, provides an award to the highest-ranking member of the graduating class at Duquesne University School of Law who is also a graduate of Central Catholic High School.
The bar foundation accepts applications for loans and scholarships each spring. If you are interested in learning more about the Loans & Scholarship Program or establishing a Named Fund, please contact ACBF Director Lorrie Albert at 412-402-6640 or lalbert@acba.org.
2009/2010 ACBF Loans & Scholarship Recipients
Daniel B. Dixon Scholarship
Benjamin Gobel, University of Pittsburgh
Gerald K. Gibson Award
Daniel Colaizzi, IV, University of Pittsburgh
Stefan Fairchild, Duquesne University
Christopher Lockman, Duquesne University
F.C. Grote Scholarship
Marsha Chien, University of Pennsylvania
Katherine Holland, University of Pittsburgh
Carsen Nesbitt, University of Pittsburgh
Hon. Carol Los Mansmann Memorial Scholarship
Amy E. Nooning, Duquesne University
Lynette Norton Memorial Award
Megan E. Lehman, Duquesne University
Hon. Joseph H. Ridge Memorial Scholarship
Jason Ott, Duquesne University
James I. Smith, III Notre Dame Law School Scholarship
Adam Barry Fischer, University of Notre Dame
Academy of Trial Lawyers William S. Schweers, Sr. Essay Contest
1st Place Eric Wasserman Stern - Allderdice High School
2nd Place Rachel Isaacs - Baldwin High School
3rd Place Scott Wasserman Stern - Allderdice High School
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