WCL Restricted Scholarships

The Washington College of Law offers a limited number of scholarships established through the generosity of friends and alumni. Selection criteria for these scholarships may vary, but generally awards are based on need and academic achievement. These scholarships are awarded during the academic year. Application procedures, deadlines, and selection criteria are announced in the Docket, the law school's newsletter, during the year. Scholarships currently available are listed below.

Scholarships currently offered are:

The Myers Law Scholarship provides one-year scholarships to full-time students who show promise and demonstrate need. These scholarships are funded at 100 percent of tuition so that the student(s) selected for the award may undertake or complete full-time study of law. Applicants for this scholarship must file the Need Access Application by the financial aid deadline.
The Grace Markel Daish Fund was established by Grace Markel Daish and provides tuition assistance to a law school student.
The Belva A. Lockwood Fund, given in memory of Belva A. Lockwood, the first woman to practice before the Supreme Court, provides tuition assistance to a law student.
The Paul J. Sedgwick Scholarship, in memory of Paul J. Sedgwick, WCL '24, is for a deserving student with financial need.
The Reed-Salisbury Scholarship Fund is endowed in memory of Elizabeth F. Reed, WCL '27, and Ernest E. Salisbury Sr., WCL '33, by Elizabeth Scott Salisbury Denny, WCL '35, and her husband, John Denny. This fund provides tuition assistance for a student demonstrating scholastic achievement, involvement in the law school community, and financial need.
The Mr. and Mrs. S. Jason Ginsburg and Frederick B. Gaynor Scholarship Fund, given by Robert J. Gaynor, WCL '66, in memory of his parents and brother, provides tuition assistance to a student from a middle-income family with demonstrated financial need.
The James C. Eastman Scholarship, named in honor of James C. Eastman, WCL '66, is given by his friends and colleagues for a part-time law student at the Washington College of Law.
The Thelma Casto Southard Award was named to honor Thelma Castro Southard, mother of one of the law school'' most distinguished alumnae and AU Trustee Emeritus, Betty Southard Murphy. This scholarship recognizes a student for distinguished service to the law school community and for anticipated involvement as an alumnus.
The Edward J. Walker Clinical Scholarship, in memory of Edward J. Walker, WCL '85, is for a student with financial need in the clinical program.
The Leonard and Miriam Melrod Scholarship is awarded to a deserving WCL student.
The Emalee C. Godsey Scholarship, given in memory of Emalee C. Godsey, former WCL registrar, is for a second- or third-year student demonstrating financial need.
The Myers Society Scholarship was established by Myers Society members, a group of major donors to the Washington College of Law. The recipient of this award is selected based on academic merit, financial need, and service to the law school community.
The Peter Stapleton Ridley Jr. Memorial Scholarship is given in memory of Peter Stapleton Ridley Jr., WCL '70. The recipient must be a first- or second-year law student who possesses distinct leadership qualities as evidenced by his or her involvement in the progression of WCL or the community at large, the law review or journal, moot court, public or private sector internship or law clerk programs, or employment that demonstrates leadership abilities or service to the community.
The Laura Reckman Memorial Scholarship Fund, established by donations of Mrs. John S. Myers, was until 1988 for needy and deserving students in the School of Nursing. In 1988, it was transferred to the law school. In accordance with the original intent, preference will be given to a law student with a nursing or health care administration background.
The Mary C. Arends Scholarship, in memory of the first director of development for the Washington College of Law, is for a first-year female student who is entering law school after several years in the workplace and who is interested in public interest or public service law, civil rights, or domestic issues.
The Judge Seymour Korn Scholarship Fund was established by Judge Korn to support a deserving Washington College of Law student with financial need.
The Stephen and Beatrice Dodd Toth Scholarship, given by Judge Dorothy Toth Beasley, WCL '64, in honor of her parents, is awarded to a WCL student with financial need who places in the top 20 percent of the class.
The WCL Scholarship, a scholarship awarded on the basis of financial need, is the gift of an anonymous donor.
The Dora Palkin Memorial Scholarship, named in memory of Dora Palkin, a 1916 graduate of WCL, is awarded to a law student.
The Sandra P. Grosso Memorial Scholarship Fund was established in memory of Sandra P. Grosso, WCL '83 and former AU assistant general counsel. The award is for a WCL student, and is based on need and a commitment, demonstrated through service, to the improvement of WCL and AU.
The Michael Cochran Memorial Scholarship, established by Stephen Cochran, WCL '72, and his family, is awarded to a WCL student in the clinical program interested in civil litigation.
The Elliott S. Milstein Endowed Scholarship Fund was established in honor of Elliott Milstein's seven years of devoted service as dean of WCL. The award is made to a third-year WCL student with demonstrated financial need who intends to go into practice representing the poor in either civil or criminal cases. The commitment to such work must be demonstrated by activity either before or during law school.
The Billinis Family Scholarship is awarded to a student from a middle-income family who has demonstrated financial need.
The Paul P. Purta Scholarship is given in honor of Dr. Paul P. Purta, former associate dean for institutional advancement. It is awarded to a WCL student who has previously worked in a profession such as social work, counseling, or the ministry, is active in a religion, and has financial need.
The Phyllis Freeman Scholarship was established in 1997 by her husband to honor Phyllis Freeman, WCL '41, and her pioneering spirit. It is awarded to a student based on need.
The Arnold & Porter Scholarship is given by the law firm Arnold & Porter to a second-year student who has shown potential for academic achievement.
The Centennial Scholarship was established in celebration of WCL's Centennial in 1996. It is awarded to a JD or LLM student with demonstrated need who is in the top 10 percent of his or her class.
The John and Tyna Karl Employee Rights Scholarship is awarded to a student who, through his or her academic and extracurricular commitments, demonstrates promise for a career advocating on behalf of employees in the workplace.
The Fred R. Joseph Memorial Scholarship was established in memory of Fred R. Joseph, AU '65, WCL '68, by his colleagues, classmates, family, and friends. This need-based award is for a student interested in public interest, civil rights, or criminal law as demonstrated through service to the community, work experience, or participation in WCL's clinical programs.
The Cliff Martin Memorial Scholarship was established by the law firm McCarthy, Wilson & Ethridge in memory of Cliff Martin, a WCL student who worked as a law clerk at the firm and passed away in 1997. The award is given to a part-time student with financial need.
The Arthur Mathews Memorial Scholarship was established in 1998 by the law firm Wilmer, Cutler, & Pickering and the Washington College of Law to honor the late Arthur Mathews, a distinguished partner of the firm and a long-time member of the WCL adjunct faculty. Mr. Mathews fervently believed in the importance of pro bono service and personally and enthusiastically provided the same high quality of legal work for his pro bono clients as he did for those who paid. The scholarship is awarded to a student whose record of commitment demonstrates that he or she will follow Mr. Mathew's example.
The Joy Schwan-Best Memorial Scholarship is given in memory of Joy Schwan-Best, WCL '83, to a second- or third-year student with financial need, academic merit, and demonstrated service to the community.
The James and Leona Cobb Scholarship was established in 1999 by James and Sharon Howard, WCL '80, and is awarded to a first- or second-year student. The recipient is selected based on scholastic achievement and financial need.
The Kappa Beta Pi Award was created by members of the first established legal sorority and is awarded to a student who has displayed an interest in women's issues in the field of law.
The John Sherman Myers Alumni Scholarship was created in 1967 by WCL graduates to honor Dean John Sherman Myers. It is awarded to a student who has excelled both in academics and extracurricular activities.
The Mark K. Wilson Memorial Scholarship was established to honor Mark K. Wilson, WCL '81, a former editor in chief of the American University Law Review. The scholarship is awarded annually to a member of the Senior Editorial Board of the Law Review who demonstrates financial need.
The Robert J. Woldow Memorial Scholarship was endowed by family and friends in memory of Robert Woldow, WCL '70. This renewable scholarship is awarded to one second-year student with financial need who is interested in practicing corporate or securities law.
The Wilson and Amelia Young Memorial Scholarship is awarded based on financial need and academic achievement. The scholarship was established by Margaret Jackson and Jacqueline Jackson, WCL '74, in honor of their parents and grandparents, respectively.