COLUMBIAN LAWYERS ASSOCIATION OF WESTCHESTER SCHOLARSHIP MASTER LIST

The Columbian Lawyers Association of Westchester County (hereinafter “CLAW”) presently offers seven (7) scholarship opportunities, all of which are described below:

1. Four stem from funds provided by the Generoso-Pope Foundation.
   
   
   1. The Columbian Lawyers Association of Westchester County Scholarship;
      
      
   2. The Carl A. Vergari Scholarship;
      
      
   3. The Thomas Bisordi Scholarship; and
      
      
   4. The Generoso Pope Foundation Scholarship
      
      
2. The fifth is funded by the Columbian Lawyers of Westchester
   (Hon. James R. Caruso Award). *
   
   
3. A sixth scholarship, which involves a joint effort with Pace Law School, is being funded by the Columbian Lawyers over a ten year period and will be awarded commencing in 2011 (PACE / Columbian Lawyers Association of Westchester Endowed Scholarship Fund). *
   
   
4. The seventh scholarship is funded by several donors, including Hon. Janet DiFiore, the Columbian Lawyers and Pace Law School
   (Josephine and Anthony DiFiore Memorial Scholarship).*

* Only available to PACE Law Students

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A. 4 Scholarships Funded by the Generoso-Pope Foundation:

The four scholarships listed below are funded by the Generoso-Pope Foundation and are presently designated as $5,000 awards each:

1. The Columbian Lawyers Association of Westchester County Scholarship;
   
   
2. The Carl A. Vergari Scholarship;
   
   
3. The Thomas Bisordi Scholarship; and
   
   
4. The Generoso Pope Foundation Scholarship

Eligibility Requirements:

Applicants for these four scholarships must:

1. reside in Westchester County;
   
2. Be enrolled in any law school;
   
3. Not be child of CLAW member
   
4. should be ranked in the upper half of their class to be eligible.

Applications for these four awards have historically been due by the end of October and have been awarded at the Annual Christmas Party.

Under our present format, applicants may fill out one application to apply for all of the above-listed awards.

Click HERE to download an application.

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B. The Hon. James R. Caruso Award

The fifth $5,000 scholarship, the Hon. James R. Caruso Award, is available only to Pace Law School students and is funded by the Columbian Lawyers Association of Westchester. Applications for this scholarship are typically due in March and this scholarship has historically been awarded at Judges' Night in September.

Eligibility Requirements:

Applicants for this scholarship must:

1. be enrolled at Pace Law School;
2. should be ranked in the upper half of his or her respective class.

Application prepared and reviewed by the CLAW Scholarship Committee. To apply, the Candidate must submit the following:

1. complete a scholarship application (download application below);
2. submit a resume;
3. demonstrate the following criteria in a letter to the Scholarship Committee:
   
   1. Italian descent;
      
   2. academic achievement;
      
   3. financial need;
      
   4. their aspirations and goals; and
      
   5. a firm adherence to the ideals championed by the Association.

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C. Pace Endowed Scholarship Awards:

1. Columbian Lawyers Association of Westchester County Endowed Scholarship Fund:

Background:

This scholarship fund was created on 11/1/01 upon the initial payment by CLA of $10,000 for the endowment. Payments of $10,000 are to be made over the following ten years. Once the endowment is fully funded (11/1/2010), annual scholarship awards of $5,000 will be made. The principal of the award shall remain in perpetuity, with the intention that only the income shall be expended to pay the actual awards.

Eligibility Requirements:

Applicants for this scholarship must:

1. Be a Pace Law School student;
   
2. should be of Italian-American heritage;
   
3. must maintain an overall minimum academic 3.00 GPA “to be eligible for renewal” of the scholarship.

The Columbian Lawyers of Westchester will be given a list of candidates under consideration by Pace, and can make a recommendation, but the final decision rests with the Law School Admissions Office.

The Columbian Lawyers Association will receive an annual report on the use of the funds beginning in the academic year that the scholarship is first awarded (2011).

*Will be prepared by Pace Law school but be submitted to the donors for review.

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D. Josephine and Anthony DiFiore Memorial Scholarship

Background:

This is a $4,000.00 per year scholarship.

This scholarship was established in May 2004 in the memory of Josephine and Anthony DiFiore with a six-year pledge of $1,000 per year for a total of $6,000 from Dennis Glazer and Honorable Janet DiFiore. The Columbian Lawyers will match that pledge with another six-year commitment of $1,000 per year. Pace has matched both pledges with a six-year pledge of $2,000 per year, or $12,000.

Eligibility Requirements:

Applicants for this scholarship must:

1. Be a Pace Law Student;
   
2. demonstrate financial need;
   
3. demonstrate significant academic motivation and commitment; and
   
4. Should be of Italo-American Descent

In close collaboration with the donors, the Dean for Students will select the award recipients. The recipients shall be requested to provide a letter of appreciation to the donors, to attend the Law School's annual Scholarship Awards Ceremony and to attend the Columbian Lawyers' annual Awards Dinner.

*Will be prepared by Pace Law school but be submitted to the donors for review.