usc law family
UNLOCKING POTENTIAL Gould students inspired by alumni engagement and catalyzed by their scholarship support By Stephanie Lertzman
“The thought of going to law school thousands of miles away from my family in Michigan came with many worries. The idea that a donor believed in me before I even set foot on USC’s campus meant the world to me,” recalls Shelby Palmer, a 3L who earned her bachelor’s degree at Spelman College. Palmer is a recipient of Gould’s Crispus Attucks Wright Law Scholarship Endowment. “The financial impact is invaluable, and it has made my Gould degree attainable,” she says. This September, Palmer will be a first-year associate in the litigation department at Katten Muchin Rosenman pursuing entertainment
Turn OPPORTUNITY into IMPACT 95% of Gould law students receive some form of scholarship support
$31,500
Average scholarship award *Does not cover the cost of living expenses and books
The passion and potential of our students know no limits. And neither does our dedication to them. Join us in supporting tomorrow’s pioneers, problem-solvers and leaders. All levels of support are welcome. https://gould.usc.edu/alumni/giving/scholarships
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law, an interest she developed through prior internships at Starz, Mattel and USC Gould’s Intellectual Property and Technology Law Clinic. A scholarship’s impact, along with the sense of community that emanates from it, can provide immeasurable benefits. “It is easy to think scholarships only help students from a financial standpoint, but it means so much more than that,” Palmer says, mentioning the special bond among students and donors. “Connecting with scholarship benefactors and families, whether by phone, email or in person is both humbling and rewarding.” Crispus Attucks Wright (LLB 1938) was a civil law attorney in South-Central Los Angeles for 50 years. He endowed the scholarship to provide financial support for academically qualified and financially deserving African American students and others interested in practicing law in under represented communities. For Palmer, meeting Wright’s family at the annual Scholarship Donor Appreciation Luncheon was a highlight of her experience. “It really made the scholarship personal. Learning this scholarship honors a trailblazing AfricanAmerican gives me a bonus source of inspiration and gratitude for those who have come before me.” With this vote of confidence, scholarships often give students the courage, curiosity and freedom to develop their legal interests and find new ones. “Receiving the Judge Dickran Tevrizian Scholarship Endowment [at Gould] has truly meant the world to me,” says Ryan Montag, a 2L, who entered Gould with a bachelor’s degree from USC Thornton’s Music Industry program, intending to become an entertainment attorney. While actively pursuing a Media and Entertainment Law Certificate at Gould, in addition to his JD, Montag’s recent participation in the Hale Moot Court piqued a new interest in litigation, inspiring a shift he intends to explore. “I decided to make a somewhat drastic change in an effort to broaden my horizons. I am extremely excited to say that I will be working in the U.S. Coast Guard JAG
