Scholarships

Scholarships are available to students in Calvin's pre-law program

How to apply for scholarships

The application forms for named scholarships are available every year beginning December 1 and must be submitted by February 1. All of the scholarships for both prospective, first-year students and current students are available online. All students who will be enrolled next academic year are encouraged to apply.

1. NAME
   AMOUNT
   CLASS
   GPA
2. Bere' Memorial Scholarship
   $2,900
   JR/SR
   2.50
3. Buikema, Ronald Memorial Scholarship
   $4,600
   SR
   3.00
4. Caldon, Florence M. and Thomas F. Jr. Memorial Scholarship
   $2,600
   FR
   3.30
5. Feikens, Honorable John Memorial Pre-Law Scholarship
   $5,600
   JR/SR
   3.50
6. Jelsema Family Scholarship
   $5,300
   JR/SR
   3.40
7. Ryskamp, Kenneth L. Scholarship
   $5,700
   SO/JR/SR
   3.30
8. VanDellen, Jacob and Rena Scholarship
   $2,500
   JR/SR
   3.00
9. VandeZande Family Scholarship
   $2,700
   JR/SR
   2.50
10. Waalkes Family Scholarship
    $3,200
    JR/SR
    3.00
11. Westra, Johan and Wilma Scholarship
    $1,200
    JR/SR
    3.00

Additional student awards

The opportunities listed below vary, from funding to pay for LSAT preparation programs, to awards for books or tuition in law school, to scholarships for undergraduate pre-law students.  Additional options may be available by searching for non-Calvin scholarships and financial aid through Calvin's Office of Admissions and Financial Aid.

LSAT Preparation Scholarships

• Calvin Pre-Law Program LSAT Prep Support

  Calvin University’s Pre-Law Program is offers LSAT Prep Support for Calvin students (junior year standing or above). Specific awards will be determined based on the LSAT prep program chosen, the cost of the prep program, and financial need of the student, with Calvin reimbursing the student for between 25 and 75% of the program cost, up to a maximum of $800.

  1. Interested students are required to follow these steps: Students must submit the completed application for the support, including all required information. The application must include the applicant’s average pre-preparation LSAT test score (based on having taken at least 2 practice tests) and one or two prep programs the applicant is considering (name of the program, brief description of what is included in each program, and the total cost for the program). General availability for an interview with the Pre-Law Program Advisor must also be included with the application.
  2. Upon review of the application, students will be contacted by the Pre-Law Program. Selected students will receive an interview time with the Pre-Law Advisor.
  3. After the interview, the Pre-Law Program will notify interviewed students of the support amount.
  4. Students must register for the LAST prep program and present proof of registration that documents the date of registration, the program being used, and the amount of the fee. The Pre-Law Program will then reimburse the student for the approved support amount (within the established guidelines of the student paying for at least 25% of the cost, with no reimbursement exceeding $800). The student will be expected to sign a written acknowledgement of the support amount received and their agreement to meet the requirements of the prep support program, including their commitment to repay the reimbursement funds in full to Calvin University’s Pre-Law Program if they do not meet all of the requirements and documentation steps noted in these guidelines.
  5. Students must complete the prep program within 6 months of receipt of the reimbursement.
  6. Students must present a certificate or some other evidence of completion to the Pre-Law Program within one month after finishing the program, with information also provided of the student’s post-preparation program average LSAT practice score (based on at least 2 practice tests).
  7. Support recipients are required to email their actual LSAT test scores to the Pre-Law Program as soon as they are received from the LSAC. This email will also include a personal evaluation/assessment from the student of the value of the test program utilized.

  You can find a list of eligible programs here, with basic information provided about each one. Support recipients may select one of these programs or another preparation program of their choice. Unless there are extenuating circumstances (which have been approved by the Pre-Law Program in advance), the recipient is expected to choose one of the two programs that they designate on their initial application. The Pre-Law Program is not endorsing any particular programs; the list of options is intended to be for informational purposes only.

  COMPLETE THE APPLICATION HERE AND SUBMIT IT TO Mark Hessler

• Get Prepped LSAT Prep Scholarships for Law School

  Get Prepped LSAT Prep awards $1,000 scholarships every January and June to students applying to law school. Application must include a personal statement, class rank and college/degree course information. For more information, check "Scholarships" page on their website. (January 31 and June 30 deadlines, annually).

Additional Scholarship Opportunities

• Warner Norcross & Judd LLP Diversity Law Scholarships

  Minority Scholarship Program

  $5,000 will be awarded to a law school student, $2,000 to a paralegal/legal assistant student and $1,000 to a legal secretarial student who is currently accepted or enrolled in an accredited school in Michigan and is a current or former Michigan resident. The deadline for submitting applications to the Grand Rapids Community Foundation (who selects the winners) is March 1 of each year.

  Interested students should complete an online application.

  Questions should be directed to Ruth Bishop, Grand Rapids Community Foundation, at 616-284-4903.

• Melmed Law Group Scholarship

  The Melmed Law Group offers an annual $5,000 scholarship award to one student interested in pursuing the field of law. The student must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident; there is no GPA requirement, and the award decision relies heavily on the required application essay. The annual deadline is February 15, and applicants must submit proof of enrollment at a university or college, an unofficial transcript, and a written essay (500 to 1,000 words) in pdf format.  For more information, go to their website at melmedlaw.com/scholarship

• NALS of Michigan Scholarship Award

  NALS of Michigan offers an annual scholarship in the amount of between $1000-$2500 to an individual enrolled, or planning to enroll, in a school of advanced education pursuing a degree in the legal field.

  Completed applications must be returned postmarked no later than January 15, 2020. Applications postmarked after that date will not be accepted.

  For details and more information, see the the NALS website.

• Ed Overbeck/WMU Cooley Law School Book Scholarship

  Calvin alumnus Ed Overbeck has established a book scholarship for a Calvin University student attending WMU Cooley Law School. The scholarship will pay up to $3,000 for required books during all three years of law school (an amount which will provide a sufficient budget for all the scholar's book needs throughout law school). Calvin University graduates applying to WMU Cooley are automatically considered for this scholarship. For more information, contact WMU Cooley Law School.

  “I believe that our society could use more Christian lawyers. As a Calvin graduate, I learned that all areas of God's world can be transformed. A law degree gives a solid foundation for non-traditional paths as well. I plan to continue operating my business and using my skills to enhance that endeavor. My goal [in establishing this scholarship] was to encourage others to consider legal studies.” Ed Overbeck '80.

• ABA Legal Opportunity Scholarship Fund

  $5,000 in financial assistance is awarded annually to a scholarship recipient attending an ABA-accredited law school. Recipients are selected based on their qualifications for the scholarship, not on the selected law school. First-year students receiving the award may be eligible for renewal for an additional two years of financial assistance. For more information and to apply, go to the web site of the American Bar Association. Applications are due in the early spring.

• Miller Johnson Michigan Diversity Scholarship

  NOTE: This scholarship is for individuals attending law school, so is applicable for graduating Calvin seniors who are accepted to attend law school in the upcoming fall.

  The law firm of Miller Johnson offers an annual $5,000 scholarship to students of color currently residing in Michigan (with preference given to West Michigan residents) pursuing a law degree at any accredited law school in the United States. Applicants must have demonstrated financial need, a minimum 3.0 GPA and be accepted to (or currently enrolled in) an accredited law school. The scholarship is administered by the Grand Rapids Foundation, and the application is available at www.grfoundation.org. Applications are due by March 1.

• Marshall-Motley Scholars Program

  The NAACP Legal Defense Fund’s Marshall-Motley Scholars Program (MMSP) is the LDF’s intentional investment in populating, developing, and enriching the field of civil rights lawyers committed to racial justice. The Program was named in honor of civil rights legends Thurgood Marshall — LDF’s founder and the nation’s first Black Supreme Court Justice — and Constance Baker Motley, former LDF attorney and the first Black woman to become a federal judge.

  Selected scholars commit to live in the Southern United States and serve as civil rights lawyers engaged in racial justice work for 8 years following the conclusion of their fellowship. In exchange, the MMSP provides:

  • a full law school scholarship for tuition, room, board, and incidentals to alleviate the debt burden that can prevent future lawyers from pursuing a career in racial justice.
  • A two-year postgraduate fellowship at a national, regional, or local civil rights organization with a racial justice law practice in the South.
  • Summer internships at LDF and other national civil rights organizations with offices in the South to begin their training as civil rights lawyers early in their law school careers.
  • Access to special trainings sponsored by the LDF and the National Academy of Sciences.

  The application period is open from November 1, 2021 through February 11, 2022, with decision announced in April 2022.

  Applicants must:

  • Hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university no later than September 2022.
  • Be admitted to, or expect to be admitted to, an ABA-accredited law school as a first-year, full-time law student, in a 3-year full time JD program to begin in the fall of 2022.  (Eligibility is limited to students beginning law school in the fall of 2022.
  • Be a United States citizen or the holder of a Permanent Resident green card.
  • Intend to pursue a career in Civil Rights law, and if awarded, you must work full-time in pursuit of racial justice in a southern state for a period of 8 years immediately following the fellowship portion of the MMSP.
  • Describe in your application a sustained personal engagement in Civil Rights and racial justice in one or more of the following areas: Work/Internship; Academic/Coursework; Campus Organizations; Community-based Organizations; Volunteering; Research

  Click here for more information and application materials. https://files.ctctusercontent.com/bbbc4a5d801/529aec75-3c01-49e1-8949-05e90776ef86.pdf?rdr=true

• d'Oliviera & Associates College Scholarship

  The Rhode Island law firm of d'Oliveira and Associates annually sponsors a $1,000 scholarship for students pursuing college degrees or certifications in law school, paralegal studies, legal assistant studies, court reporting or any other law-related field from community colleges, technical schools or business schools in the United States.

  Applicant must be a U.S. citizen and hold a high school diploma or GED equivalent. The award is to be used solely for school tuition and related expenses. Additional information and the application form is available here.

• ABC Law Centers Disability Advocacy Scholarship

  ABC Law Centers offers an annual $1,000 scholarship to an a student planning to pursue a law or public policy career focused on disability advocacy. Applicants must be seeking or enrolled at an institution of higher education in the United States and have a GPA of 3.0 or higher. Applications are due by July 31.  Additional information and a link to apply can be found here.

• Marshall-Motley Scholars Program