Akerman LLP and the National CASA/GAL Association for Children are excited to announce the launch of the 2021 Akerman Academic Excellence Scholarship Award. The application period opens today, March 1, and will close on Friday, April 9. The online application form can be found here.
 
As part of Akerman's $1 million commitment to National CASA/GAL, which was fulfilled in 2019, an endowment fund was created to support the Akerman Academic Excellence Scholarship. The program is designed to help young adults who have spent time in foster care pursue a post-secondary education through an accredited institution of higher learning such as a university, career college or technical school. Six incredible young people have benefited so far from this scholarship.
 
A scholarship for $2,500 will be awarded to an outstanding youth who has demonstrated a commitment to academic achievement. Scholarship funds will be directed to the academic institution or other professional entity on behalf of the scholarship recipient and can be used to pay for tuition, rent, books, meal plans, transportation or other related expenses. Recipients remaining in good academic standing may be eligible to receive the scholarship for up to four years.
 
The scholarship is available to youth who have graduated or are scheduled to graduate from an accredited school system by spring, 2021. Those who have received or are scheduled to receive their GED by this spring are also eligible. The recipient may be a current full-time student or applying to be a full-time student at an accredited institution of higher learning.
 
Applicants must be nominated by their local CASA/GAL program through a volunteer advocate or other program representative. Nominators are required to complete the nomination form and submit all supporting documentation. If you know a young person who has spent time in foster care and meets the scholarship eligibility requirements, please consider nominating them for this award.
 
Learn More

Download a checklist of the information needed to complete the application.

Join us for a webinar 10-11 a.m. PT/1-2 p.m. ET Friday, March 5 to discuss the scholarship and nomination process. Register here.

Questions? Contact us at scholarship@nationalcasagal.org.