The State Bar of Michigan Paralegal/Legal Assistant Section shall present at least two nonrenewable tuition/books-only scholarships to be limited to the amounts available for distribution. For the year 2012, the scholarships may range from $250 to $1,000, and are available to those enrolling in, or already enrolled in, a paralegal/legal assistant degree/certificate program at a post-secondary college or university located in the State of Michigan. One scholarship may be awarded only to a member of the Paralegal/Legal Assistant Section. However, if the Paralegal/Legal Assistant Section does not receive enough qualified applicants, then it may elect to award less than two scholarships. Members of the Paralegal/Legal Assistant Section Scholarship Committee are not eligible to receive this scholarship during the year in which they serve on the Scholarship Committee.

• Scholarship Rules & Application PDF

Return the application with all required attachments by June 1, 2012, to the following:

Jennifer M. Petty, Paralegal
Michigan Attorney Discipline Board
petty@adbmich.org
Direct Dial: (313) 963-5555, Ext. 225
Fax: (313) 963-5571

2011 Scholarships

The SBM Paralegal/Legal Assistant Section awarded $3,000 in scholarships for calendar year 2011 to the following applicants:

$1,000 to Theresa Ergang, Davenport University student

Theresa Ergang, of Grand Rapids, has a 3.42 GPA and expects to graduate from Davenport’s paralegal program in 2012. She served in the United States Air Force as an emergency medical technician and, following an honorable discharge, worked in the aerospace industry. Both of her parents were military police officers, and she has always had a passion for the law. She has been inducted into the Davenport University chapter of The National Society of Leadership and Success and is president of the Legal Assistants@ Davenport University club. She volunteers at the Kent County Juvenile Detention Center, a 69-bed facility that provides temporary confinement for juvenile offenders who are awaiting court action. She hopes to pursue a career in law enforcement at the federal level.

$750 to Amber Gingiloski, Madonna University student

Amber Gingiloski, of Farmington, has a 3.88 GPA and expects to graduate from Madonna University’s paralegal studies program in 2013. While working for a computer forensics firm, Amber found she especially enjoyed the research aspect of her job. She represented herself in small claims court—preparing and filing all the paperwork, representing herself at the hearings—and was told by an observant attorney that she should consider becoming a paralegal. She is active in a number of Madonna University service organizations, including TRiO, a tutoring program for low-income, first-generation and disabled students; the Paralegal Studies Student Club’s Christmas for Kids Program; and Ecological Volunteer Organization, a student-run organization that seeks to help the community preserve the environment. She has been a notetaker for Madonna University’s Office of Disability Resources for three semesters.

$500 to Joseph Benedict, Eastern Michigan University (EMU) student

Joseph Benedict, of Tecumseh, has a 3.8 GPA and expects to graduate from EMU’s paralegal studies program in 2013. He decided to pursue a degree in paralegal studies when he discovered a love for the law in a class on the American legal system in his last semester at EMU before completing a bachelor’s degree in history in June 2010. He chose to pursue a second bachelor’s degree in paralegal studies rather than go on to law school because he believes he can benefit the client in a similar way but at a lower cost. He works as a student assistant at EMU’s Halle Library and as a records clerk at Bodman PLC, in Ann Arbor. He hopes to work in a small- to mid-sized law firm, where his work can have the greatest impact.

$250 to Andrea Barragan, Oakland Community College student

Andrea Barragan, of Lincoln Park, has a 3.36 GPA and expects to graduate from Oakland Community College’s paralegal associate’s program in 2012 and earn her bachelor’s degree in 2014. She began working in the legal field as a file room clerk six years ago; in the fall of 2010, she completed a paralegal internship at Plunkett Cooney, where she has worked since 2008; and, at the beginning of this year, she was promoted to litigation support paralegal. She describes paralegal work as her passion; she especially loves the investigative work. She currently volunteers at Gleaners Community Food Bank and hopes to volunteer her paralegal services to a legal aid organization.

$250 to Teri Rhadigan, Macomb Community College student

Teri Rhadigan, of St. Clair Shores, has a 3.8 GPA and expects to graduate with an associate’s degree from Macomb Community College’s paralegal studies program in December 2011. She began working at Weltman, Weinberg & Reis Co. LPA, in a part-time clerical position in 2005 while pursuing a bachelor’s degree in elementary education at Oakland University, which she completed in 2006. In 2007, she changed her career plan by accepting a promotion to full-time legal secretary and taking evening classes in paralegal studies at MCC. In 2008, she was promoted to litigation paralegal. In May 2010, she was promoted to supervisor. She was one of six employees chosen to participate in her firm’s inaugural Leadership Development Program, designed to develop leadership skills through biweekly discussion groups, readings, and mentoring. Presently, Teri is the president of MCC’s Legal Assistants Association and a member of the MCC Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa national honor society.

$250 to Darryl Todd, Davenport University student

Darryl Todd, of Muskegon, has a 3.9 GPA and expects to graduate from Davenport’s paralegal program in 2012. At one time, he planned to go to law school, but then had a successful career in sales. When his employer closed its Grand Rapids office, he took the opportunity to enter the field in which he had always held a strong interest. He enjoys legal research, analysis, and problem-solving. He has volunteered with children for the past 12 years. He has coached boys’ basketball and served on the board of Pathfinders, an organization dealing with at-risk inner-city youth. Presently, as a Court Appointed Special Advocate volunteer, he commits to working for at least one year with a family with children in foster care. As a SIMBA Safe in My Brother’s Arms mentor, he mentors at- risk preteen boys. Darryl’s goal is to specialize in employment or bankruptcy law so he can help people on an individual basis.