The WLAM Foundation’s primary educational project is to fund scholarships for outstanding women law students at each of Michigan’s law schools.
Each spring, the Foundation makes financial awards to women law students on the basis of their demonstrated leadership capabilities, community service in such areas as family law, child advocacy or domestic violence, commitment to diversity, and potential for advancing the position of women in society. Candidates for the award may be full or part-time students at the Thomas M. Cooley Law School, Michigan State University College of Law, Wayne State University Law School, University of Detroit Mercy School of Law, or University of Michigan Law School. The amount awarded annually has grown substantially from $500 given to each of five students in 1998; in 2002, the WLAM Foundation awarded $1,500 to each of nine students, and $2,500 to a tenth student. The tenth student, attending the University of Detroit Mercy Law School, received a special awarded funded entirely by the Howard & Howard Community Reinvestment Fund. In 2004, the WLAM Foundation awarded to 15 law students a record total of $42,500. The substantial increase in award money available was due to generous contributions by the Ford Motor Company Fund, Howard & Howard Community Reinvestment Fund, General Motors Legal Staff, and individuals like Elizabeth Gleicher. Several regional chapters of the WLAM also support the WLAM Foundation, particularly the Wayne, Oakland and Macomb Regions.
2023 Awardees
The Women Lawyers Association of Michigan Foundation is pleased to announce the recipients of this year’s WLAM Foundation Awards for Outstanding Law Students. Besides their impressive academic performance at Michigan law schools, these individuals endeavor to advance women’s roles in essential areas of the law, including STEM, social justice, equality, child advocacy, and domestic violence.
Since 1997, the WLAM Foundation has awarded over $772,000 to more than 292 law students. For 2023, the recipients and sponsors for each of the $3,500 scholarships are:
- Olivia Kurajian, Michigan State University College of Law – Jean Ledwith King Scholar, sponsored by the members of the Women Lawyers Association of Michigan
- Kassie Fotiadis, University of Michigan Law School – Miller Canfield Scholar, sponsored by Miller Canfield
- Zia Felder, Wayne State University School of Law – Dawn Van Hoek Scholar, sponsored by the Women Lawyers Association of Michigan Foundation
- Adriana Burga, Western Michigan University Cooley School of Law – Dickinson Wright Women’s Network Scholar, sponsored by the Dickinson Wright Women’s Network
- Amulya Vadapalli, University of Michigan Law School – Kimberly M. Cahill Scholar, sponsored by the Women Lawyers Association of Michigan Foundation
- Mariane Karkaba, University of Detroit Mercy School of Law – John Dalton and Mary Lou Peacock Scholar, sponsored by Peacock Law Firm
- Cyerra Haywood, University of Michigan Law School – General Motors Scholar, sponsored by General Motors Corporation
- Mariana C. Seal, University of Detroit Mercy School of Law – General Motors Scholar, sponsored by General Motors Corporation
- Patricia De La Hoya-Velez, Michigan State University College of Law – Masco Corporation Scholar, sponsored by Masco Corporation
- Asia E. Adieh, University of Detroit Mercy School of Law – Masco Corporation Scholar, sponsored by Masco Corporation
- Caroline R. Quant, Western Michigan University Cooley School of Law – Dobrusin Law Firm Scholar, sponsored by The Dobrusin Law Firm
- Jennel Davoren, Western Michigan University Cooley School of Law – Florence King Scholar in Patent Law, sponsored by Women Patent Lawyers
- Natalia Grasso, Wayne State University School of Law – The Collins Einhorn Farrell Professionalism Scholar, sponsored by Collins Einhorn Farrell
- Blythe Collins, Wayne State University School of Law – WLAMF Scholar sponsored by the Women Lawyers Association of Michigan Foundation
- Taylor Elyse Mills, Michigan State University College of Law – WLAMF Scholar sponsored by the Women Lawyers Association of Michigan Foundation
“We thank the individuals, law firms, and corporations that continue to support our mission with their contributions to the WLAM Foundation Law Student scholarships,” said Kristen L. Pursley, WLAM Foundation president and managing partner of The Dobrusin Law Firm in Pontiac, Michigan. “Each of our 15
Learn more about each scholar here.
Past Awardees
2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010
