Diversity Scholarship Award Presented by AP&S

As part of its commitment to diversity, the law firm of Adler Pollock & Sheehan P.C., announces this year’s award of the firm’s $10,000 Diversity Scholarship.  The firm has offered its resources to help promising young students beginning their law school education.   Each year, Adler Pollock & Sheehan has pledged to award a scholarship to a minority student entering their first year of law school. 

Developed as part of Adler Pollock & Sheehan’s Diversity Plan, the purpose of the scholarship is to encourage and assist a minority student who has demonstrated academic excellence and a commitment to the community, to attend law school and successfully enter the practice of law, with the ultimate goal of diversifying the legal profession as well as the firm.  The financial needs of the applicant, as well as the applicant’s desire to work and reside in Massachusetts or Rhode Island (where the firm’s home office is located) upon graduation, are contributing factors in the selection.

Pamela E. Berman, a shareholder of the firm and chair of its’ Diversity Committee, stated “Out of all the impressive applications we received, five finalists were selected and interviewed before the award recipient was selected.”

Chikaelo N. Ibeabuchi of Roxbury, Massachusetts was selected to receive this year’s AP&S Diversity Scholarship.  After obtaining his undergraduate degree from Boston College, Chike worked for three years for the Bank of New York Mellon in Boston as its City ACCESS Program Manager overseeing a three year one million dollar grant awarded to six non-profit agencies in the community.

Chike was raised in Roxbury and attended the Boston Public Schools. His parents came to the United States from Nigeria.  Recognized as a leader at the age of 16, he was chosen to give the Keynote Address at the 8^th Annual Peace Games Festival.  His public speaking skills and character created opportunities for him to use his talents to benefit others. He used those public speaking skills and talent to create opportunities to serve the community through outreach programs and as a mentor and leader to youth.

The award was recently presented to Chike at a reception held in the Boston office of Adler Pollock & Sheehan on October 30, 2009.  Our Diversity Committee found the amazing path Chike blazed to travel to Northeastern impressive and inspiring.  He will be working in our Boston office as a summer associate in 2010.