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.
The 2013 Adler Pollock & Sheehan Diversity Scholarship is being awarded to Andrew J. Collins. Andrew received a B.A., from Tufts University and is currently attending Northeastern University School of Law.
Andrew grew up in rural Oklahoma with his family until he was 14. When he revealed to his family that he was gay, he was kicked out of his home and left homeless on the streets. He worked various part-time jobs and tried to continue to attend high school. Finally, ending up in Oklahoma City, he realized that the only way he could live in a safe place was to work several jobs to pay rent and drop out of school. He later obtained his G.E.D. However, his interest in education and bettering himself continued. He enrolled in Bunker Hill Community College while working full–time. He did exceptionally well academically and was admitted to Tufts University’s R.E.A.L. (Resumed Education for Adult Learners) Program with the Prize Scholarship. He performed very well at Tufts and decided to go to law school to obtain a degree that he could use in business.
The award was presented by John F. X. Lawler, Shareholder in Charge of Boston Office and Pamela E. Berman, Shareholder and Chair of the AP&S Diversity Committee, at a reception held on October 23, 2013 at the Boston office of Adler Pollock & Sheehan. The Diversity Committee found Andrew to be a “an extremely mature, articulate and interesting person who will be successful no matter what obstacles confront him”. Andrew will be working as a summer associate in our Boston Office in 2014.
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 Rhode Island or Massachusetts upon graduation, are contributing factors in the selection.
This is the 7th scholarship the firm has awarded and we have had incredible success with our recipients thus far.