Scholarship Opportunities

Scholarship Spotlights

Sharell Reddin Receives 2023 Rattlers for Justice Scholarship

ORLANDO, Fla – Sharell Reddin is the 2023-24 recipient of the Rattlers for Justice Scholarship provided by Florida A&M University (FAMU) College of Law.

“I am very appreciative and extremely honored to be the recipient of the Rattlers for Justice Scholarship,” said Reddin.  The third-year law student continued, “As a child, I wanted to be a lawyer to help my community.” 

The Newark, New Jersey native is dedicated to promoting social justice through pro bono work.  “During my internship with the Gilchrist Law Firm, I worked on a pro bono case offering legal assistance to an elderly minority woman who had trouble receiving insurance payments after suffering damages to her home,” said Reddin. “Pro bono work is essential for lawyers to give back to their communities and gain experience while promoting social justice."

FAMU Law established the Rattlers for Justice Scholarship to recognize students who have demonstrated a commitment to serving the underserved while in law school. The scholarship provides full in-state tuition. 

A Rattler for Justice is someone who strives to shake up the status quo to encourage positive growth; someone who seeks to rattle a few cages to ensure justice is served; or someone who serves as a catalyst for change while assisting others in need.

Tameila Mompoint receives 2022-2023 Rattlers for Justice Scholarship

ORLANDO, Fla – Tameila Mompoint is the 2022-23 recipient of the Rattlers for Justice Scholarship provided by Florida A&M University (FAMU) College of Law.

“I feel extremely honored to be the recipient of the Rattlers for Justice Scholarship,” said Mompoint.  “Since I was 15 years old, I've always had a passion for helping my community. This scholarship is just proof that I am on the right path.” 

The Pompano Beach, Florida native is dedicated to community service. Mompoint’s commitment to public service began when she was a teenager growing up as the daughter of parents who immigrated from Jamaica and Haiti. While in law school, she worked with the Department of Children and Families to help ensure that youthful voices were heard, and with the Southern Poverty Law Center’s Immigration Justice Project to advocate for immigrants.

This is an excerpt from Mompoint’s scholarship application: “I have this huge goal inside of me to change the world, I do not know how I will do it, but I know I will somehow make a difference. I recognize that my desire to save the world or help enormous numbers of people sounds unrealistic. However, my various community service endeavors and internships have taught me that although I may not be able to do it on such a grand scale, I can change what is within my reach.” 

FAMU Law established the Rattlers for Justice Scholarship about five years ago to recognize students who have demonstrated a commitment to serving the underserved while in law school. The scholarship provides full in-state tuition. 

A Rattler for Justice is someone who strives to shake up the status quo to encourage positive growth; someone who seeks to rattle a few cages to ensure justice is served; or someone who serves as a catalyst for change while assisting others in need.

FAMU Law’s Rachel Smith Receives Joel Stern DEI Pipeline Scholarship

ORLANDO, Fla – Florida A&M University (FAMU) College of Law second-year student Rachel Smith is the recipient of the Joel Stern Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Pipeline Scholarship.  

"I am extremely grateful to have received this scholarship,” said Smith. “It has been a challenging year for me. This award is special because it will allow me to focus on my education, and will grant me the opportunity to continue to be a part of a plan to foster diversity in the legal field. I am beyond grateful."  

The Plant City, Florida native attended the George Floyd memorial service in Minnesota and was inspired to pursue a career in law. After experiencing major health challenges within her family, Smith considered pursuing a legal career to focus on inequities in social justice and healthcare.  

The $10,000 award is sponsored by the National Association of Minority and Women Owned Law Firms (NAMWOLF). The Joel Stern Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Pipeline Scholarship provides financial support to students who contribute to the diversity of their law school student body as they pursue their legal career.  

“Meeting lawyers at the George Floyd memorial service taught Rachel that each lawyer was a storyteller for their community when they advocated for the needs of their clients,” said Marie Maurice, scholarship committee chair. “She strives to tell someone’s story through advocacy work. Rachel’s sincerity and openness about her struggles and goals was inspiring. We are happy to support Rachel on her journey with the NAMWOLF Joel Stern Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Pipeline Scholarship.” 

The scholarship program is open to second- and third-year African American, Hispanic, Asian, Native American, LGBT and female students. Any other second and third-year law students who come from backgrounds that would add to the cause of diversity, regardless of race or gender, are eligible to apply.  

Seth Hernandez receives a writing scholarship from the George C. Young American Inn.

The Inn presented a $1500.00 scholarship award to Hernandez for his writing on the "Word Is My Bond" as part of the George C. Young Scholarship. 

FAMU Law’s Michelle Wanamaker receives prestigious Holland & Knight Scholarship

Florida A&M University (FAMU) College of Law student Michelle Wanamaker is the 2022 recipient of the prestigious Holland & Knight Scholarship and Internship. As the 2022-2023 Holland & Knight Scholar, Wanamaker will receive full in-state tuition and a summer associate position with the law firm.

“It is an honor to be named the Holland & Knight Scholar for 2022,” said Wanamaker, who will work out of the law firm’s Orlando office. “I am extremely grateful for this amazing opportunity.”

The Willingboro, New Jersey native is a mother and non-traditional student who is eager to advance in the legal field. “Holland & Knight is an international powerhouse. To gain experience under their tutelage is invaluable. It is incredibly affirming to have a firm like Holland & Knight see value in you. I can’t wait to show them and the world what I have to offer!”

The Holland & Knight Summer Associate Program is an opportunity for a select number of law students from across the nation to gain real-world law firm experience, where associates work with experienced lawyers on complex matters for their clients. Holland & Knight Scholars have strong academic records at their law schools.

Holland & Knight Scholars will be exposed to a wide range of legal experience such as attending client meetings, building relationships with attorneys, working with peers, meeting top leaders of the firm, improving substantive and practical legal skills through customized training programs and more. Many law students are offered employment at the end of the Holland & Knight Summer Associate Program.

Four FAMU Law Students Receive William Holland Program Bar Prep Scholarships

he following students received scholarships:

Edward Lavant, Lindjee Noziere, Richard Ryles, Jr & Suwana Janvier received the William Holland Scholarship.

Suwana Janvier received the Shannoya C. Robinson Memorial Scholarship.

The F. Malcolm Cunningham, Sr. Bar Association hosted the 21st Annual Holland Bar Prep Scholarship Program. The awards were announced during a virtual ceremony on Friday, February 18, 2022. The scholarships are for well-deserving African American law students scheduled to take the bar exam in July 2022. The scholarships offset the bar examination preparation expenses for students who demonstrate a commitment to excellence.

“I admire the mission of the F. Malcolm Cunningham Sr. Bar Association which is to promote the personal and professional development of Blacks within the legal profession and to promote improvement in the law and in the method of its administration,” said Lindjee Noziere, scholarship recipient. “I am humbled, grateful and honored to be one of the recipients of this award.”

Suwana Janvier received the Shannoya C. Robinson Scholarship for overcoming adversity. The third-year student from Lake City is the mother of three, the President of the Student Bar Association and is actively involved in multiple activities. “I am pleased and honored to be a recipient of this scholarship and appreciate the Cunningham Bar Association’s forethought to consider the path of becoming a practicing attorney and reaching back to help bring others along,” said Janvier.