Second Chance Foundation Scholarship
Scholarship Sponsored by Umansky Law Firm Criminal Defense & Injury Attorneys
Overview
The Umansky Law Firm Criminal Defense & Injury Attorneys sponsors the Second Chance Foundation Scholarship to recognize students who have overcome hardship and used that experience to move forward positively. The program highlights resilience and gives practical support to recipients pursuing post-secondary education. Applicants are asked to submit a personal essay describing their hardship and the meaning of a second chance. The award reflects the firm’s commitment to offering opportunities for renewal and growth.
Description: An essay-based scholarship that acknowledges students who have demonstrated resilience after adversity and seeks to support their continued education.
- Focuses on lived experience and personal growth.
- Open to students at multiple educational levels.
- Application centers on a reflective essay.
Eligibility
The scholarship is available to U.S. legal residents who are current high school seniors, college students, or graduate students and who will be enrolled in a vocational program or a two- to five-year post-secondary institution for the 2026 Spring semester. Applicants must maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0 and be in good academic standing. Employees of The Umansky Law Firm, their immediate family members, and individuals living in the same household as those employees are ineligible. Proof of enrollment or acceptance is required for high school applicants.
Eligibility: U.S. residents in the specified student categories with a minimum 3.0 GPA; certain employees and household members are excluded.
- U.S. legal residents only (50 states + D.C.).
- High school seniors, college, and graduate students eligible.
- Minimum GPA 3.0 and good standing required.
- Firm employees, immediate family, and household members excluded.
Application Requirements
Applicants must submit a 750–1000 word essay addressing a hardship they have overcome and what a second chance means to them. Essays are screened for AI-generated content; any application found to contain AI writing will be denied. Candidates must also provide a résumé or LinkedIn profile detailing academic and professional experience. Official or unofficial transcripts are required depending on student status, and high school applicants must submit proof of college acceptance.
Application Requirements: Essay (750–1000 words), résumé or LinkedIn, and applicable transcripts; AI-authorship is prohibited.
- Essay length: 750–1000 words on the specified prompt.
- AI-written content will disqualify the submission.
- Résumé or LinkedIn profile required.
- Transcript rules vary by student status; proof of acceptance for high school applicants.
Application Deadline and Instructions
Applications must be submitted via the online form by the December deadline; late entries will not be considered. The recipient for the 2026 scholarship will be selected during the month following the application deadline. For scholarship-related inquiries, applicants must use the designated Contact Form; questions submitted by phone, email, or alternative contact forms will not be answered. Follow the online form instructions carefully to ensure all required documents are included.
Application Timeline: Submit by the December deadline through the online form; selection occurs the month after the deadline.
- Apply only through the online form.
- Deadline: December (late submissions not accepted).
- Recipient chosen the month after the deadline.
- Contact Form is the sole channel for inquiries.
History and Award Value
Since 2011, the Second Chance Foundation Scholarship has awarded multiple scholarships to students who demonstrated resilience after hardship. The program provides tangible financial support to help recipients continue their education and recognize their personal growth. The scholarship is intended to spotlight and reward students whose experiences and recovery exemplify perseverance and gratitude.
Award Value: The scholarship award is $1,000, paid directly to the student.
- Established in 2011 with multiple recipients since inception.
- $1,000 award given directly to each recipient.
- Designed to support education for students who have overcome adversity.