Scholarship Committee
Immediate Past President Scott Konopka, Chair
The Martin County Bar Association awarded over $4,500 in scholarships this year. Winners were selected from a pool of more than 25 applicants, based on a written application and essay, community involvement, need, grade point average, and a desire to work in the legal field or law enforcement. Each of our four local high schools were well represented. This year's scholarship recipients are:
These awards are funded by the MCBA Sobel Cup golf tournament and member dues. We want to again thank Jack Sobel and Larry Stewart for their efforts to raise scholarship money by running the Sobel Cup.
It is exciting to see so many people come together for a morning of golf, fun, fund-raising, and a bit of friendly competition, all for the benefit of local graduates. I was grateful to be chosen as a scholarship recipient, and now I am proud to be a member of a group that brings excitement, inspiration, and support to students in our community.
MARTIN COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION (MCBA) – 2012 SCHOLARSHIP INFORMATION
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••APPLY TO: Guidance Office or directly to MCBA (for address see Scholarship link at www.martincountybar.org)
CRITERIA: Graduating high school senior from Martin County High School, South Fork High School, Jensen Beach High School, Spectrum and Clark Advanced Learning Center pursuing a career as a lawyer, paralegal/legal secretary, police officer, forensic scientist, private detective, clinical social worker, court reporter, social service, youth counseling, parole/probation officer or other law related field; minimum 3.0 GPA; Include your intended career and a 1,000-2,500 word essay on one of the following topics: (1) Discuss the presumption of innocence in the U.S. given to a person charged with a crime (“Innocent until proven guilty”) and give at least two specific examples and evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of this presumption – OR - (2) Compare and contrast the United States’ three branches of government and their balance of powers with that of another country that does not have this structure – OR - (3) Should a minor student be given his or her rights, including a “Miranda” warning and the right to have a parent present, before being questioned by police on school grounds? NOTE: Plagiarism will be grounds for immediate disqualification. One candidate from each school, who has met the criteria for the scholarship, will receive an award; if no qualified candidate applies for any given school, no scholarship will be awarded at that school. For more information or for questions, see Scholarship link at www.martincountybar.org)
AWARDS: $5,000 to be distributed among selected winners - One-time
DEADLINE: December 1, 2011
FORM: Standard School Application, essay as noted above and description of career ambitions
REGION: Martin County (see criteria)
MARTIN COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION’S ANNUAL SCHOLARSHIP ESSAY CONTEST
Information, Rules and Guidelines
A. CONTEST INFORMATION
The Martin County Bar Association (“MCBA”) created this contest several years ago for the purpose of affording high school students the opportunity to explore events that shaped American History, and learn more about the third and co-equal branch of government, the Judiciary.
B. CONTEST RULES
- 1. This contest is open to all students who are United States citizens and attending one of the following schools1:
a. Martin County High School
b. Southfork High School
c. Jensen Beach High School
d. Spectrum
e. Clark Advanced Learning Center - 2. Contestants shall be in their senior (12th) grade of study during the contest year.
- 3. Winning contestants must be an enrolled student at the school at the time the awards are presented, and be eligible to graduate.
- 4. Only one entry per student is permitted per contest year.
- 5. Contestants must have a minimum 3.0 GPA.
- 6. The contest is for an original researched essay on either of these three topics: (1) Discuss the presumption of innocence in the U.S. given to a person charged with a crime (“Innocent until proven guilty”) and give at least two specific examples and evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of this presumption – OR - (2) Compare and contrast the United States’ three branches of government and their balance of powers with that of another country that does not have this structure – OR - (3) Should a minor student be given his or her rights, including a “Miranda” warning and the right to have a parent present, before being questioned by police on school grounds?
- 7. Students must source at least three (3) references. References from Encyclopedias or Internet sites will be accepted, but are not considered as part of the three published book sources.
- 8. The essay should have four parts: A) cover page, B) essay body, C) bibliography (list of works and references), D) student’s biography/resume.
-
a. Cover Page. - The Cover Page, sometimes referred to as the “Title Page,” must include the title of the essay, contestant's name, address, telephone number, and email address (if available), and include the contestant's signature. In addition, the title page must include the name, address, and telephone number of the high school in which the contestant is enrolled, and the contestant's grade level.
-
B. Essay. - The essay body must have a minimum of 250 words and not exceed 2,000 words (excluding title page, footnotes, bibliography page, and biography page). (Word counts based on a word processor are acceptable). The First page of the Essay must include the title of the essay. (No contestant information must appear on these pages as they are separated and distributed to the judges for grading to prevent possible grading bias.) The essay must be typed, double-spaced, in size 12 Arial or Times New Roman Font on white bond paper. No bindings or special covers are needed. Graphics are welcome if necessary. An original copy of the essay must be submitted. Plagiarism will be grounds for immediate disqualification.
-
C. Bibliography. - Contestants should list all references and works cited and/or used in the essay.
-
D.Contestant's Biography. - The contestant's biography should be no more than two pages. Topics to be included in the biography are academic awards and achievements, school activities, community activities, and plans for college and/or further study, and professional activities.
- 9. Each page shall have its page number and total number of pages listed at the bottom center of each page. The essay shall be typed in English, using Times New Roman or Arial font, in size 12 font. Non-conforming essays may be disqualified.
- 10. Entries must be provided to their school Guidance Office on the Scholarship application due date or sent directly to the Executive Director of the MCBA by NOON on December 2, 2011.
- Michelle D. Katzman, Executive Director
- Martin County Bar Association
- PO Box 2197
- Stuart, Florida
- 34995-2197
- Tel: 772-220-8018
- RE: MCBA ESSAY CONTEST
- 11. NOTE: Essays should mailed to the Martin County Bar Association or provided hard-copy to the school Guidance Office; electronic submission of the essay will not be accepted.
- 12. Essays which meet the criteria in the Rules set forth herein will be accepted and judged equally on the following criteria:
- a. Historical accuracy
- b. Clarity of thought
- c. Organization and Analysis/Reasoning
- d. Grammar and spelling
- e. Documentation
- 13. AWARDS: Prize amounts vary each year. Cash prizes will be awarded for up to five winning papers. The MCBA may, in its discretion, decide to split prizes, to award additional prizes or to award fewer than two awards. For more information please contact the Martin County Bar Association or visit its website at www.martincountybarassociation.com
- 14. The winning essay of the national contest may be submitted for publication in the Sidebar, the monthly newsletter for the Martin County Bar Association and may be posted on the Martin County Bar Association website, along with the contestant’s name, age, school, photograph, and (choice of) undergraduate institution.
- 15. All winning essay contestants will need to supply the Martin County Bar Association with a valid social security number or college school ID # to receive their awards. Awards are paid directly to the undergraduate institution for fees related to college expenses.
- 16. Participants in this contest agree that the interpretation of rules and decisions of the MCBA and its judges must govern without reservation.
- 17. Disclaimer. The MCBA disclaims responsibility for any failure to give due consideration to any submission due to any email or other electronic transmission, storage or archival errors, regardless of the cause.
- 18. Questions regarding specific rules may be directed to the President of the MCBA:
- Preethi Sekharan, Immediate Past President
- Martin County Bar Association
- c/o Page, Mrachek, Fitzgerald & Rose
- 1000 SE Monterey Commons Blvd. Suite 306
- Stuart, FL 34996
- Tel: 772-221-7757
- E-mail: psekharan@pm-law.com
1The MCBA reserves the right to edit the list of participating schools.
As of February 1, 2012
