Since the inception of the scholarship program in 2004, the Western New York Paralegal Association has offered a scholarship to a paralegal student pursuing his/her paralegal degree at a local college each semester - fall and spring. Since 2004, the association has awarded $11,500 in scholarships.

WNYPA is pleased to announce that the monetary scholarship awards this past spring increased to one $1,500 award to a student in a four-year paralegal degree program and two $750 awards to students enrolled in two-year paralegal degree programs.

Funding for the scholarship program comes mainly through the association's annual Chinese Auction net proceeds. This year, the auction - our 17th annual one - was held June 16 at the Creekside Banquet and Picnic Grove in Cheektowaga. Donations were generously provided by local businesses and law firms, and also by association members.

The scholarship is a one-time offering per student. Students must be enrolled either full-time or part-time in a degree-granting program at an institution in the Western New York area in order to qualify. Other requirements include a completed application form; a letter of recommendation from the director of the applicant's paralegal program or an instructor in the program; the student's most recent grade transcript showing at least a B average; a resume; and a short essay regarding why the student chose to pursue paralegal studies. Applicants need not be association members to apply.

Scholarship awards for the Spring 2009 semester were given to Sara Moshier, a full-time student at Hilbert College, who received a check for $1,500 from the association. Moshier will be graduating in May 2010 with a bachelor's degree in paralegal studies. Scholarship awards in the amount of $750 were given to Janet Poydock of Erie Community College and Laurie Boehler of Bryant & Stratton College. Poydock is a part-time student at ECC. Boehler, a full-time student at Bryant and Stratton, holds a 4.0 average. She expects to graduate in December 2009 with an associate's degree in paralegal studies.

The application deadline for the fall 2009 scholarships will be announced toward the end of summer. WNYPA reviews the applications and selects the nominees from the submissions. The names of the nominees will then be submitted to the association's board of directors for approval.

For more information, contact Linda Wiedrick, WNYPA's student liaison/scholarship director, at 856-3646.

- By Tamara Bigford, a paralegal at Bond Schoeneck & King PLLC and WNYPA Web technology coordinator