Breaking Barriers: The Shibley Law First-Generation Scholarship

Shibley Law is committed to supporting first-generation college students who are pursuing higher education despite facing unique financial and social barriers. This annual scholarship, Breaking Barriers: The Shibley Law First-Generation Scholarship, recognizes the resilience, determination, and courage it takes to be the first in your family to attend college.

We believe in investing in the next generation of leaders, advocates, and changemakers. That’s why our personal injury lawyers in Michigan invite students from all areas of study and all across the nation to apply for the First-Generation Scholarship before February 15, 2027.

While preference will be given to students from West Michigan (Muskegon, Grand Rapids, Holland, and Kalamazoo), we look forward to uplifting first-generation college students all around the nation. Apply today for a chance to receive $2,500 to dedicate toward your continued studies.

Shibley Law invites students from all areas of study, undergraduate and graduate alike, to apply for Breaking Barriers: The Shibley Law First-Generation Scholarship. While preference will be given to students from West Michigan, the team will accept applications from students attending schools all across the United States.

Applicants must indicate that they are enrolled in or accepted at an accredited college, university, or graduate school in the United States. They must also agree to the scholarship’s terms and conditions and submit a 500- to 1,000-word essay that meets the scholarship’s standards. Incomplete application packets will not be considered.

Finally, this scholarship is only open to students with neither parent having completed a four-year college degree.

For your essay to be eligible, please include the following:

• A catchy and original title.
• A bibliography where you mention all the sources of information used (e.g., books, sites, articles, magazines, reports, etc.)
• Citations

Once finished, please save your essay in PDF format and name it using the following example: “[Scholarship Name and Year] – [Student Name]”.

Double-check the application form and make sure all of your information is accurate and that you’ve included your essay before submitting your application for consideration.

Students must submit a 500- to 1,000-word essay addressing the prompt below:

How has being a first-generation college student shaped your perspective on education and your future career goals?

Applicants may reflect on how factors such as finances, family responsibilities, academic expectations, or navigating college without guidance from previous generations have shaped their perspective and goals.

Shibley Law wants to reward students for their individual creativity and originality. As such, please do not use AI to create an essay for the Breaking Barriers: The Shibley Law First-Generation Scholarship. Students who submit AI-generated essays or who use AI to write their submissions will have their applications disqualified.

Students have until February 15, 2027, to complete their applications for Breaking Barriers: The Shibley Law First-Generation Scholarship. Unfortunately, the scholarship selection committee cannot consider applications submitted after this deadline passes.

Once the scholarship submission deadline passes, the scholarship selection committee reserves up to three months to select its recipient. We cannot accept emails, calls, or other communications about the scholarship during this timeframe, nor can we provide families or students with updates on the status of an application.

Any applications received after the deadline will not be taken into consideration.

All applicants to this scholarship must meet the eligibility requirements as laid out on the scholarship application page, including:

• Applicant must be enrolled at a college, university, or graduate school.
• Applicant must have at least a 3.0 GPA.
• Applicant must be a first-generation college student, with neither parent having completed a four-year degree.
• Applicant must be at least 18 years old at the time of application.
• Applicant must have residency in the United States.
• Applicant must be in good academic standing.
• Applicant must submit some personal information, including name, contact information, and academic information.
• Applicant must write an original essay on the scholarship topic provided.

Anyone who meets the following conditions is NOT eligible to apply:

• Employees or children of employees of Shibley Law
• Past recipients of the First-Generation Scholarship
• Applicants who are unable/unwilling to be interviewed by a representative of Shibley Law if they were to be awarded a scholarship
• Applicants who submit the same essay for multiple scholarships or for multiple years in a row

Paul Shibley will select the final recipient of Breaking Barriers: The Shibley Law First-Generation Scholarship. Age, race, religion, gender, national origin, familial status, or other protected classes will have no influence on the committee’s decision.

Shibley Law reserves up to three months after the scholarship submission deadline passes to choose its recipient. Once Paul Shibley selects the scholarship recipient, Shibley Law will share a blog post and press release announcing the recipient’s name on its website.

The firm will then mail the student’s scholarship money to the academic institution of their choosing.

Your personal information will not be given, sold, or distributed to third parties.

We reserve the right to use the scholarship recipients’ names and photos in any announcement or communication related to Breaking Barriers: The Shibley Law First-Generation Scholarship on Shibley Law’s website, in marketing materials, or in social media posts.

By submitting your application, you agree to our public use of your name and image.

We look forward to sharing the names and achievements of future Breaking Barriers: The Shibley Law First-Generation Scholarship recipients here.