The Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas has created the Joel White Memorial Scholarship for law school students in honor of the late First Amendment attorney Joel White. White was a former president of the FOI Foundation of Texas board and a longtime advocate for free speech, free press and open government. The inaugural Joel White Memorial Scholarship was awarded for the 2022-23 academic year. It was the first time the nonprofit FOI Foundation of Texas had awarded a higher education scholarship since its founding in 1978.
The recipient for the 2024-25 academic year is Dalia El-Giar of the Texas A&M University School of Law in Fort Worth.
Here are more details about the scholarship, which is awarded in the spring for the upcoming academic year:
Eligible Applicants: Students attending a Texas law school who are interested in First Amendment law and uphold the First Amendment principles that Joel White championed. Financial need is not a determining factor in selection of the scholarship recipient but will be considered.
Minimum scholarship amount: $1,000
Deadline to apply: Feb. 20, 2025, for the 2025-26 academic year
Process: Applicants must submit the FOIFT scholarship application, their resume and an essay explaining their legal career goals and why they are applying. Law school enrollment will be verified by the FOI Foundation of Texas executive director. Scholarship money will be paid directly by FOIFT to the law school to apply to tuition and fees.
Essay instructions: Provide a written essay of 500 words maximum about your reasons for pursuing a legal career, the type of law you are interested in and how you are preparing for that career. Please explain your interest in First Amendment law. Include in the essay why you are applying for the scholarship.
NOTE: If you experience a problem submitting the online form below, please send your application information including attachments directly to FOI Foundation executive director Kelley Shannon at [email protected].