The WLAM Foundation’s primary educational project is to fund scholarships for outstanding women law students at each of Michigan’s law schools.
Each spring, the Foundation makes financial awards to women law students on the basis of their demonstrated leadership capabilities, community service in such areas as family law, child advocacy or domestic violence, commitment to diversity, and potential for advancing the position of women in society. Candidates for the award may be full or part-time students at the Thomas M. Cooley Law School, Michigan State University College of Law, Wayne State University Law School, University of Detroit Mercy School of Law, or University of Michigan Law School. The amount awarded annually has grown substantially from $500 given to each of five students in 1998; in 2002, the WLAM Foundation awarded $1,500 to each of nine students, and $2,500 to a tenth student. The tenth student, attending the University of Detroit Mercy Law School, received a special awarded funded entirely by the Howard & Howard Community Reinvestment Fund. In 2004, the WLAM Foundation awarded to 15 law students a record total of $42,500. The substantial increase in award money available was due to generous contributions by the Ford Motor Company Fund, Howard & Howard Community Reinvestment Fund, General Motors Legal Staff, and individuals like Elizabeth Gleicher. Several regional chapters of the WLAM also support the WLAM Foundation, particularly the Wayne, Oakland and Macomb Regions.
2026 Awardees
Since 1997, the WLAM Foundation has awarded over $772,000 to more than 292 law students. For 2023, the recipients and sponsors for each of the $3,500 scholarships are:
- Joscelin Stewart-Hughes, Michigan State University College of Law
- Dana Craig, University of Michigan Law School
- Kimberly M. Cahill Scholar, sponsored by the Women Lawyers Association of Michigan Foundation
- Samantha Kowalcyk, Michigan State University College of Law
- Dickinson Wright Women’s Network Scholar, sponsored by the Dickinson Wright Women’s Network
- Sandra Dunia AlAziz, Wayne State University Law School
- Dawn Van Hoek Scholar, sponsored by the Women Lawyers Association of Michigan Foundation
- Maggie Simons, Wayne State University Law School
- Florence King Scholar in Patent Law, sponsored by Women Patent Lawyers
- Sarah Bazzi, University of Michigan Law School
- General Motors Scholar, sponsored by General Motors Corporation
- Alexis Farmer, University of Detroit Mercy School of Law
- General Motors Scholar, sponsored by General Motors Corporation
- Riley Fisher, Cooley Law School
- Dobrusin Law Firm Scholar, sponsored by The Dobrusin Law Firm
- Lilliana Vangelov, University of Detroit Mercy School of Law
- Miller Canfield Scholar, sponsored by Miller Canfield
- Sylvanna James, Cooley Law School
- The Zenell and James Brown Scholar, sponsored by Zenell Brown
- Zoe Hayes, University of Michigan Law School
- The Salvatore Prescott Porter & Porter Scholar, sponsored by Salvatore Prescott Porter & Porter, PLLC
“A heartfelt thank you to the individuals, law firms, and corporations that continue to support our mission with their contributions to the WLAM Foundation Law Student scholarships,” said Nicole E. Wilinski, WLAM Foundation president and shareholder and chair of the insurance coverage practice group at Collins Einhorn Farrell in Southfield, Michigan. “Each of our 11 worthy recipients is dedicated to excellence in the classroom and committed to championing social causes. We look forward with pride to their impact on the profession.”
Read more about the 2026 scholars here
Past Awardees
2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010
