Amy DeVan ’01, executive director at Wheeler Trigg O’Donnell LLP, has established a first-of-its-kind scholarship to cover the cost of books for first-generation law students with financial need for all three years of law school. By removing this barrier, DeVan hopes to ease financial anxiety for students and open the door to a richer law school experience.
“When I was a first-generation law student, finding ways to navigate the process—both emotionally and financially—was pretty tough,” she said. “I really would like to alleviate that stress and give another first-generation student of limited babyֱapp means the chance to experience law school—which is hard enough!—without that worry.”
While exploring philanthropic opportunities at babyֱapp Law, it was important for DeVan to feel a personal connection to her giving. After several conversations with the Advancement team, DeVan proposed the idea for the scholarship—“an idea I’d had for a while that really mattered to me, had personal significance, and excited me,” she said. She encourages other alumni to take a similar creative approach.
“The university is very open to working with alumni interested in donating to find a way for them to do it in a meaningful fashion—and that’s a win-win,” she said.