Named Scholarship Funds

BLSA 50th Anniversary Scholarship Fund

In honor of the 50^th anniversary of the founding of the Black Law Students Association (BLSA) at Boston University School of Law, the Law School will now offer more financial aid to students from underrepresented minorities through the newly established BLSA 50th Anniversary Scholarship. The Scholarship was founded thanks to the generosity of Dean’s Advisory Board member Robin A. Walker (LAW’99) and her husband, Geoffrey Talvola. Walker was an active member of the Black Law Students Association (BLSA) during her time at BU Law, and acknowledges that “People underestimate the importance of community. In your section, you may be one of just three students of color, or the only one. In BLSA, you can meet the people you just won’t see otherwise, from the other sections or the upper classes.”

Three other alumni, Angela Gomes (CAS’01, LAW’05), Terence Rozier-Byrd (LAW’06), and Trevor Rozier-Byrd (LAW’10), have already joined Robin Walker as the Scholarship’s Founding Partners. And, nearly 100 alumni and friends have contributed at varying levels in recognition of the vital importance of financial aid as a means of supporting greater diversity, equity, and inclusion at BU Law. We invite you to join your fellow alumni and friends of BU Law in support of this important fund. Gifts to the BLSA Scholarship Fund will be recognized at the following levels:

Founding Partner: $10,000 or more
Benefactor: $5,000–$9,999
Associate: $1,000–$4,999
Friend: $1–$999

Click here to learn more about the BLSA Scholarship, and click here to make a gift.

Mary T. & John J. O’Rourke Scholarship Fund

Named after her parents, The Mary T. & John J. O’Rourke Scholarship was established in honor of Dean O’Rourke in April 2018. Her leadership has led to many accomplishments at the School, perhaps most notably the construction of the state-of-the-art Sumner M. Redstone Building and complete renovation of the historic law tower. As Dean and a first generation professional, she considered it one of her highest priorities to ensure that BU Law remains accessible to all students of ability no matter their background or ability to pay.

Make a Gift to the Mary T. & John J. O’Rourke Scholarship Fund.

Mark & Elaine Pettit Scholarship Fund

Professor Mark Pettit touched many lives over 40 years as a faculty member at the School of Law. He was a beloved professor who was recognized with the Metcalf Award for Excellence in Teaching, the highest honor for faculty at Boston University, and received numerous other awards for his service and teaching. The Mark & Elaine Pettit Scholarship Fund will provide annual scholarship awards based on financial need to one or more students enrolled at the School of Law.

Make a Gift to the Mark & Elaine Pettit Scholarship Fund.

Dean William Schwartz Scholarship Fund

William Schwartz (DGE’52, LAW’55, GRS’60) joined BU Law as a professor of property law and trusts and estates immediately upon graduation, and served on the faculty for more than 30 years and as dean from 1980-1988. Under his leadership, the school established the International Law Journal, the Review of Banking and Financial Law, and created the LLM in Banking & Financial Law. After he stepped down as dean, he remained on the faculty until 1991, when he moved on to Yeshiva University to serve as vice president of academic affairs and professor of property law at the University’s Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law. Throughout his career, he authored 18 books and more than 50 law review articles. He was counsel in the New York office of Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft; a member of the Legal Advisory Committee of the New York Stock Exchange; a representative to the United Nations; and a member of the board of Viacom Inc. The Dean William Schwartz Scholarship Fund will provide annual scholarship awards to one or more deserving students enrolled at the School of Law.

Make a Gift to the Dean William Schwartz Scholarship Fund.

Fran Miller Health Law Scholarship Fund

The Fran Miller Health Law Scholarship Fund was established through the generosity of Ted M. Lee (LAW’91) and Brenda K. Lee (Questrom’ 90) in honor of Ted’s beloved professor and “East Coast Mom,” Professor Fran Miller. The fund will provide need-based scholarships to one or more students enrolled in the Juris Doctor program at the School of Law, and award preference will be given to students who are residents from the State of Hawaii, students who served or are serving in a branch of the U.S. military, or desire to enter the field of health law. The Fran Miller Health Law Scholarship Fund is a testament to the profound effect that Professor Miller has had on her students, and serves to recognize her genuine dedication to the field of health law.

Make a Gift to the Fran Miller Health Law Scholarship Fund.

Alex Bopp and Mindy Siebenaler Scholarship Fund

This fund was established by Alexander H. Bopp, Esq. (LAW’98) and Mindy Siebenaler Bopp in November 2020 to offer financial support for one or more deserving students who are enrolled at the School of Law.

Make a Gift to the Alex Bopp and Mindy Siebenaler Scholarship Fund.

Clara Burrill Bruce LAW’26 Scholarship Fund

The Clara Burrill Bruce LAW’26 Scholarship Fund is named after Clara Burril Bruce, the first African American woman Editor-in-chief at Boston University Law Review. She was also the first African American Editor-in-chief of a Law Review nation-wide. This fund will honor Clara Burrill Bruce by providing annual scholarship awards based on financial need to one or more deserving students enrolled in the School of Law, with a preference for students from underrepresented minority backgrounds and those who were first in their families to attend college.

The Eric & Neil Stine-Markman Scholarship Fund

Established by Eric P. Stine (LAW’97), the Eric & Neil Stine-Markman Scholarship will provide annual scholarship awards based on financial need to one or more deserving students at the Boston University School of Law. Preference will be given to students who identify as LGBTQ+.

Mosaic Scholarship Fund

Established by Joseph W. LaPlume (LAW ’99), the Mosaic Scholarship Fund will provide annual scholarship awards based on financial need to one or more deserving students enrolled in the School of Law, with a preference for students from underrepresented minority backgrounds.

Judge Juan R. Torruella Scholarship Fund

This fund was established by Peter Levitt (LAW’93) to provide scholarship awards to deserving students enrolled in the Boston University School of Law. Mr. Levitt started this fund to honor the memory of Judge Juan R. Torruella (LAW’57) who was a dedicated alumnus and the first Hispanic jurist to serve on the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit. He was a mentor to dozens of BU Law students and alumni who served as law clerks and judicial interns during his four-decade long career. More than 30 of Judge Torruella’s clerks, 10 of them BU Law alumni, supported the fund in its first year to establish it as an endowed fund.

First Generation Scholarship Fund

The First Generation Student Scholarship Fund was established by Susan A. Yashar, Esq. (LAW’83) to provide scholarship awards to deserving students enrolled in the School of Law. As a graduate of Boston University, Susan is passionate about diversity among the student body and hopes to provide aid and inspiration to first generation college students and those who may not have had the opportunity to attend BU. More than 80 alumni supported the fund to establish it as an endowed fund, including leadership gifts from Ernest Haddad (LAW’64), Bruce Rakay (LAW’73), and Alana Montas (LAW’11).

To learn about other named scholarship funds at BU Law, please contact Zach Dubin, Associate Dean of Development and Alumni Relations at zdubin@bu.edu.