American Public Service Scholarship
Scholarship Sponsored by Walter Clark Legal Group
Introduction
To support and inspire the next generation of public servants across the country, our law firm is pleased to offer the 2026 American Public Service Scholarship to qualified students nationwide. This award is designed to encourage entry into public service careers and to help recipients explore and launch meaningful pathways in service to their communities.
Award
Two students will each receive a $2,000 scholarship in recognition of demonstrated dedication to public service and a thoughtful response to the essay prompt described below.
Who is eligible
- Open to high school seniors, vocational program students, undergraduate students, and graduate students who are legal residents of one of the 50 U.S. states or the District of Columbia.
- Applicants must be enrolled in a vocational program or a two- to four-year postsecondary institution for the Fall 2026 semester.
- A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 is required, and applicants must be in good standing at their current school.
- Employees of Walter Clark Legal Group, their family members, and individuals living in the same household as those employees (related or not) are not eligible.
Application materials
Applicants must submit the following:
- An essay of 750–1,000 words addressing this prompt: Describe your efforts and goals to serve your community as a public servant. Explain the experiences that motivated you to pursue this path and how you intend to make a measurable difference. Include your career aspirations, underlying motivations, and the ways you expect to contribute as a public servant.
- A professional résumé summarizing academic and professional experience.
- A transcript from your current institution. First-year college students, graduate students, and recent transfers may submit an unofficial transcript from their current school plus the most recent official transcript from their previous school. High school applicants must also provide proof of acceptance to the college or university they plan to attend.
Preference/Outreach
While the scholarship is open to qualified applicants nationwide, we especially encourage students from College of the Desert, California State University, Bakersfield, and the University of California, Riverside to apply, reflecting our longstanding relationships with these institutions.
Selection and timeline
Winners of the 2026 American Public Service Scholarship will be selected during the month following the application deadline.
If you have questions about eligibility or submission requirements, please contact our office for clarification.