About the SOAR Scholarship
LOAR PLLC, is a fast-growing, woman-owned, personal injury law firm serving Texas from offices in Austin, DFW, Waco and Edinburg. The launch of the firm was made possible with the support of a strong community including my family, my friends, and an amazing network of professional women. As I reflect on my academic and professional experiences, I appreciate the women mentors who have helped me navigate the unique challenges women may face in achieving their goals. As a mother of a blended family with children ages 13 to 20, I also understand the responsibility we have to invest in the next generation and serve as positive role models.
We launched SOAR Texas, a nonprofit scholarship foundation, to provide $100K in annual college scholarships to 20 outstanding female students who are the future leaders of their schools, communities, and businesses. SOAR selects young women who are the first in their family to pursue higher education or who have overcome significant challenges. The scholarship program goes beyond financial resources by giving access to professional development and mentoring resources for these women as they go through school. As new scholarship recipients are chosen each year, previous recipients will be invited to continue participating in SOAR activities. Ongoing participants will be able to pay it forward by providing mentorship to the new recipients and continue to benefit from the ongoing relationships these circles will build.
- Amber Russell, Founder of LOAR PLLC
LOAR PLLC is excited to announce the recipients of the 2024- 2025 SOAR Scholarships. These 23 remarkable women will each receive a $5,000 scholarship and will be provided professional development and mentoring throughout their college or graduate school experience. They will be attending universities throughout the State of Texas and are to be congratulated on winning in such a highly competitive environment. The recipients will be honored at LOAR’s Summer Celebration on June 8, 2024. With this announcement, LOAR PLLC is proud of the over $250,000 in scholarships awarded in the three years of the SOAR Scholarship Foundation and is grateful for the opportunity to support and mentor these future leaders.
Congratulations also to the 2024 SOAR Scholar graduates. Arielle Allen is graduating from the University of Texas School of Law with her J.D. degree with Pro Bono Honors and will be joining LOAR PLLC as an attorney. Madi Ang is graduating from the University of Texas with a B.S. Honors in Nutritional Sciences. She will be matriculating at the University of Texas Dental School in Houston in August. Alejandra De La O is graduating with honors from the University of Texas with a B.S. in Public Relations and Advertising and will be continuing at the University of Texas to pursue her graduate studies. Tran Le Abraham will be graduating from The University of Texas School of Law with a Juris Doctorate, and after graduation will be working at the Texas Association of School Boards.
SOAR Scholar Alumni, Lisa Lozano, Texas A&M PhD candidate, shared, "As a first-year doctoral student at Texas A&M University, I'm so grateful to be a SOAR scholar. The award has granted me financial stability, and in turn, allowed me to focus more on studying and building my therapeutic skills at the TAMU psychology training clinic! Amber and the team check in with us throughout the semester, and it's evident that they genuinely care about our well-being. Being a first-generation student, it's really nice to have their holistic support and know they're a resource I can rely on for professional development or just to talk about my experience navigating graduate school. My hope is to return to the Rio Grande Valley and provide psychological services to my community which is predominately Latinx and low-income."
"The SOAR scholarship funds I received are invaluable contributions to my ability to participate fully in the law school experience, including exploring various internships, volunteering in the pro bono clinics, and participating in student organizations," said SOAR Scholar Arielle Allen, University of Texas Law School.
Full bios of this year's winners can be found at SOAR Scholars.
SOAR Texas, a 501 (c) (3) non profit, seeks to mentor and support ‘first females,’ those young women who are the first in their family to pursue higher education or who have had to overcome significant challenges. Our goal is to provide scholarships opportunities and ongoing mentorship and relationship building.
It is not enough for us to celebrate current successes. We have to reach out to the next generation to help more women reach their potential because we believe that First Females will go on to do great things, and they will pay that forward to others that are reaching up.
The Scholarship and Mentoring Groups
Twenty students will be selected each year to receive a scholarship totaling $5,000. SOAR Scholars are eligible to reapply each year they meet all of the eligibility requirements. The recipient will also be invited to join a mentorship group. The groups will have two meetings a year (for which attendance is strongly urged, but not required), and several optional meetings throughout the year either in person or virtually, depending on location of the members. Our goal is that as new scholarship recipients are chosen each year, previous recipients will continue with their group. They will provide mentorship to the new recipients and continue to benefit from the ongoing relationships these circles will build.
Eligibility Requirements
Women who are first-generation college or graduate students or have overcome significant challenges/obstacles on their educational journey.
Enrolled full-time or accepted to begin full-time in the fall of 2024 at an accredited 4-year university or graduate program in the State of Texas.
Current cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher.
Demonstrate leadership abilities
Demonstrate good moral character in all aspects of your life, including personal, professional, educational, in your community, and online presence.
Current Texas resident.
Applications are then reviewed by our scholarship committee, who consider family background, academic achievement, involvement in extracurricular activities, community volunteer work, church service or work-employment; and strength of essays. The committee will pick finalists to present to the Board, and the Board will vote to pick the winners.
Any employees of LOAR or SOAR, SOAR Board members, and any of their immediate family members are ineligible.
Application
This application opens December 14, 2023 and closes March 10, 2024 12:00 p.m. (Noon) CST. All applications and required documents (proof of acceptance or enrollment at one of the applicable universities, school transcript, and a recommendation letter) must be submitted online or received in our Austin office (6101 W Courtyard Dr., 1-150, Austin, TX 78730) before March 10, 2024 12:00 p.m. (Noon) CST. Scholarship recipients will be notified by April 15, 2024, and invited to an event to recognize their achievement (in person or virtually) at Summer Celebration in June 2024.
The scholarship funds will be made payable to the accredited university of the recipient’s choice and can be applied for tuition, room and board, or other educational expense through the university.
SOAR Board of Directors
Amber Russell
Ashley Pinto
Brent Jaye