Sandi Fuqua Scholarship

Scholarship Sponsored by Whitley Law Firm

Introduction
Sandi Fuqua was a cherished member of the Whitley Law Firm family for more than 26 years until her passing in 2020 from Gerstmann–Straussler–Scheinker disease. Her warm presence, memorable laugh, and fierce spirit—especially when facing down insurance claims adjusters—left a lasting impact on colleagues and clients alike. In her honor, Whitley Law Firm has established the Sandi Fuqua Scholarship.

Scholarship overview
- Award: $2,500
- Purpose: To support a high-achieving undergraduate or graduate student who demonstrates meaningful involvement and service within their community, reflecting Sandi’s commitment to people and place.
- Eligible applicants may be incoming or current college students studying in the United States.

Who may apply
To be considered, applicants must:
- Be enrolled in, or accepted to, an accredited college, university, or graduate program.
- Be pursuing their post-secondary education in the United States.
- Be at least 18 years old at the time of enrollment.
- Be a U.S. resident and in good academic standing.
- Agree to the scholarship’s terms and conditions and provide requested personal information (name, contact details, and proof of enrollment).
- Submit all required application materials, including an original video essay addressing the prompt.

Who is not eligible
The following are ineligible to apply:
- Employees of Whitley Law Firm and their children.
- Previous recipients of the Sandi Fuqua Scholarship.
- Applicants who refuse or are unable to participate in an interview with a Whitley Law Firm representative if selected.
- Applicants who reuse the same video essay for other scholarships or re-submit the same video in multiple years.

Video essay — topic and format
Create a 1–2 minute video that reflects on your connection to your community and your college. Consider the questions:
- What does your community mean to you?
- Where do you come from, and which community or communities do you belong to?
Explain how these communities have influenced who you are and how they tie into your academic goals and commitment to your university.

Technical and submission instructions
- Record the video in a well-lit environment and keep the recording device as steady as possible.
- Use only copyright-free music, images, or other content.
- At the end of the video, display or state your name, the number of credits (if applicable), sources of any referenced information, and the software or app used to create/edit the video.
- Give your video a creative title that reflects its message.
- Upload the finished video to YouTube as an unlisted video, then include the unlisted YouTube link with your scholarship application.

Deadline and selection timeline
- Application deadline: June 15, 2026. Applications received after this date will not be considered.
- The selection committee may take up to three months after the deadline to review submissions and choose a recipient.
- The winner will be notified by email and asked to confirm enrollment and provide the school mailing address for delivery of the award check.
- Whitley Law Firm will not contact applicants who are not selected. Applicants and family members should not call the firm for status updates; refer to the scholarship terms and conditions for further details.

Additional terms and conditions
Applicants must meet all eligibility criteria on the scholarship application page and submit an original video created specifically for this award. By applying, entrants accept and agree to the scholarship’s terms and conditions as posted by Whitley Law Firm.

For questions about the scholarship’s rules, application requirements, or terms, please consult the scholarship application page or the posted terms and conditions.