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- Long Island and New York, Since 1993.
- SUFFOLK (631)-271-3737
, QUEENS (718)-751-0226
- NASSAU (516)-307-0262
, BROOKLYN (347)-508-9316
- Exceptional Legal Representation Throughout Long Island and New York, Since 1993.
Biannual Scholarship: College and Higher Education Essay Writing Contest Dealing with Current Legal Issues in Debt Relief – $6,500. in Prizes, Every Spring and Fall**
**CURRENT CONTEST: FALL 2023 **
The FALL 2023 Scholarship Essay Contest is Now Open and Accepting submissions of Essays combined with Applications. The Deadline for applicants’ submission of the Essay and Application is December 15, 2023. Instructions for the Essay and for the Application are on this 1st Page, below; please first read these Instructions, below. The actual Essay Topic and Application are on the 2nd Page. After first reading the Instructions on this 1st Page, please click one of the RED buttons, on this Page, below, to get to the Essay Topic and Application, on the 2nd Page.
The Essay Topic for the Current FALL 2023 Contest (please find the Essay Topic on the 2nd Page by clicking a RED button, below), deals with: “THE FUTURE OF THE “LOSS MITIGATION” PROGRAM IN THE U.S. BANKRUPTCY COURTS.” The portals to attach the Essay, and to input the Application, are also on the 2nd Page.
We encourage all college and higher education students to apply. Our goal is to encourage the next generation of scholars to help deal with current issues pertaining to Debt Relief. Addressing Debt Relief Issues and helping individuals and small businesses in Financial Hardship is the passion of our law firm. THANK YOU FOR CONSIDERING PARTICIPATING IN OUR ESSAY CONTEST AND SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION!!! WE HOPE PARTICIPATING IN OUR COMPETITION WILL BE A POSITIVE EXPERIENCE FOR YOU!!! (Examples of Past Winning Essays are on the 3rd Page; if you wish to see what kind of essays succeeded in past contests, please click the BLUE button below to get to the Past Winning Essays on the 3rd Page). GOOD LUCK WITH THE ESSAY AND APPLICATION!!!
Click Here for Essay Topic and Application
Table of Contents
- About this Essay Contest and Educational Scholarship
- Eligibility
- The Entry Process – “The Essay” and “The Application” Submissions
- The Deadline For The Current Fall 2023 Essay Contest
- A Message for All Contestants
- Deciding on This Current Contest’s Winning Essays
- Requirements for the Winners
- About Ronald D. Weiss and Law Office Of Ronald D. Weiss, P.C.
- 2023 Spring Contest Scholarship Winners
- 2022 Fall Contest Scholarship Winners (closed December 15, 2022)
- Winners of Recent Spring 2022 Scholarship Contest (closed on June 15, 2022)
- Winners of Previous Fall 2021 Scholarship Contest (Closed at End of 2021)
- Winners of Past Spring 2021 Scholarship Contest (Closed in Mid-2021)
- Previous Winners: For the Years 2015-2019
About this Essay Contest and Educational Scholarship
In an effort to help college and/or graduate school students meet their educational costs, the Law Office of Ronald D. Weiss, P.C. is pleased to offer incoming and existing college and/or graduate school students an opportunity to win a total of $6,500. in prizes, twice per year. Every Spring and Fall we hold this Essay Contest and award three (3) prizes. The current prizes consist of a $3,500. 1st prize, a $2,000. 2nd prize and a $1,000. 3rd prize. The biannual scholarship and selection for the three (3) scholarship awards is based on an essay contest where the contestants take a position on a relevant topic that is unique for each contest. The Essay Topics for each contest deal with current legal and policy issues pertaining to debt relief. Please click the RED Button labeled Click Here for Essay Topic and Application for: {A} the Essay Topic and {B} the Application. The biannual Essay Topic changes each six (6) months. Instructions on the process, eligibility and the criteria for completing the Essay and Application can be found below. For contestants wishing to review essays submissions to past contests, that were awarded scholarship prizes, please click the BLUE Button for “Past Essay Winners”.
Eligiblity
In order to be eligible to apply for the scholarship, applicants must fit the following criteria:
- Good Standing – Be in good academic standing with your current educational institution.
- Age – If under 18, have the permission of your parent or guardian to apply.
- Country / Citizenship – There is no restriction on students outside of the United States or non-citizens of the U.S. entering the contest.
- Language / Laws – The submissions, including the essay, must all be in English and the essay must be based on U.S. laws and policies.
- Recognized Academic Institution – The academic institution to where the applicant is currently enrolled and/or enrolled next year, needs to a recognized educational institution currently offering an academic educational curriculum to a body of students. However, the educational institution can be outside of the United States, and the student can be taking courses on-line or on a part-time basis. To qualify, the program in which the student is enrolled needs to be at least six (6) months in length and result in a certificate or degree.
The Entry Process – “The Essay” and “The Application” Submissions
Submissions of each applicant’s entry materials involve answering questions on the 2nd page by answering in the portal found by clicking the RED button labeled: Click Here for Essay Topic and Application The materials are in two parts: {A} “The Essay Topic” and {B} “The Application”. While the contest is based on the Essay, the questions in the Application give basic identification and contact information and help the judges with additional information that may help to assess the entire candidate. Both parts — the Essay and the Application — will be explained in the instructions below. This 1st Page has Instructions for the {A} Essay sections which are in PINK, and those for the {B} Application which are in PURPLE. On the 2nd Page, this same color code remains, and the Actual Essay Topic and Essay Questions are in PINK and the Actual Application and Application Questions are in PURPLE.
At the end of the 2nd page’s PINK Essay section there is a YELLOW area where your Scholarship Essay submission can be attached, Click Here for Essay Topic and Application . Also, at the end of the 2nd page’s PURPLE Application Section, there is a GREEN area, and a “SUBMIT” button that would email us the entire Application portal with your completed Application questions and attached Essay. The entry package needs to be submitted by the CONTEST DEADLINE (see the Contest Deadline for the Current Essay Contest, listed in the BRIGHT BLUE section below).
{A} The Essay –
The Essay must deal with the Current Essay Topic for the most current biannual contest which appears by clicking the RED buttons saying: Click Here for Essay Topic and Application . The Essay information and questions are color coded in a PINK Section and the Essay can be attached in a YELOW area, below the PINK section. The Scholarship Essay should contain the following:
- Essay Topic – The Essay must only deal with the Current Essay Topic given on page 2 of this Scholarship, which is an essay topic that changes for every contest and focuses on current legal and policy issues pertaining to debt relief. (Please click one of the RED buttons for the Current Essay Topic). General essays submitted to colleges and institutions about the contestant’s life, experiences and/or challenges are not what we are looking for as a response to the Current Essay Topic.
- References – Please back up facts and/or laws in the Essay with references and/or citations. Please give credit to any sources for your information. Our Essay Topics already have reference sources designated by “linked footnotes” (“FN”) which appear numbered as FN #__ and/or part of a “list of sources” (“LOS”) below the Essay, which appear as LOS #___. These are meant for background information, and the applicant can, but does not have to, reference these footnotes and/or sources in the applicant’s Scholarship Essay. The applicant is free to use these already linked and/or listed references, if they help, but the applicant is also free to reference different sources.
Arguments – Please take a position on the Current Essay Topic and develop it with arguments to support that position. We urge you not just to summarize information, but to mold that information into an original position for which you can advocate.
Originality – Essays need to be original writing that the contestant composed specifically for this contest. We are interested in YOUR ideas. Do not be afraid to think outside the box and to be creative as long as you can support your arguments with facts, references and arguments that make sense. If you feel that you need a chart, spreadsheet, graph and/or illustration to make a point, we would prefer if it was either original, or if you were using it in an original manner and/or to advocate for your own unique position (but please give credit to any sources).
Length – Essays should be approximately 2,500 words, but there is not a strict limit and if you are reasonably over or under this length your Essay will not be penalized.
Title– Essays should have a title which includes the year and season and topic of the Essay Contest. But a better title would also include the thesis of your Essay, which would tell us the position or argument you will be making in your Essay.
{B} The Application – –
The Application, as opposed to the Essay, asks for identification information and short questions about the applicant’s education. Short, voluntary, and descriptive questions also ask about personal circumstances, activities, accomplishments, hardships, challenges, aspirations and career goals. Please see RED button labeled as Click Here for Essay Topic and Application . Answers to most of the short questions, here, are NOT required and if an applicant is uncomfortable answering any question(s) it will NOT penalize their Essay and overall submission. The only parts of the Application that are definitely needed by us, are very basic — the identification questions, contact information and the consent question. In the consent question (which just requires that an applicant fill in a circle next to the question), the applicant agrees that if they are one of the winners, that they will allow their Essay and photo to be displayed on our website to encourage future potential applicants to apply. The rest of the Application (which is optional), may allow the applicant to share aspects of their life and educational circumstances, that may help our judges’ consideration; this may help where Essays are otherwise close in quality, and other aspects — such as information about the person’s accomplishments, challenges, goals and perspectives — may play an incremental role in helping our judges’ decision.
The Application information and questions are color coded in a PURPLE Section and the Application answers can be submitted in a GREEN area (below the PURPLE Section), which will submit the full portal of information upon the pressing of the submit button. The Application should contain the following:
- Identification Information – The applicant’s name, phone, email and address.
- Consent Question – This consent question, which is the only truly mandatory part of the Application, consents to the applicant’s essay being posted on this web site, if they are one of the winners of the essay contest. The applicant also needs to consent to a photo of themselves being posted on this web site with a large display check, that we will send to the essay contest winners (along with an actual check). The purposes of these postings is to encourage other students to participate in our educational scholarship essay contest.
- Educational Information – The educational institution where the applicant is currently enrolled and/or where they will be enrolled next year; the program that they are in or will be in; and the degree that they are working towards and/or that they would soon be awarded.
- Accomplishments and/or Activities – Any activities, accomplishments, hobbies, experiences and/or interests which are meaningful to you. Part of this information is asked in a portal which asks for a short amount of information, approximately 200 words to describe meaningful activities/interests that describe you.
- Educational Goals and Career Aspirations – What are your goals, plans and aspirations in terms of your future education and career. Part of this information is requested in a portal which asks for a short amount of information of approximately 200 words about your educational and/or career goals.
- Hardship or Challenge or Other Information About Yourself – Hardships or challenges that the applicant and/or their family have experienced, if applicable, and how you have dealt with them and/or strived to overcome them. These can be broadly based, economic, health, demographic, language, educational, and family hardships. Part of this information is requested in a portal which asks for a short amount of information of approximately 200 words about any challenges or hardships that have affected you and/or your family.
The Deadline For The Current Fall 2023 Essay Contest
The deadline for submissions for the current Fall 2023 Essay Scholarship Contest is: December 15th, 2023.
The date of the submission entry will be considered the date we actually receive the essay by email. We will receive your completed Application and attached Essay by email after you do the following:
1) “ATTACH” the your original Essay dealing with the Current Essay Topic. (On the 2d page, in the YELLOW area, there is facilitation for the Essay attachment); AND
2) Press the “SUBMIT” button, at the bottom of page 2 of the Application Section. (On the 2d page, in the GREEN area, there is a SUBMIT button allowing the emailing of the answered Application portal information ). Click Here for Essay Topic and Application.
Note: We are aware that there is still a lingering Covid-19 pandemic that is affecting parts of the world. Therefore if you have been affected by a Covid Hardship that has delayed your submission, we would consider moving the deadline by up to (2) weeks for persons showing proof of a Covid-19 hardship.
A Message for All Contestants
Thank you for participating in this biannual essay writing contest. We are honored and humbled by the many promising students who have participated in the Essay Writing Scholarship Contest offered by our law office, since we started it in 2014, and by the many excellent essays that these talented students have submitted. If you do not win the Current Essay Contest, please do not be discouraged and please try again in six (6) months since the the contest is offered biannually, every Spring and Fall. But if you are one of the three (3) new the Winners, a BIG kudos to you and a sincere Thank You for your winning submission. All winning essays will be proudly displayed on this website together with an image of their authors, in tribute to the promise, energy and intelligence of current and future scholars and their potential to tackle our society’s legal, policy and economic challenges.
Deciding on This Current Contest’s Winning Essays
The following factors will be considered in determining the three (3) winning essays in every biannual essay writing contest:
- A demonstrated understanding of the issues raised;
- Originality;
- Quality of writing; and
- The applicant’s demonstrated potential for success in a field related to law, policy and/or government.
Three (3) winners for each biannual essay writing contest are chosen with the 1st prize being $3,500., the 2nd prize being $2,000. and the 3rd prize being $1000. The prizes are sent to the three (3) winners of each contest approximately four (4) to six (6) weeks after the end of a contest. We ask that winners send us a picture of themselves with the large “presentation check” that we will mail together with the actual award check and allow us to post their photo with their winning essay to encourage future students to participate.
All decisions are final and are subject to the discretion of the staff of the Law Office of Ronald D. Weiss, P.C. where our attorneys and staff are the judges and read every essay.
Requirements for the Winners
Winners must respond to the emails and/or calls of our office and acknowledge that they are the applicant. They must give us their current address for us to send the display check together with the real award check. The winners must take a picture of themselves with the display check and send the picture to our office via email. Winners need to agree to allow us to post on our website the picture of themselves with the display check. This is needed to encourage future applicants to the scholarship. Winners also must agree to allow us to display their winning essay on our website. Again, the purpose of this posting of winning essays is to encourage further participation in the scholarship. Our office intends to offer this scholarship for the foreseeable future, and we are delighted by the growing amount of student participation since we started.
About Ronald D. Weiss and Law Office Of Ronald D. Weiss, P.C.
The Law Office Of Ronald D. Weiss, P.C. was formed in 1993 and concentrates in bankruptcy law, foreclosure defense, debt negotiation, mortgage modification, tenant defense and all forms of debt relief. Our office serves clients with legal services throughout New York State. The founder of Law Office of Ronald D. Weiss, P.C. is Ronald D. Weiss, Esq. who graduated New York University School of Law in 1988 and was admitted to the New York State Bar in 1989. Mr. Weiss and his staff have always valued education and still have faith that in the hands of good, caring people, the legal system can make life better for hard working, ordinary people.
Picture Gallery of Past Scholarship Winners…We Are Proud of You!!
This Picture Gallery celebrates the winning contestants of each scholarship contest, by showing their photo and winning essay. We hope it inspires all students to participate in solving society’s economic problems….to think boldly….to create…. to synthesize ideas without pretense or filters….and to come up with fresh, potential solutions…..solutions that may actually work! Our law office has certainly been inspired and uplifted by the participation, energy and clever ideas of the applicants. The staff and attorneys of our office are happy to have this opportunity. We feel fortunate in being able to offer this contest to such talented and deserving students. If you are a potential applicant, we are looking forward to reading YOUR essay….and hope to see YOUR photo on this page!!
Recent 2023 Spring Contest Scholarship Winners (Closed on June 15, 2023)
Recent 2023 Spring Contest Scholarship Winners (Closed on June 15, 2023)
Congratulations to our Spring 2023 Scholarship 1st winner, Michelle Huynh!
Congratulations to our Spring 2023 Scholarship 3rd winner, Laila Heiss!
Congratulations to our Spring 2023 Scholarship 2nd winner, Zylie Reyes!
2022 Fall Contest Scholarship Winners (Closed on December 15, 2022)
2022 Fall Contest Scholarship Winners (Closed on December 15, 2022)
Congratulations to our Fall 2022 Scholarship 1st winner, Aya-Alkhayri!
Congratulations to our Fall 2022 Scholarship 2nd winner, Brayden Tarble!
Congratulations to our Fall 2022 Scholarship 3rd winner, Kaylan Sanders!
Winners of Spring 2022 Scholarship Contest (Closed on June 15, 2022)
Winners of Spring 2022 Scholarship Contest (Closed on June 15, 2022)
Congratulations to our Spring 2022 scholarship first winner, Stacy Bediako!
Congratulations to our Spring 2022 scholarship second winner, Aaron Chan!
Congratulations to our Spring 2022 scholarship third winner, Kylie Marozsan!
Winners of Fall 2021 Scholarship Contest (Closed on December 15, 2021)
Congratulations to our Previous Fall 2021 scholarship third winner, Matthew Larkby!
Congratulations to our Previous Fall 2021 scholarship second winner, Kyle Mann!
Congratulations to our Previous Fall 2021 scholarship first winner, Stephanie Adams!
Winners of Spring 2021 Scholarship Contest (Closed on June 15, 2021)
Winners of Spring 2021 Scholarship Contest (Closed on June 15, 2021)
Congratulations to our 2021 scholarship first winner, Emily Palmer!
Congratulations to our 2021 scholarship second winner, Richard Hollenbach!
Congratulations to our 2021 scholarship third winner, Makayla Shoults!
Previous Winners: For the Years 2015-2019
Congratulations to our 2019 scholarship winner, Dennis Howard!
Congratulations to our 2018 scholarship winner, Jody Skaggs!
Congratulations to our 2017 scholarship winner, Zachary Einsig!
Congratulations to the 2016 Scholarship Winner, Nick Plotkin!
Congratulations to the 2015 Scholarship Winner, Rebecca Chang!
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