Rise Above Scholarship
Scholarship Sponsored by Silberman & Lam LLP
Overview
Silberman & Lam LLP created the Rise Above Scholarship to provide students a platform to share experiences of workplace mistreatment and to promote awareness of employee rights. The scholarship invites essays that describe times applicants felt taken advantage of in professional, internship, or group settings and how those experiences informed their perspectives. Submissions aim to amplify voices of students who persevered through exploitation and to encourage constructive discussion about red flags and professional growth. The program reinforces confidence and preparedness for future workforce participation.
Description: The scholarship solicits a 750–1,000 word personal essay about a time the applicant felt exploited as an employee, intern, or group member, focusing on lessons learned and how the experience influenced future professional choices.
- Designed to elevate student experiences of workplace mistreatment.
- Focuses on reflection, learning, and professional development.
- Open to high school seniors, vocational, undergraduate, and graduate students.
Eligibility
The scholarship is open to current high school seniors, vocational students, college students, and graduate students who are legal residents of the United States living in one of the 50 states or the District of Columbia. Applicants must be enrolled in a vocational program or a two- to four-year post-secondary institution. Silberman & Lam employees, household members, and immediate family of those employees are not eligible to participate. Applicants should maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0 and be in good academic standing to be considered.
Eligibility: Current high school seniors, vocational students, college or graduate students who are U.S. residents (50 states or D.C.), enrolled in qualifying programs; exclusions apply to firm employees and their household/ immediate family; minimum 3.0 GPA required.
- U.S. residents only (50 states + D.C.).
- Enrollment in a vocational or 2–4 year post-secondary program required.
- Firm employees, household members, and immediate family are ineligible.
- Minimum 3.0 GPA and good academic standing expected.
Application Requirements
Applicants must submit a 750–1,000 word essay addressing the prompt about being taken advantage of in a professional or group context and how that experience affected relationships and future employment decisions. All essays will be evaluated for AI-generated content; any detection of AI writing will result in denial of the application. Candidates must also provide a professional résumé outlining academic and professional experience and a transcript from their current school. First-year college students, graduate students, or recent transfers may submit an unofficial current transcript plus the most recent official transcript from a previous institution; high school students may submit proof of college acceptance.
Application Requirements: Essay (750–1,000 words), AI check compliance, professional résumé, and current academic transcript (with alternate transcript guidance for first-year/transfer/HS applicants).
- Essay must directly address the provided prompt and be original work.
- AI-generated writing is prohibited and will disqualify the submission.
- Résumé and transcript documentation are required; exceptions noted for certain applicants.
Award & Timeline
The scholarship awards one student a $1,000 prize based on a review of all eligible submissions. The application deadline is December 31, 2026; entries received by that date will be reviewed and evaluated by the selection committee. After review, a single recipient will be chosen to receive the award. Specific notification dates and selection criteria beyond the review process are not provided in the source material.
Award Value: $1,000 awarded to one selected student.
Application Timeline: Deadline to apply is December 31, 2026; submissions will be reviewed after the deadline and one recipient selected.
- $1,000 one-time award to a single recipient.
- Application deadline: December 31, 2026.
- Entries are reviewed after the deadline; selection details beyond review are not specified.