Undergraduate and graduate students alike have to ask themselves thoughtful questions as they begin laying out their future. “What is your purpose?” is perhaps one of the most daunting questions, which is why it’s the question that Claggett, Sykes & Garza’s personal injury lawyers in Connecticut want students applying for the “What Is Your Purpose Scholarship” to consider.
Our team specifically wants students to think about their long-term goals and how they intend to have an impact on the communities that support them. We want students to discuss the positions that move them to action and the passions that drive them to pursue certain areas of study.
Students have until June 1, 2026, to complete a comprehensive scholarship essay and apply for this new scholarship. The scholarship selection committee will award $2,500 to its winning student. The team will begin accepting applications in January 2026.
How to Apply for the What Is Your Purpose Scholarship
The What Is Your Purpose Scholarship invites undergraduate and graduate students across all fields of study to apply for the chance to win $2,500 to dedicate toward their continued education. Students do not need to major in any specific field or pursue any specific degree to qualify for this scholarship.
Instead, students must prove that they’re accepted at or enrolled in an accredited college, university, or graduate school in the United States and be the first in their family to pursue higher education at a 4 year university. All applicants must agree to the scholarship’s terms and conditions and submit all necessary application materials to move their applications forward.
The scholarship selection committee expects applicants to complete the application form on this page and upload a copy of their scholarship essay as a .PDF when applying for the What Is Your Purpose Scholarship.
Scholarship Essay Topic
Claggett, Sykes & Garza wants students to reflect on the question, “What is your purpose?”
In this context, purpose refers to the underlying reason or motivation that drives your actions, goals, and aspirations. It is the deep-rooted vision or sense of meaning you seek to fulfill through your education, career, and personal endeavors. Your purpose is unique to you and often reflects your values, passions, and the impact you wish to make in the world.
In your response, we encourage you to articulate how you define your purpose, how it shapes the decisions you make, and how this scholarship will help you further your mission. Consider the long-term goals you hope to achieve and how they align with your values and passions.
Scholarship Essay Requirements
Your scholarship essay should be between 500 and 750 words in length. Please include a header that details:
- Your full name
- The name of the What Is Your Purpose Scholarship
- The name of your college, university, or graduate school
- Your financial aid office’s email address, mailing address, and phone number
- Your student ID number
We also encourage you to create a clever title. If you use sources to create your essay, please include citations and a bibliography. Once you’ve finished your essay, please save your file using the following naming formula: “[Scholarship Name and Year] – [Student Name].”
Do not use AI to generate your scholarship essay. The use of AI to create an essay for the What Is Your Purpose Scholarship will result in a student’s removal from the applicant pool.
Application Deadline
Students have until June 1, 2026, to complete their essays and submit their complete applications for the scholarship selection committee’s consideration. Claggett, Sykes & Garza cannot accept applications submitted after this date or applications submitted without all of their required materials.
The scholarship selection committee reserves up to three months after June 1, 2026, to select its scholarship winner. Please do not contact Claggett, Sykes & Garza during this timeframe. We cannot answer any questions you have about the status of a student’s application.
Terms and Conditions
All applicants to this scholarship must meet the eligibility requirements as laid out on the scholarship application page, including:
- Applicant must be enrolled at a college, university, or graduate school
- Applicant must be at least 18 years old at the age of enrollment
- Applicant must have residency in the United States
- Applicant must be in good academic standing
- Applicant must submit some personal information, including name, contact information, and academic information
- Applicant must author an original essay on the scholarship topic provided
Anyone who meets the following conditions is NOT eligible to apply:
- Employees or children of employees of Claggett, Sykes & Garza
- Past recipients of the What Is Your Purpose Scholarship
- Applicants who are unable/unwilling to be interviewed by a representative of Claggett, Sykes & Garza if they were to be awarded a scholarship
- Applicants who submit the same essay for multiple scholarships or multiple years in a row
Selection & Award Notification Process
The scholarship selection committee with Claggett, Sykes & Garza must receive a student’s application by June 1, 2026, if a student wants to qualify for the What Is Your Purpose Scholarship’s $2,500 reward.
The scholarship selection committee once again asks that neither students nor parents reach out to Claggett, Sykes & Garza with questions about the status of a student’s application or when the committee will announce its winner.
Age, race, religion, gender, national origin, familial status, or other protected classes will have no influence on the committee’s decision. Once the scholarship selection committee picks its winner, it will independently reach out to that student. Claggett, Sykes & Garza will then announce the winner’s names and achievements through a blog post and press release.
Previous Winners
Claggett, Sykes & Garza looks forward to debuting its What Is Your Purpose Scholarship in 2026. The team will celebrate the achievements of future What Is Your Purpose Scholarship winners here through blog posts and press releases. Keep an eye on this page for updates about upcoming winners.