The law firm Younce, Vtipil, Baznik & Banks, P.A. has announced its 2026 scholarship contest, offering financial awards to North Carolina high school students planning to further their education. The contest features a first-place award of $2,000 and a second-place award of $1,000. To apply, students must submit a 400–600-word essay responding to the prompt: "Tell us about a contribution you have made to your community." The firm states it is seeking applicants who demonstrate ambition, drive, and a desire to attend college to help support and build their communities.
Any high school student in North Carolina who intends to pursue further education is eligible to apply. The submission period opens on January 5, 2026. All applications must be submitted by the deadline of May 1, 2026, with winners announced on May 29, 2026. Interested students can learn more about the contest and submit their applications via the firm's website at https://www.example.com.
In its announcement, the firm connected this initiative to its broader professional mission. The attorneys at Younce, Vtipil, Baznik & Banks, P.A. describe themselves as committed to seeking justice for clients across North Carolina. This scholarship program extends that mission by aiming to make a positive difference in the community through educational support. The firm posits that while community contribution is possible at any stage, higher education often provides the learning, preparation, and career opportunities necessary to create a greater impact. By offering financial assistance, the firm hopes to give more students the opportunity to pursue the education needed to make meaningful differences in their communities.
The announcement underscores the firm's perspective that this scholarship represents a chance to give back to the community it serves. For students and families, the financial awards can help reduce the burden of college costs, making post-secondary education more accessible. For the broader community, the contest encourages and rewards civic engagement and service among youth, potentially fostering a stronger culture of community involvement. The focus on essays about personal contributions shifts the selection criteria beyond pure academic merit, valuing demonstrated action and community-mindedness.
This type of corporate-sponsored scholarship program highlights a trend where businesses and professional firms directly invest in local educational advancement and workforce development. By targeting high school students, the program intervenes at a critical point, potentially influencing college enrollment decisions and reducing financial barriers. The structure of the contest, requiring an essay on community contribution, aligns the firm's philanthropic activity with its stated values of community service and support. The firm has provided a direct application portal at https://www.example.com for students to begin the process when submissions open in 2026.
