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The Law Office of Matthew D. Sharp is proud to offer a privately funded scholarship essay contest to help one deserving student who submits the most creative, thoughtful and well-written essay in our scholarship contest.
If you’d like to apply, read the instructions below — including the essay prompt and deadline. All students who are currently enrolled in an accredited community college, undergraduate, or graduate program in the United States are welcome to apply.
Eligibility & selection criteria
- Students must be actively enrolled at the university with a valid student ID number and currently enrolled in classes in order to be eligible.
- Essays must be unique (not submitted elsewhere) and written in English by the scholarship application signator.
- Applicants may only submit one essay per contest and entries must be submitted in English.
How to apply
1
View the contest guidelines.
2
Write your 300-500 word essay answering the prompt question above.
3
Submit your application by the deadline noted above.
NOTE: Any applications that are incomplete and/or fail to follow these submission instructions will not be considered.
Guidelines and tips from the judges
The judges, who read thousands of essays, have provided some key tips that will help you write a high quality essay.
- Answer the question. Submissions that don’t answer the question will be disqualified.
- Plan your essay and think through your point of view. The judges know if you just wing it.
- Reference resources in your essay and include citations.
- Use language that is simple to understand. Think 7th grade reading level.
- Use paragraphs and white space to separate your ideas.
- Come close to the word count requirement. Essays with a count of 50 words below or above the requirement will be disqualified.
- Use a tool like Grammarly to check your work. Free versions are often available.
- Read your essay out loud. If it sounds good to you, it will sound good to the judges.
- Submit your essay as a Word document. Other formats will be disqualified.
About our selection process
To choose a winner, our judges will review all valid complete entries received by the deadline date listed above. We will select a winner up to 6 weeks after the deadline and notify the student, as well as confirm that the student is currently enrolled. Only the winner will be awarded the scholarship prize, and their essay will be published on our website. Other notable essays may also be featured on the Matt Sharp blog. Check will be sent directly to the winner’s college.
Ownership of entries
All applications and essays submitted to The Law Office of Matthew D. Sharp, along with all copyright, trademark and other proprietary rights associated with the submission, become the property of https://sharpcriminalattorney.com/. By submitting the application form, you acknowledge we own all rights to publish and promote the content. All entrants also agree that they consent to the use of their name, the school or university they attend, and the use of their likeness (as in a photograph).
*The information collected from applicants will not be used to solicit them for business or sold to third-party solicitors.*
Good luck, and may the best essay win! For questions, contact us here.
Meet criminal defense attorney Matt Sharp
Having attended undergrad and law school, I understand the challenges today’s students face when it comes to paying for college. With this scholarship, I hope to make it a little easier for individuals looking to further their education. Just like every defendant deserves skilled representation, I believe every student deserves the chance to pursue their dreams — regardless of their background or socioeconomic status.
Matt Sharp is a top-rated Houston attorney, specializing in defending clients against charges of DWI, sex crimes, prostitution and other criminal offenses in Texas. He graduated with his Bachelor of Arts from The University of Texas at Austin, and went on to earn his Juris Doctor from St. Mary’s University of Law in San Antonio. During law school, he was awarded the prestigious Pro Bono Service Award.
In addition to volunteering his legal skills to the local community in Houston, Mr. Sharp is a member of the American Civil Liberties Union of Texas, the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, and the Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association. Read bio
