OCPA'S SCHOLARSHIP ANNOUNCEMENT …

Are you a student in a paralegal program? Are you a working paralegal interested in furthering your education? Then read below as OCPA's annual scholarship contest has begun. The winner of the scholarship will receive up to $500 in reimbursements for any educational class or meeting related to the development of a career in the paralegal field. So you want to take a class at a paralegal program? Want to take the CLA exam? Are you a CLA who wants Advanced Certification (ACP)? Write a response to the essay topic below and you could be the recipient of OCPA's 2008 Scholarship.

Essay Topic:

You decided to become a paralegal and are going to school. Or, maybe you have already completed your requirements but want to further your education by attending other classes, meetings or taking a certification or specialty examination. Accordingly, please answer the following questions based on your status (current student or paralegal):

Student Questions:

• How do you feel that your educational experience will contribute to your future career as a paralegal?
• What skills did you learn in the classroom that you feel will be most beneficial in your future career as a paralegal?
• After attending classes, how do you plan on earning your MCLE credits as required by B&P 6450?

Paralegals in the field:

• How has your educational experience contributed to your career as a paralegal?
• What skills did you learn in the classroom that have directly impacted your job?
• After attending classes, how have you maintained your MCLE credits as required by B&P 6450?

Essays will be judged on the following criteria: (a) did your response address all of the questions; (b) the quality of the responses; (c) thoughtfulness and consideration of responses. Please submit your essays to:

Sheri Dando / via fax to 949.713.8910 or via email to sdando@appliedmedical.com. All entries must be postmarked by September 8, 2008 . Please note the essay topic is not for any other purpose but for the scholarship contest.

OCPA's Annual Educational Scholarship Contest

Each year OCPA sponsors a Scholarship contest to encourage our members to continue their education either through advanced formal education or through successfully completing the certified paralegal examination administered by NALA. Entrants are required to submit an essay based on a specific topic chosen by the Scholarship Committee. The essay is judged on content, writing skills, and persuasiveness. The winner is awarded a $500 scholarship to the educational institute of their choice or to use toward taking the CP examination. 

Past Scholarship winners...

The winner of OCPA's 2007 Scholarship Contest was Griselda Zamora.

The winner of OCPA's 2005 Scholarship Contest is MELODY ZANDPOUR. Melody is currently a student in UCI Extension's Paralegal Program, and works as a clerk at the law firm of Knobbe, Martens, Olsen & Bear.  At OCPA's 19th Annual Educational Conference on September 17, 2005, Melody was given a check from OCPA in the amount of $500 made payable to UCI Extension.

At the September 18, 2004, OCPA 18th Annual Educational Conference, Charles Baclet & Associates, Inc. presented a $500.00 Educational Scholarship to this year's scholarship recipient Kimberly Butler, a student at Fullerton JC. Kimberly will receive her paralegal certificate in December 2004 and plans to use the $500.00 Scholarship to obtain her CLA certification.

At the June 9, 2004 General Membership Meeting, the OCPA's first Educational Scholarship was awarded to Fedelita Rust, a student at Santa Ana College. Fedelita received a $ 40.00 OCPA Student Membership and $ 460.00 toward obtaining her paralegal certificate.