In recognition of her dedicated service to OCPA and the advancement of the paralegal profession, OCPA established the Elizabeth Root Memorial Scholarship.

One (1) scholarship, valued at $500.00, will be awarded to one (1) paralegal or one (1) paralegal student, provided such student did not receive an OCPA student scholarship during the calendar same year, for reimbursement of paralegal education, seminars, meetings, OCPA membership or fees for certifications (example: the NALA certified paralegal ("CP") exam or preparation classes), or the advanced certification ("ACP") exam. Qualified applicants are asked to complete the Application Form and submit the Application Form and essay via email to the OCPA Scholarship Committee at scholarship@ocparalegal.org by October 10, 2025. All Essays submitted will be considered by the OCPA Scholarship Committee using the Essay Judging Criteria listed below. If the OCPA Scholarship Committee deems no qualified winners, no scholarship will be awarded.

The awards ceremony will be held November 5, 2025 at the OCPA November General Meeting.  Winners must be present at the awards ceremony to accept their scholarship.     

Eligibility: Scholarship applicants must be members of the Orange County Paralegal Association.
Deadline for submission:  11:59 pm on October 10, 2025
Essay Guidelines: 

Elizabeth embraced her career and championed professional ethics, professional development, and shared her education and experience to give a hand up to other paralegals.


Answer the following question in 500-700 words:

Elizabeth Root was dedicated to the paralegal profession, partly by disseminating information to paralegals and students in the Compendium.  How have you utilized your role in school or work to educate and guide others?
Submission Guidelines
    • Submit completed entry packet (essay and entry form) as an email with attachments to scholarship@ocparalegal.org by the deadline of 11:59 pm on October 10, 2025. Incomplete entries may be disqualified.
Essay Judging Criteria: 
The Scholarship Committee will consider, in no particular order:
    • Did the response address all of the questions
    • Writing and grammar skills
    • Quality of the response

        If you have any questions regarding the Elizabeth Root Memorial Scholarship, please contact the Scholarship Committee at scholarship@ocparalegal.org.

        past scholarship recipients

        YEAR

        		 NAME(S)
        2015 Kayleen Lofgren
        Heather Thompson
        2016 Cristina Gutierrez
        Amera Hajali
        2017 Jack Levi Orman
        Connie Mao
        2021 Margaret McFarlane
        2022Maria Mayo Cover
        2023Luigi Giovanni Guereca