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Two scholarships are looking for deserving women who seek to further their education or move their careers forward.
The scholarships are named in honor of Kristen D. Hofheimer, who passed away from breast cancer in January 2019 at the age of 49. She was the former managing partner and co-founder of Hofheimer Family Law Firm, which exclusively represents women in divorce, custody and support cases.
Now in its fifth year, the Kristen D. Hofheimer Memorial Scholarship is accepting applications through May 31, according to Katie Carter, attorney at Hofheimer Law.
Hofheimer felt strongly about advancing the cause of women’s education, and believed that women had the power to change the world if given the opportunity. She attended law school at the University of Virginia, even though she was awarded a full scholarship at another institution. As a single mother, she often attended class with her son, and formed a babysitting co-op for other law school student mothers.
This year’s theme “Straighten Those Crowns” pulls from the quote, “Be the woman who straightens another woman’s crown without telling the world it was crooked.”
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“Kristen always went out of her way to mentor and encourage someone,” Carter said. “She took a chance when she hired me after I took the bar, but before I received the results. When she heard I passed, she was the first one to give me a hug. She also sat next to me at my first trial.”
“Kristen was quiet, but funny,” Carter said. “She was just wonderful to be around.”
Though many previous applicants were pursuing a law degree, Carter encourages anyone who seeks to further themselves to enter the competition.
“We’re not looking for anything specific,” Carter said. “Someone might be pursuing a degree or a technical certificate. In the past, we awarded a scholarship to someone who was opening a women-owned consulting business.”
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However, high school seniors should not apply, as the firm is seeking nontraditional students. Applications for the two $1,000 scholarships will be reviewed by Carter and two colleagues.
Olivia Brock, a 2021 scholarship winner, expects to graduate from Regent University in May 2024. She’s interested in family law, and hopes to help parents in custody or child support cases.
“Knowledge is power,” Brock said. “I want to support parents by giving them that power back. It’s the reason I’m going to law school.”
The Hofheimer scholarship is open to any Virginia woman and the online application is available on the firm’s website. Semifinalists will be asked to submit a video essay from 30 seconds to 2 minutes in length. The videos will be posted on the firm’s website, and “American Idol” voting will determine the two winners.
“I know if Kristen was around, she would be very embarrassed by the scholarships in her name,” Carter said. “She always looked for ways to be supportive, but she also didn’t like being the center of attention.”
For more information, call Hofheimer Family Law at 757-425-5200 or visit hoflaw.com/scholarships/
Eric Hodies, ehodies@hteam.net