2026 Blue Collar to Big Dreams Scholarship

 

At Williams Hart & Boundas LLP, we have spent 40 years standing up for working families. Since 1985, our nationally recognized lawyers have fought for justice on behalf of people whose lives were forever changed by devastating injuries, unsafe products, toxic exposures, and corporate negligence. With billions recovered for clients across the country, our mission has always been rooted in defending the rights of hardworking individuals and giving them the strength to move forward after life-altering challenges.

With that same commitment to honoring the resilience of working people, we are proud to announce the 2026 Blue Collar to Big Dreams Scholarship. This scholarship is designed to support the next generation of students who grew up in households where hard labor and sacrifice were part of everyday life.

We invite students to submit an essay reflecting on how growing up in a household shaped by hard labor and sacrifice has influenced their dreams today. How has this upbringing inspired your aspirations, shaped your relationships, or guided the way you envision your future career? By engaging with these stories, applicants not only pursue their educational goals but also honor the resilience, perseverance, and legacy of working families — values that Williams Hart & Boundas has proudly stood beside for more than four decades.

These $1,000 awards will be granted to multiple students who are children of labor workers. If you are interested in applying, please review the Eligibility and Application Requirements below, and be sure to submit your application before the March 31, 2026 deadline.

Award Amount: $1,000

Eligibility

  • The scholarship is open to any current high school senior, vocational student, college student or graduate student who is a legal resident of the United States residing in one of the 50 states or the District of Columbia and who is enrolled in a vocational program or two to four year post-secondary institution.
  • Employees of Williams Hart & Boundas, their immediate families (parent, child, sibling, and spouse), and persons living in the same households of such individuals (whether related or not), are not eligible to participate in the competition. 
  • Candidates for this scholarship should have a minimum GPA of 3.0 or higher and be in good overall academic standing.
  • Applicants must be the children of labor workers in order to be considered for this scholarship.

Application Requirements

  • The candidate must fill out the form below with all necessary information
  • The candidate must submit a 750-1,000-word essay response to the prompt: A lot of students grow up seeing the world through the lens of hard labor and big sacrifices. Share how your upbringing has influenced the dreams you have today – and how you plan to honor that legacy through your education or future career.
    • Please note that all essays will be checked for AI writing. If AI-generated writing is detected in the essay, the application will be denied.
  • The candidate must submit a professional resumé that lists their experience, both professional and academic.
  • The candidate must submit a transcript from their current school. First-year college students, graduate students, or individuals who have recently transferred to a new school may submit an unofficial transcript from their current institution, as well as the most recent official transcript from their previous school. High school students can submit proof of acceptance to their college or university.
  • Preference will be given to students either from or attending secondary school in the state.

The recipients of the Blue Collar to Big Dreams Scholarship will be chosen during the month following the scholarship deadline. 

For all scholarship-related inquiries, please use this contact form. We are unable to answer scholarship questions by phone, email, or through any other contact forms listed on this website.