ABLA Foundation
The ABLA Foundation
The Austin Black Lawyers Association (ABLA) operates a charitable 501(c)(3) Foundation that provides scholarships to Black and African American students attending colleges and universities at both the undergraduate and graduate level.
ABLA Foundation scholarships focus primarily on graduating high school seniors or college graduates entering the legal profession. ABLA Foundation's two primary scholarship programs are the Heman Sweatt Scholarship and the Virgil C. Lott Scholarship.
Scholarships
The Virgil C. Lott Scholarship honors Virgil C. Lott who was the first African American to graduate from The University of Texas School of Law. The scholarship is awarded to graduating seniors in Austin ISD and the surrounding ISDs who exhibit leadership, community service, good scholastic standing, and extracurricular involvement. Recipients are awarded the scholarship upon acceptance to any junior college or university.
The Heman Sweatt Scholarship honors Heman Sweatt who In 1946, sued The University of Texas after they denied him admission to the Law School because he was black. A Texas judge at the Travis County Courthouse first denied Sweatt’s claim. However, the U.S. Supreme Court took up the case on appeal and in 1950, the court unanimously ordered Sweatt’s admission. In 2007, the Travis County Courthouse, where Sweatt was first turned away with his suit against the University of Texas, was renamed in his honor.
The virgil c lott scholarship application period opens on
april 1, 2025
and closes on
April 30, 2025, at 11:59 pm!
Rules and Requirements
The Virgil C. Lott Scholarship is open to graduating African American and Black seniors in the greater Central Texas area who exhibit community service; good scholastic standing; evidence of leadership and extracurricular involvement; and financial need.
Applicants may complete the application online OR download the application and send in all required materials to foundation@austinblacklawyers.org.
Applicants must submit the following materials:
(1) The application;
(2) A personal statement;
(3) Your official high school transcripts (including test scores and class rank);
(4) Two letters of recommendation (one letter must be from your high school faculty or staff).
(5) A photo (optional).
All academic documentation, including transcripts, test scores and class rank, must be on official school letterhead.
It is the applicant's responsibility to ensure that all materials are submitted by 11:59pm on Wednesday, April 30, 2025.
The personal statement is an opportunity for the applicant to include information that will assist the committee in reaching a thoughtful decision. Examples of such information include a description of your personal strengths, your contributions through community service, a description of any special circumstances that may have affected your academic performance, or your personal or family history of educational or socio-economic disadvantage.
Applicants must be available to meet with the committee for a personal interview.
Before receiving scholarship funds, recipients will be required to submit proof of acceptance and registration at a college, university, or junior college.
For questions or technical assistance please email foundation@austinblacklawyers.org.
