The Eastern Jackson County Bar Association established this scholarship to honor the extraordinary legacy of attorney Thomas C. Locke, Lieutenant Colonel, USAR, and to inspire students to a life of service to country and their fellow citizens. Mr. Locke graduated from law school in 1978, and practiced law for 25 years as a military judge advocate and civilian attorney in Independence, Missouri.
Mr. Locke served 28 years of active and reserve military duty in the United States Army. His assignment at retirement was as Staff Judge Advocate for the 3rd Corps Support Command, where he supervised a staff of 12 attorneys and five legal specialists and provided legal advice to the Command on operational law, international law and military law.
At the time of his death, Mr. Locke was a shareholder and director of the Welch, Martin, Albano & Manners, P.C. law firm in Independence, Missouri, where he devoted the majority of his practice to the representation of injured workers. He was a past Chairperson of the Workers’ Compensation Committee of the Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association and a member of the Board of Directors of the Workplace Injury Litigation Group, a nationwide organization devoted to representing the interests of injured works. He also held leadership positions in the Lee’s Summit United Methodist Church and the Jackson County Law Library.
Eligibility:
- Must be a graduating seniors from any public high school in Eastern Jackson County, Missouri, including Independence, Blue Springs, Lee’s Summit, Raytown, Fort Osage, Grain Valley, and Oak Grove;
- Must be pursuing a undergraduate degree at any accredited junior college, college or university;
- Must have demonstrated participation in school activities such as sports, music or debate;
- Must have demonstrated participation in out-of-school activities such as work or community service;
- Must have career and personal goals related to those of Thomas Locke.
Amount:
Up to $1,000.
Renewable:
Not a renewable scholarship.
Deadlines:
General applications and additional requirements are due February 24.
Please note that the general application requires transcripts showing grades from Fall Semester 2022. Any applications submitted with transcripts omitting Fall Semester 2022 will not be considered. We recommend getting started on your application as soon as you have received your Fall Semester 2022 transcripts so you have time to prepare the additional requirements.
Requirements:
- A typed essay with a maximum of 500 words on how your personal qualities, goals for the future, and life mirror those of Thomas C. Locke and his achievements.
- At least one personal reference letter from a teacher, coach, or other influential adult in your life. You may include up to two more personal reference letters from one of the same sources.