Roots and Routes Scholarship

Scholarship Sponsored by Law Office of Eric M. Mark

Introduction
The Law Office of Eric M. Mark is pleased to offer the 2026 Roots and Routes Scholarship. As immigration attorneys, we honor the meaningful contributions immigrants bring to the United States and recognize that the path to immigration and citizenship can be lengthy and difficult. This scholarship is intended to help students who are immigrants or who come from immigrant families by celebrating their stories and supporting their educational pursuits.

Award
- Amount: $1,000
- Frequency: Single, one-time award to one recipient

Deadline and Selection Timing
- Application deadline: May 31, 2026
- Winner selection: The recipient will be chosen during the month following the application deadline (June 2026).

Who May Apply (Eligibility)
- Open to current high school seniors, vocational students, undergraduate students, or graduate students who will be enrolled at a two- or four-year postsecondary institution for the upcoming fall semester.
- Applicants must be in good academic standing with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0.
- Employees of the Law Office of Eric M. Mark, their immediate family members (parents, children, siblings, spouses), and anyone living in the same household as those employees (regardless of relationship) are not eligible.
- Candidates who attend or have attended secondary schools in New Jersey may receive preference.

Required Application Materials
1. Completed application form (submit all requested fields).
2. Essay — 500 to 750 words addressing:
- Your family’s history and how your family came to the United States.
- The new challenges your family or you faced while immigrating or becoming U.S. citizens.
- How these experiences have affected you or your family.
Note: All essays will be screened for AI-generated content. If an essay is found to contain AI writing, that application will be disqualified.
3. Professional résumé summarizing academic and work-related experiences.
4. Academic transcript(s):
- Current students should provide a transcript from their present school.
- First-year college students, graduate students, or students who recently transferred may submit an unofficial transcript from their current school plus the most recent official transcript from their previous institution.
- High school seniors should provide documentation of admission to the college or program they will attend.

Other Notes
- Preference may be given to applicants who live in or attend school in New Jersey.
- Questions regarding the scholarship will not be handled over the phone.

We look forward to reading your personal immigration stories and to supporting your academic goals.