Overview of Varghese Summersett Criminal Justice Changemaker Scholarship
The attorneys at Varghese Summersett PLLC practice criminal law at both the state and federal level. Although our careers reflect our love and passion for the criminal justice system, we are constantly striving to improve an imperfect system. To share our passion, we are proud to announce our annual Criminal Justice Changemaker Scholarship, which awards a student $1,000 to pursue their education.
As times change, laws and the penalties associated with them can become outdated. We are inviting incoming or current law school students to write an essay voicing their opinion on one current law or piece of legislation that deserves to be updated. The applicant should explain how this criminal justice reform can have a lasting impact on society. Students applying should have an interest in pursuing a career in the criminal justice field for this scholarship opportunity.
Eligibility
To be eligible, applicants must be:
- an incoming or current law student in the United States
- interested in a criminal justice career.
Application Requirements
- A current resume;
- A current transcript;
- The name of the law school you are attending or where you are seeking admission;
- A 100 percent original essay of 500-1500 words offering an opinion on a current law or piece of legislation that deserves to be updated and how this change will have a lasting impact on society.
- There is no GPA requirement.
Click Below for the Application
Application Deadline
All scholarship criteria must be submitted on or before October 1, 2026. Applications sent after the deadline will not be considered. Essays should not have been previously published anywhere and no copyrighted material may be used.
2026 Criminal Justice Changemaker Scholarship Winner
Congratulations to Mahdi Fugfugosh, recipient of the 2026 Varghese Summersett Criminal Justice Changemaker Scholarship!
Mahdi is a law student at the University of San Francisco School of Law and has a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science from Cal State University. In his winning essay, “Drawing the Line Before Investigation Becomes Surveillance,” he argues that states should require police to get a warrant before searching historical license plate reader data, such as Flock camera data, to track a person’s movements. His proposal includes exceptions for true emergencies.
As Mahdi writes, “A person should not lose constitutional protection simply because the search happens through a keyboard instead of a needle.”
Congratulations, Mahdi. We can’t wait to see what you do next.