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The Tronfeld West & Durrett Step by Step Scholarship awards $1,500 scholarships to five hard-working, creative dreamers. They ask applicants to close their eyes and imagine their life twenty years from now. They also ask them to consider the steps necessary to realize those big dreams, such as setting goals, working hard and taking the necessary steps to get where they dream of being in the future.
As a firm, they took their first big step into colleges across the country, setting lofty goals and working hard. Today, they do what they love—help others. They made a decision to spread the ability to do what they love to five worthy students. Understanding that the first big step many students will take in their lives is attending college, they are proud to sponsor the Tronfeld West & Durrett Step by Step Scholarships.
The scholarships are open to any high school or college student in Virginia who is enrolled in a two-year to five-year institute for the upcoming school year. The firm is proud to announce the 2019 winners of the Step by Step Scholarships: Nikayla Kirchner, Hannah Keeter, Paravi Das, Case Stallings and Olivia Willis. Congratulations!
Nikayla Kirchner is enrolled in George Mason University, with a goal of entering into a Communications or media-related field, “in hopes of becoming a journalist, focused on social activism, education and politics,” Kirchner said.
Kirchner’s biggest dream, however, is to one day start her own publishing company. Kirchner’s essay details her dream of becoming a writer, starting from the time she picked up her first book, “Biscuit,” at the age of two.
Hannah Keeter is enrolled at Liberty University, noting she will be pursuing a major in Elementary Education. Keeter intends to work as an educator within Goochland County, one of Keeter’s primary goals as a future educator is to encourage students to know they can do anything they set their mind to.
“I would never wish for any child to feel like they aren’t enough or that they can’t succeed due to any of their life circumstances,” Keeter said.
In her essay, Keeter details growing up in a broken home, with a father who was addicted to drugs and ended up in being arrested, leaving she and her mother with little financial support. “No one is defined by their struggles; with inspiration and encouragement everyone can overcome anything they are dealing with,” Keeter said.
Paravi Das is enrolled at the University of California in Los Angeles, pursuing a Musical Theater major and Music Industry minor. Das’ story is unique, in that she was chosen to compete on American Idol in 2017. On day one of the competition, Das was cut, after finding out minutes before performing that her father was in the hospital. Not only did Das almost lose her father, she lost her passion for singing, giving up performing for months. Das believes her American Idol experience was simply one of the many steps she has taken to achieve her dreams and “give back to music what it gave to me: a voice,” Das said.
Case Stallings is enrolled at the Virginia Commonwealth University; he said that the Step by Step Scholarship means “a tremendous amount,” as he is paying for the bulk of his education by himself, through private loans. Stallings is a Criminal Justice major who plans on a career with local law enforcement or with the U.S. Marshals Service. His ultimate goal is to one day become an FBI agent.
Another of Stalling’s goals is to have a summer internship with the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office or the U.S. Marshall’s Office.
“While there are always challenges around grades and life decisions, the motivation to what I am working toward makes those challenges less stressful,” Stalling said.
Olivia Willis is enrolled at North Carolina State University, Willis plans to earn a bachelor’s degree in genetics with a minor in microbiology, with a dream of becoming a clinical geneticist or oncologist. Willis spent the summer of 2018 shadowing, first at Richmond ENT with an otolaryngologist and facial plastic surgeon, next at Virginia Commonwealth University Hospital, then at Midlothian Pediatric and Adolescent Health Partners, stating “these opportunities cultivated my passion for medicine…and gave me invaluable insight into my career aspirations.”
Willis knows that achieving her goals will be challenging, but that with the TWD Step by Step scholarships, stating she will be “better suited to take on the challenges of excelling academically and preparing for medical school.”
The Tronfeld West & Durrett attorneys are proud of these five young students; they look forward to watching as they contribute to their community and make positive changes to the world.
About Tronfeld West & Durrett
Tronfeld West & Durrett is a personal injury firm located in Richmond, Virginia with additionaloffices in Mechanicsville, Chesterfield and Petersburg, and our practice extends throughout allof Virginia. The attorneys and staff at Tronfeld West & Durrett are dedicated to pursuing the claims of our clients with the goal of obtaining results by settlement or trial. For more information visit https://twdinjurylaw.comor call 804.358.6741.
