2026 REAL PROPERTY LAW SECTION MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIPS
The Real Property Law Section is now accepting applications for its three law student scholarships in the amount of $7,500 each. The scholarships will be awarded in January at the NYSBA Annual Meeting. Apply here: [insert link to application page]
The New York Bar Foundation is pleased to announce the 2026 Real Property Law Memorial Section Scholarships, which have been established by The Foundation through a gift from the Real Property Law Section of the New York State Bar Association (NYSBA) to honor past leaders of the Section. Three $7,500.00 scholarships will be awarded, each to a second or third-year law student. The scholarships are intended to recognize the Real Property Law Section’s commitment to academic excellence, high integrity, and a demonstrated interest in the area of real property law and the public interest, through legal writing, lecturing, and scholarship.
Efforts will be made to honor the Section’s commitment to gender equality and diversity in the profession. To ensure geographic diversity, the Foundation will strive to select students attending New York State law schools in different counties each year, so that over time students from all areas of the State will be able to benefit from the scholarship.
A preference will be given to students who demonstrate financial need.
PAST RECIPIENTS OF REAL PROPERTY LAW SECTION SCHOLARSHIPS
- REAL PROPERTY LAW SECTION LORRAINE POWER THARP SCHOLARSHIP
Since 2008, the New York Bar Foundation has awarded 16 scholarships to honor the memory of Lorraine Power Tharp, a former Chair of the Section and a former President of NYSBA, established through a gift from the Real Property Law Section and Russell Tharp. These scholarships were awarded to second- and third-year law students who best exemplified the core values important to Lorraine – academic excellence, a demonstrated interest in public service, high integrity and, if possible, an interest in real property law, as well as her commitment to gender equality and diversity in the profession.
Past Recipients of The Real Property Law Section Lorraine Power Tharp Scholarship
2008 – Rufus Williams
2009 – Audrey Kim
2010 – Christopher R. Copeland – CUNY
2011 – Milana Khlebina – St. John’s
2012 – Alissa Fortuna – SUNY Buffalo
2013 – Leanne Monique Welds – Brooklyn Law School
2014 – no scholarship awarded
2015 – no scholarship awarded
2016 – David Ullman – Columbia Law School
2017 – Megan McGuiggan – University at Buffalo
2018 – Lauren Richardson – New York University School of Law
2019 – Nicholaus Mills – Cornell Law School
2020 – Jessie Sennett, Columbia Law School
2021 – Federica Marini, St. John’s University School of Law
2022 – Katherine Baurs-Krey, Touro Law School
2023 — Madeline Martinez, Brooklyn Law School
2024 – Bailey P. Hughes, Buffalo Law School
2025 – [insert name and school]
- REAL PROPERTY LAW SECTION MELVYN MITZNER SCHOLARSHIP
Since 2013, the New York Bar Foundation has awarded 11 scholarships to honor the memory of Melvyn Mitzner, a former Chair of the Section, established through a gift from the Real Property Law Section and from Rosalyn Mitzner. These scholarships were awarded to second- and third-year law students in recognition of Mel’s commitment to professional achievement in the area of real property law including legal writing, lecturing and scholarship, and diversity in the profession.
Past Recipients of The Real Property Law Section Melvyn Mitzner Scholarship
2013 – Edward Hyde Clarke – Albany Law School
2014 – no scholarship awarded
2015 – no scholarship awarded
2016 – Nicholas Zapp – Albany Law School
2017 – Joanna Sedlak – Fordham University School of Law
2018 – Marissa MacAneney – St. John’s University School of Law
2019 – Adebare Ogunleye – Albany Law School
2020 – Steven Cecere, St. John’s University School of Law
2021 – Connor Blancato, Brooklyn Law School
2022 – Katherine Mazdzer, Syracuse University School of Law
2023 — Laura Riano, Touro College Jacob D. Fuchsberg Law Center
2024 – Hayley Privitera, Cornell Law School
2025 – [insert name and school]