Finz & Finz, P.C. Now Accepting Submissions for 2021 Devante Lane Scholarship

The $1,000 prize honors Bronx native Devante Lane, who was fatally shot in a senseless act of gun violence.

NEW YORK ― High school and college students can now apply for a memorial scholarship honoring a young, intelligent, and talented Bronx man who was the unintended victim of a shooting in New Rochelle, New York, last summer.

The Devante Lane Scholarship Fund was created by the NYC law firm of Finz & Finz, P.C. Devante’s father, Jerome Lane, has been an integral part of the personal injury firm for more than thirty years and has served as its Operations Coordinator for the last ten years.

Why Was the Devante Lane Scholarship Founded? 

Last July, Devante Lane was fatally shot while walking down the street in New Rochelle, New York. The bright college graduate was passionate about life, art, and fashion, with an infectious smile that lit up a room. While his future was cut short, his parents, Jerome Lane and Alison Hinds, along with Finz & Finz, P.C., wanted to develop a way to support New York students seeking an education and an end to gun violence. And so, the Devante Lane Scholarship Fund was born.

This scholarship opportunity asks students to write an essay addressing the following question:

“How would you use your college education to give back to your local community and reduce the epidemic of gun violence in New York City?”

The winning essay is chosen by a selection committee that includes Devante’s parents.

“Some of the most historical and revolutionary societal changes have been pioneered by our younger generations,” says Stuart L. Finz, the Senior Trial Attorney and CEO of Finz & Finz, P.C. “Today, we call upon these generations to honor Devante by advancing their ideas on how, as a society, we can reduce gun violence in New York.”

Who is Eligible?        

The scholarship fund is open exclusively to New York City residents currently enrolled in high school or college. Applicants 17 and younger need parental consent to enter.

Prize 

The winning writer will receive a $1,000 scholarship prize.

Deadline to Apply

• Dec. 15, 2021: Application window closes
• Dec. 29, 2021: Winners announced

For more information and to learn about the application guidelines, visit the Devante Lane Scholarship Fund page.

Past Winners

Last year’s winners were New York City students and residents Lucki Islam (a 17-year-old senior at Dreamyard Preparatory School), Edward Mendoza (an electrical engineering major at Manhattan College), and Victoria Owusu (16-year-old high school student). You can learn more about each of the prior winners here.

About Finz & Finz, P.C.

Finz & Finz, P.C. is a nationally recognized personal injury, medical malpractice, and defective consumer product law firm in New York. For more information about the Devante Lane Scholarship Fund, please send an email to DevanteLaneScholarship@FinzFirm.com.