Scholarship
Now Accepting Applications
Harold Sullivan Scholarship Program
Featuring the Justice Mary Jane Theis Scholarship
Justice Mary Jane Theis
Justice Mary Jane Theis Scholarship
The Illinois Judges Foundation (IJF) is proud to support the next generation of legal leaders through its Harold Sullivan Scholarship Program—a collection of scholarships recognizing law students who demonstrate a commitment to service, integrity, and the pursuit of justice.
New this year, IJF introduces the Justice Mary Jane Theis Scholarship, one of several awards offered under the Harold Sullivan Scholarship umbrella, honoring Justice Theis’s legacy of leadership and dedication to the judiciary.
Eligibility Requirements:
- Enrolled in an Illinois law school with at least one year remaining.
- Demonstrated financial need.
- Proven community service or pro bono experience.
- No close family member who is a judge.
Award Information
Each year, the IJF awards multiple scholarships in varying amounts to students attending Illinois law schools, including at least one $5,000 scholarship. Historically, the IJF has awarded multiple scholarships annually, with no set limit on the total number of awards that may be granted in any given year. Scholarship funds are paid directly to recipients’ law schools and applied toward tuition and other qualified educational expenses. In some cases, law schools may also provide matching funds, thereby increasing the total financial support available to each student.
Harold Sullivan & MJT Scholarship Honorees
Since 2009, the Illinois Judges Foundation has supported dozens of future leaders in the law through the Harold Sullivan Scholarship program. We continue this tradition of excellence today by recognizing our past recipients:
| Year | School | Recipient | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Northwestern Law School | Mariam Somorin | $5,000.00 |
| U of I Champaign | Jess Nalupta | $4,000.00 | |
| University of Chicago | Andrew Couchon | $4,000.00 | |
| U of I Champaign | Jessie Randazzo | $2,500.00 | |
| U of I Chicago College of Law | Kristin Moser | $2,500.00 | |
| Northwestern Law School | Rosa Park | $2,000.00 | |
| University of Chicago | Kaitlyn O'Leary | $2,000.00 | |
| Chicago-Kent College of Law | Tiffany Montiel | $2,000.00 | |
| 2024 | SIU Simmons College of Law | Amber Alexander | $5,000.00 |
| Northwestern Law School | Justin Bae | $5,000.00 | |
| U of I Chicago College of Law | Daisy Huerta | $2,500.00 | |
| University of Illinois Law School | Matthew Garrison | $2,500.00 | |
| SIU Simmons College of Law | Shailey Park | $2,500.00 | |
| 2023 | U of I Chicago College of Law | Jacob Rotolo | $5,000.00 |
| Northern Illinois College of Law | Maria Talania | $5,000.00 | |
| 2022 | Southern Illinois University Law | Alicyn Gerhardt | $5,000.00 |