The Samuel G. DeSimone Writing Competition and Scholarship. Sponsored by the Gloucester County Bar Foundation, the Cumberland County Bar Association and the DeSimone Family, a three thousand dollar ($3,000.00) scholarship is given each year in Honor of the late Samuel DeSimone, JSC, a former NJ Superior Court Assignment Judge of Cumberland, Salem and Gloucester Counties. In hosting this award the Bar Foundation and the Cumberland County Bar Association are recognizing the importance of excellence in legal writing and seek to give the award to a student enrolled in an ABA-approved law school. Judge DeSimone was an advocate of legal education and training and was known as an educator on the American Legal system throughout his career. Teaching not only the members of his county bar associations but traveling abroad to participate in discussion of the American Legal system. Each applicant submits a comment piece on a current topic of interest in the law chosen by the State Bar Association. The writing must be the original writing of the student and may not have been previously published in a law review or journal. the submission also may not have been submitted for any other competition during the time when it is under consideration for this competition. The submission must be the work of one author alone and joint submissions are not considered. It is expected that the submission is a law review quality submission. The Scholarship is generally awarded in conjunction with the Law Day activities in May of each year.

The Frances Scholarship. Sponsored by the Gloucester County Bar Foundation, a one thousand dollar ($1,000.00) scholarship is given each year in Honor of the late Robert Ellis Frances, JSC, a former NJ Superior Court Judge of Gloucester County. Judge Frances served the County for many years retiring as the Assignment judge of the Chancery Division of the Superior Court. He lived in Pitman most of his life and was a graduate of Pitman High School in 1960. He graduated from the Univ. of Delaware in 1964 and Rutgers Law School in Camden in 1967. He served as a Captain in the U.S. Army from 1967-70. He was Asst. Gloucester County Prosecutor and Solicitor for many communities in Gloucester County. He was an Adjunct Professor at Widener Law School in Delaware from 2003-2008. In hosting this award, the Bar Foundation seeks to recognize a graduating senior who focuses on the importance of our democracy and is pursuing an education in the law or law enforcement.

Law Day Scholarships. Two $1,000.00 scholarships are awarded each year to Gloucester County High School Seniors who demonstrate the characteristics of the Foundation’s mission and intend to continue their education through pursuit of a two or four year degree after graduation. One of the three scholarships will be dedicated to a student who intends to pursue a career in the law. The other two will be awarded to students furthering their education who reflect the community service goals of the Bar Foundation. The scholarships will once again be awarded at the annual Law Day Luncheon generally held in May of any given year. The recipients will be invited along with two guests to the law Day Luncheon.

The award is based upon the applicant’s demonstrated scholastic ability, general character, demonstrated accomplishments, community service and an essay written by the student on a topic established New Jersey State Bar Associations. The applications are reviewed by a sub-committee of the Bar Foundation and the winners are determined upon the vote of the full Foundation Board of Trustees.

To be eligible, a student must be a Gloucester County resident and a High School Senior who has applied to an accredited undergraduate college or university in pursuit of a two or four year degree. The recipient must have lived in Gloucester County for at least one year. An Applicant would be ineligible if a member of the Applicant’s immediate family is a Trustee of the Gloucester County Bar Foundation or the Gloucester County Bar Association.

Applications may be obtained from the School Guidance Counselor

The Applicant must submit the following:

1. Completed application

2. Copy of official transcript of high school record

3. Letter of recommendation from a teacher and/or administrator of the school the student is presently attending.

4. Personal recommendation from another adult, not a relative

5. A copy of the official report of the student’s SAT scores

6. A typed essay on the indicated topic.

Applications shall be received no later than the stated deadline and should be submitted to the Gloucester County Bar Foundation P.O. Box 338, Woodbury NJ 08096