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Alumni

3L Class Gift Program

Section Contents

The 3L Class Gift Program provides a way for members of the graduating class to come together and give back to the law school in order to ensure that the students who follow in their footsteps are met with the same excellent educational experience and collegial environment they had. Contributing to the class gift efforts allows 3L students to show their appreciation for their legal education, the experiences they have had, and the memories they have created during their time at Vanderbilt Law School.  

Why should you give?

Excellent question! Did you know that tuition only covers 76% of the actual cost of your legal education? The remainder is made up by donations from alumni, students, and friends. Because of these gifts, the law school is able to best support the students: through funding student organizations, bringing in renowned guest speakers, providing top-notch career services to ensure professional development and job placement, maintaining the extensive library, keeping class sizes down, and continually upgrading technology. Additionally, support for scholarships, awards, and programs allows us to attract, recruit, and retain the highest caliber of students and reduce their future loan burden.   

Areas of Focus

The Class of 2026's Class Gift Committee has chosen the Access2VLS, the Public Interest Stipend Fund, and the Law School Annual Fund. Descriptions of these funds are detailed below. We would love for you to support one of these funds with your gift, but please know you can always choose to support any fund at the law school: your favorite student organization, the journal for which you work so many hours, a scholarship that has positively influenced your life, or the general Law School Fund. All gifts to the law school will count toward Class Gift totals. 

Access2VLS

This is a groundbreaking program to meet 100% of a student’s demonstrated need with scholarships—up to the cost of tuition. During the 1L admission process, we consider admitted students for Vanderbilt Law School merit scholarships based on their individual applications relative to other admitted candidates, and in a separate, subsequent process, we allocate Access2VLS grants to those with demonstrated tuition-need defined as tuition costs not covered by the combination of their Vanderbilt Law School merit scholarships, external scholarships, external tuition benefits, and CSS Profile calculated Expected Family Contribution (EFC). Access2VLS grants are provided only during the first-year J.D. admission process, and like Vanderbilt Law School merit scholarships, they are allocated evenly across three academic years (six semesters) of full-time study at Vanderbilt Law School.

Public Interest Stipend Fund 

This fund was established in 2014 to provide public interest fellowship support to Vanderbilt Law Students. Specifically, stipends are available to students participating in summer pro bono fellowship that supports traditionally underserved populations. This is a merit-based award and is to help defray the cost-of-living expenses. 

Law School Annual Fund

The Vanderbilt Law School Annual Fund is comprised of unrestricted gifts to the Law School and are available for immediate use, giving the school flexibility to meet the students’ and faculty’s most pressing needs. This includes but is not limited to financial aid, student organizations/activities/journals, faculty retention/recruitment, curriculum development, computer/library resources, and facility maintenance/upgrades.

Make Your Gift

Members of the Class of 2026 are encouraged to make their gift to the law school at any time, using the button below. A contribution of any amount will help the class reach the participation goal. You can set up a monthly recurring gift or make a one-time gift online.

FAQs

  • Students pay tuition, so does the law school really need our money?

    Yes! While tuition covers a majority of what it takes to run the law school, it does not cover it all. Donations from alumni and friends make up the difference. Without these gifts, the law school would not be able to fund student organizations, provide career services, keep class sizes down, bring distinguished guest lecturers to campus, employ renowned faculty members, maintain the extensive library or continually upgrade technology. In particular, scholarships and awards enable the school to recruit the most talented of students and to minimize the loan burden. 

  • Why are annual gifts so important to Vanderbilt Law School?

    By making your first gift to the law school, you become introduced to the importance of philanthropy and contribute to the legacy of giving established by the thousands of VLS alumni who have come before you. A high alumni giving participation rate shows law firms, foundations, and prospective students that alumni truly believe in Vanderbilt Law School, and that their donations are well placed. Last fiscal year, over 28% of all alumni gave back to the law school, which compares favorably with other top 20 law schools. As an upcoming member of the alumni community, you have the opportunity to continue the strong tradition of support the law school has celebrated for decades. 

  • Will our gifts really make a difference?

    Absolutely. Gifts of any amount are greatly appreciated and truly make a difference. What matters most to us, though, is your participation. Alumni participation is very compelling, but 3L giving is even more so. Your support improves the school’s ability to leverage major gifts from other alumni, individuals, and firms who pay attention to what occurs at Vanderbilt Law School. 

  • Are gifts tax-deductible?

    Yes. All donations to the Law School are deductible from federal income tax if the donor itemizes deductions when filing his or her tax return. Donors may also be eligible to claim state income tax credit.

  • To what area should I give?

    Gifts to any area of the law school are counted towards our participation goal and total dollars raised. Our goal is to encourage participation and cultivate the spirit of philanthropy so that the law school is strengthened for years to come. This starts with giving to an area of Vanderbilt Law School that is most meaningful to you – whether that’s to one of the areas of focus, a specific student organization, or another area. 

Goals and Donor List

  • Dollar Goal

    Dollar Goal: $2,000

    Dollars Raised: $3,724.10

  • Participation Goal

    Participation Goal: 25% 

    Current Participation: 19.9%

  • 3L Class Gift Participants

    David C. Becker
    Jennifer L. Bercaw
    Marcus G. S. Bengzon
    Julia Q. Biehler
    Christian Chase
    Laura A. Collins
    Kaitlin C. Coulter
    Timothy G. K. Craig
    Colton J. Cronin
    Ashia J. Davis
    Alexandra R. Devereux
    Delaney Edge
    Sherry E. Girgis
    Caroline F. Grady
    Ranjan Guniganti
    Ashley S. Han
    Grace E. Hassell
    Joshua J. Hiero
    Nora M. Joyce
    John M. McNabola
    Ansley R. McNeel
    Emily Meaney
    Fady E. Megaly
    Cristian L. Ochoa
    Kylee M. Perkins
    Kelly M. Rodriguez
    Collin A. Saulters
    Sydney C. Schoonover
    Caitlin P. Sharma
    Anna A. Smith
    Kyle J. Smith
    Caroline F. Spencer
    Olivia J. Staff
    Evelyn L. Stein
    Safia S. Tejani
    Joshua S. Vituszynski
    Nicholas G. Wallenburg
    Morgan M. Wray

Class Gift Committee

Delaney Edge, Co-Chair
Fady Megaly, Co-Chair
Marcus Bengzon
Christian Chase
Timothy Craig
Alexandra Devereux
Joshua Hiero
Ansley McNeel
Cristian Ochoa
Kylee Perkins
Collin Saulters
Kyle Smith