Caroline Grady has been selected as a Cheek Scholar for the Class of 2026. The honor was announced by Amanda Rose, Cornelius Vanderbilt Chair in Law.
“Ms. Grady is a stellar, motivated student with a demonstrated interest in law and business,” said Rose. “We look forward to watching her grow as a lawyer in the field.”
The Cheek Business Law Scholarship provides supplemental scholarship funds for a student completing the Certificate in Law & Business. The scholarship, endowed by James H. Cheek III, J.D. ’67, is awarded each spring to a member of the current 1L class. Cheek Scholars receive a supplemental annual scholarship for their second and third years of law school.
“I feel extremely fortunate and honored to have been selected as the Cheek Scholar,” said Grady. “I have so much to learn personally and professionally, and the guidance of the faculty here at Vanderbilt is a true gift.”
Grady found herself drawn to legal field first during an undergraduate internship and later while working on the international marketing team for Wendy’s. “I noticed that the questions and answers I found to be the most thought-provoking were the legal ones,” she explained. “They provided a foundation to every aspect of the business, and I wanted to have that foundational understanding.”
The Law & Business Certificate allows Grady to continue developing her business acumen while pursuing her legal education. The coursework allows her to identify areas of interest and potential career tracks, which she will pursue during her 1L and 2L summers. “Taking classes with the law and business faculty is of great value within itself,” she said. “They have so much knowledge and experience that I hope to soak up in and outside of the classroom as I pursue the certificate.”
This summer, Grady is working as a corporate summer associate at Kirkland & Ellis in Chicago. When she returns to Vanderbilt in the fall, she will serve as Membership Coordinator for the Women’s Law Student Association (WLSA) and Treasurer for Phi Delta Phi. “I am very excited to spearhead the WLSA mentorship program, as the mentors I was assigned during my 1L year were vastly insightful,” she said.
Grady earned a Bachelor of Business Administration summa cum laude from the Ohio State University Fisher College of Business.
