Lacey Shaffer has been selected as a Cheek Scholar for the Class of 2027. The honor was announced by Amanda Rose, Cornelius Vanderbilt Chair in Law.
“We are delighted to grant Ms. Shaffer this honor,” said Rose. “She is an excellent student with a history of leadership and a demonstrated commitment to business law. We expect her to go far 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 incredibly honored and grateful to be named a Cheek Scholar,” said Shaffer. “After learning more about Mr. Cheek’s life and legacy, I look forward to helping carry that legacy forward through our shared passions for mentorship and community-building.”
Shaffer’s interest in law developed during her freshman year at Georgia Tech, through her Legal Aspects of Business course. “Learning about the intersections of business and law sparked a deep sense of intellectual curiosity, and I continued to explore coursework in this field during my time at GT,” she said.
Her post-graduate work as a risk analyst at NCR Corporation confirmed her desire to pursue a legal career. “I had a front-row seat when NCR completed a spin-off of nearly half of its business,” she explained. “Being involved in that transaction and having the opportunity to learn from the in-house attorneys at NCR affirmed that law school was the right path for me.”
The Vanderbilt Law & Business program was a huge draw for Shaffer, who felt the caliber of faculty and variety of coursework would set her up for career success. “I want to complete the Law & Business Certificate to explore the multitude of ways in which law and business intersect and identify areas of interest where I might choose to focus my future practice,” she said. “I also hope to take advantage of the practical coursework offered as part of the certificate program to develop tangible skills and gain confidence that I can take into my career.”
Shaffer will spend her summer in Atlanta at King & Spalding as a summer associate. As a 2L, she will serve as Secretary for the Entertainment and Sports Law Society and Co-Vice President of Admitted Students for Vanderbilt Law School Ambassadors, organizations that she worked for in her first year. She also hopes to participate in one of the law school’s journals.
Shaffer earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with Highest Honors from Georgia Tech’s Scheller College of Business.
