Congratulations To Our 2021 Scholarship Winners!
Our law firm was thrilled to see the talent, creativity and dedication among those who applied for our 2021 scholarship awards. We received many well-researched and thoughtful entries from high school, college and graduate students from throughout the country.
The attorneys of Mushkatel, Gobbato, & Kile, P.L.L.C., had asked students to provide an essay of 600 words or less or a video of two minutes or less in which they responded to the following question:
“Discuss the issues that arise from the Electoral College, the popular vote, and political campaign financing — and suggest improvements for the presidential election system.”
We appreciate every entry that we received, and we would love to award a scholarship to every applicant. However, we had to choose only two winners. The funds which they receive will go towards their costs of pursuing a higher education.
We thank every student who submitted an essay or video and wish everyone the best as they move forward.
1st Place: Akhila Mullapudi
From: Farmington Hills, MI
Attending: University of Michigan
Our contest winner is Akhila Mullapudi. Akhila is an incoming Freshman at the University of Michigan Ann Arbor studying political science and pre-law. She hopes to become an international attorney and work at the intersection of government, business, and human rights. In addition to school, she is a community organizer and activist for a plethora of issues and causes ranging from community health, gender equality, environmental justice, education reform, democracy reform, and immigrant and refugee rights to name a few. Her hobbies include reading classic literature, biking, and painting/studying art history. Her hope is to create a positive impact on my community, whether that be through the law, activism, or community empowerment.
2nd Place: Nathaniel DeLaTorre
From: Chino Hills, CA
Attending: University of Southern California
Nathaniel De La Torre, a rising college student and aspiring filmmaker, currently resides at home surrounded by his family in the city of Chino Hills, California. With the pursuit of working in the film industry, Nathaniel is studying Cinema and Media Studies at the University of Southern California’s School of Cinematic Arts. Through the course of his college career, Nathaniel hopes to soak up enough information possible, being able to eventually produce films that combine his familial upbringing experiences and blockbuster-like interests.
About the Author
Zachary Mushkatel is a founding attorney of Mushkatel, Gobbato, & Kile, P.L.L.C., who has practiced law in Arizona since 2004. He also practices before the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. A graduate of the University of Arizona and the University of Minnesota Law School, he started his career as a public defender and entered private practice in criminal defense. In 2008, Zachary co-founded a firm dedicated to civil law in addition to criminal defense, and he has since expanded his practice to personal injury, estate planning and litigation, guardianships, conservatorships, probate, corporate litigation, real estate, and various civil matters. He serves on the board and faculty of the Arizona College of Trial Advocacy, and he is a past president and current member of the West Maricopa County Bar Association.
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