WMU-Cooley student awarded inaugural DEI scholarship from Plunkett Cooney

A Western Michigan University Cooley Law School student is the recipient of Plunkett Cooney’s inaugural diversity scholarship award. Frances Silney-Bah, a rising 3L at WMU-Cooley, received a $2,500 scholarship based on her submission to the firm’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) essay program.

“I would like to thank Plunkett Cooney for voting my essay to the top amid strong competition and a rigorous selection process,” said Silney-Bah. “I believe that by continuing to invest in diverse law students, we will achieve equity in the profession.”

Plunkett Cooney’s scholarship program is an extension of the law firm’s DEI goals, which include attracting and retaining law school students from diverse backgrounds. To qualify, “diverse student” applications included, but were not limited to, based on race, ethnicity, nationality, gender identity, LGBTQIA+ identity, disability and neurodivergence.

The law firm’s essay review panel members were tasked with selecting finalists from a significant number of high-quality essays. When reviewing submissions, panel members considered the essays based on each author’s response to a prompt about life experiences, challenges, triumphs and/or background that influenced their career choice and impacted their approach to advancing diversity, equity and inclusion as they enter the legal profession.

Plunkett Cooney’s DEI Committee members help coordinate the firm’s related activities, which include a focus on recruitment, retention, training, mentoring and community involvement. Each year, Plunkett Cooney supports numerous affinity groups, community organizations and law school student organizations that are focused on advancing DEI.