Injury Scholarship Winner Fall 2022

We are proud to announce Olivia Gray as the winner of our Personal Injury Scholarship this Fall. Our team was moved by Olivia’s essay of determination towards her academic goals in the midst of recovery from a life-changing accident.

On September 1, 2021, stood on the sidewalk waiting to cross the street to attend class, when a car drove up onto the sidewalk and struck her. She was knocked unconscious and later learned that she was flung 20 feet over a guardrail and into a drainage ditch. She was rushed to a level 1 trauma center where they quickly restored her blood pressure and performed surgery on her left leg. She also experienced a severe concussion, brain swelling, deep tissue stitches, a broken pelvis in two places, a broken S1 bone in her back, a pseudo aneurysm and hematoma in her iliac vein, multiple cuts and abrasions, a broken tibia, and an shattered knee.

Through the excruciating pain, she persevered through and retained her 4.0 GPA in her senior criminology courses. A subsequent major surgery on her knee was required to replace most of  the ligaments and tendons. After months of physical therapy she was able to return to golfing again. Something her doctors didn't believe would happen for another two years.

Despite these challenges she finished senior year maintaining all A’s, was admitted into law school, and assisted in a doctoral candidate’s research study.

Olivia aspires to do pro bono work assisting victims of violent crimes. Her accident showed her how frustrating and emotionally taxing it can be to navigate the legal system while still recovering from the trauma of victimization.

Congratulations Olivia!