Our team at the Law Office of David E. Gordon created the Nuclear Family Scholarship to appreciate the family members that significantly shape the students in our community. We received tons of applications, each highlighting the people who made them who they are and the everlasting impact those people have made.

2024 Nuclear Family Scholarship Winner: Anya Pinto

Biography: My name is Anya Pinto and I am a high school senior at American Heritage School in Plantation, Florida. As an incoming freshman at Stanford University, I would like to major in Science, Technology and Society. Throughout high school, I dedicated my time toward founding and leading my service organization “ActionPAKT: Projects Advocating for a Kinder Tomorrow” to raise over $20,000 with the help of 1,200 members across 26 countries. I’m Co-President of my school’s Model United Nations team and Co-Editor-in-Chief of my school’s newspaper, The Patriot Post.

Reaction Statement: “I was ecstatic when I heard that I won the Nuclear Family Scholarship! I’m super grateful for the opportunity it has given me, and happy that I can be part of a community which truly reflects my own values. My family has inspired me to work hard and make the most out of my life – so it meant a lot to me that the Nuclear Family Scholarship gave me the chance to share how much I care about them. Overall, this scholarship will help me pay for college and it serves as a testament to the love I have for my family.”

 

2023 Nuclear Family Scholarship Winner: Sebastian Cordero Muniz

 Biography: “My name is Sebastian Cordero Muniz. I am from Williamsburg, Virginia, and I go to Jamestown High School. In the fall, I will be attending Yale University. I plan on majoring in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology with a minor in Chinese. 

In school, I am the President of the Envirothon team (an environmental science competition), the founder of the Pre-Med Club, and the Vice-President of the local chapter of the STEM Without Boundaries non-profit. In college, I look forward to participating in research, joining cultural and language clubs, and engaging in pre-med organizations. 

Reaction Statement: When I saw the email appear in my inbox, I was elated. Attending college is a very expensive endeavor, and I was extremely happy to have received additional funds to supplement my education. My family has always valued education and the pathways it can open in your life. Knowing that I can pursue my education with a greater sense of peace is a relief, and I’m extremely honored to have been selected for the 2023 Nuclear Family Scholarship. However, all my hard work and success is directly attributed to my family members, especially my mom, which I wrote my essay about. She has always pushed me to be the best I can be, both academically and personally, and I would not have been able to persevere without her. While I will miss my family greatly in college, I will always try to live up to the values they have instilled in me in recognition of their love and support.”

 

The 2022 Nuclear Family Scholarship Winner: Andrea Contreras-Fernandez

Andrea Contreras-Fernandez is a senior at Gulf Breeze High School in Gulf Breeze, Florida. She was born in Mexico and raised in Atlanta, Georgia. In her sophomore year, she moved to Gulf Breeze and has lived there since. She is the oldest of four and has been involved in her community as a Leadership Committee Member for Youth Diplomats and President of her high school’s National English Honor Society. In her free time, Andrea enjoys running and swimming and has recently earned her Emergency Medical Responder and Open Water Surf Rescue Certification as a lifeguard on Pensacola Beach. She is plan on attending the University of Florida to major in Statistics and accept her position in the Honors Program and Undergraduate Research Scholars Program. Andrea looks forward to participating in research, specifically within the medical field, and earning a Master’s degree in Biostatistics. 

Andrea’s Response: Throughout my life, the importance of opportunity has always been stressed by my parents, and they have always seen a post-secondary education as the greatest opportunity to develop my professional skills. However, the financial commitment that this education represents can be discouraging.

Upon receiving news of winning the David E. Gordon Nuclear Family Scholarship, I had just left school and noticed that I had some missed calls and a voicemail. While listening to the voicemail, I was in shock and immediately felt a weight taken off my shoulders. What had seemed like months of unfruitfully searching for scholarships finally paid off. I couldn’t contain my excitement and immediately shared the news with my parents, whose faces lit up with pride. It feels fitting that my essay was about my dad, as he has always been my greatest supporter when it comes to seizing the opportunities life has to offer. This scholarship has brought me one step closer to fulfilling my educational goals, and I would like to thank the Law Office of David E. Gordon for giving me this opportunity.

The 2021 Nuclear Family Scholarship Winner: Ava Huelskamp

Ava’s Response: When I got the email notifying me that I won this scholarship, I was in my car about to leave the house. My dad and dog were sitting on the front porch at the moment that I jumped out of my car screaming from excitement, spurring a barking spell from my dog and my dad to wonder if he needed to call 911. He sighed with relief, and in the next moment happiness as I explained I had just won my first outside scholarship. I was elated, and still am. It means so much to me that my essay submission made an impact on the selection committee, and watching my mom happy-cry as she read my essay about her was a priceless feeling. She deserves to have a million more essays written about how wonderful she is. 

I know that my parents want to give me everything I could ever need, but the reality is that college is expensive. We have been stressed out about the imminent cost of my education, and are so grateful for the help of this scholarship. I’m so thankful and proud to be selected for this scholarship and accept this financial help with open arms. Throughout high school, I was involved with my school newspaper, musical theater, YoungLife, and I also worked at a local coffee shop. While I don’t have a clear plan mapped out for after college, I know that I want whatever I do to be important and make a difference. I plan to become fluent in french after taking AP french my senior year of high school, and hope to use that ability in my future career. I hope to travel and see different parts of the world, being immersed in cultures different from my own. While I’m still extremely indecisive and my future destination is up in the air, I’m so appreciative of the help this scholarship will provide on my journey. 

Learn More About The Nuclear Family Scholarship

The Nuclear Family Scholarship was started to give students the opportunity to share how an immediate member of their family has helped them become who they are today. Our firm is a tight-nit bunch that considers each other to be a “work family”, and we know both from our experiences with each other and our experiences with our biological families just how impactful close relationships can be. This scholarship acts as a way for us to support students while having the chance to hear about meaningful relationships our applicants have had the privilege of experiencing. To learn more about this scholarship, visit our Nuclear Family Scholarship page.

The Law Offices of David E. Gordon

The Law Offices of David E. Gordon
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