Carmelo Chimera, ’13, recipient of Kenneth S. Haberman Scholarship Fund on his scholarship

Without this scholarship, I would not have the remarkable opportunity to study at the University of Chicago Law School. It is an opportunity my family and I are very grateful for, and one I intend to take full advantage of.

I come from Oak Lawn, Illinois, where I live with my parents and my two brothers. My family has always stressed the importance of education, and my father and mother have made great sacrifices to give me the best education possible. I attended private schools throughout my educational career because my parents believed this would afford me the best opportunities in the world. Because of the education they have sacrificed to give me, and because of this scholarship, I feel it is my responsibility to do my best in my academic career and pursue a field that will make a positive difference in the world.

At the University of Chicago, I take a variety of courses that I hope will make me not only a well-rounded lawyer but also a well-rounded person. I have taken courses ranging from federal criminal procedure and evidence to climate change law to entrepreneurship and the law. Last year, in addition to my class load, I interned at the Illinois Attorney General’s Office in the Criminal Enforcement Division. As a legal intern, I conducted research and wrote memos for the attorneys to help them explore complex legal issues such as judicial recusal, silent witness theory, and involuntary confessions. This past summer, I had an internship with Ungaretti & Harris, a Chicago law firm. It was a wonderful experience.

I have been truly blessed with the chance to take advantage of this wonderful legal education. I intend to make the Law School community very proud in the years to come.

Carmelo Chimera, ’13, recipient of Kenneth S. Haberman Scholarship Fund