Lindsey Livingston, ’14, recipient of Maurice Walk Centennial Scholarship Fund on her scholarship

It is difficult to put into words how grateful I am for the opportunities I have been afforded because of this scholarship, but I can confidently say that my life has been dramatically impacted by the award.

I’ve wanted to attend law school since I was fifteen and won a debate in my U.S. history class. At the time, there was no reason to think that the law would not be a promising and rewarding career choice. After the financial crisis in 2008, however, just as I was beginning the law school application process, everything seemed to change. As jobs were decreasing, I decided to delay my law school goals and get some practical experience in finance, which was my academic focus at Indiana University. I spent two years working for Motorola as a risk analyst, which was an incredible experience that allowed me to travel the world, but one that also reinforced how much I still wanted a career in the law. I decided to once again begin the application process.

Simply put, I would not be at the University of Chicago if not for this scholarship. Because of the Walk family’s generosity, I was able to come to one of the best academic institutions in the world to pursue the goal I’ve had since I was a teenager. Knowing my debt will be limited, I am completely free to choose whatever career path interests me without worrying about how I will overcome the huge amount of loans I would otherwise be facing. I am still unsure of what lies ahead, but having the flexibility to go into government or public interest work is an option that means a lot to me.

Having received this incredible gift makes me appreciate how special this university is and has instilled in me the desire to give back in whatever way I can in the future.

Lindsey Livingston, ’14, recipient of Maurice Walk Centennial Scholarship Fund