Congratulations to our 2023 scholarship recipient, Jackson Aldaya! Find out more about our previous winners here! 

On October 3, 2020, a remarkable young man was alive, well, and living life to the fullest. As a U.S. Naval officer, Ensign Samuel Cleghorn looked forward to a bright career ahead of him. “Sam was the epitome of a person of high character, a young man I have known since he was a kid,” said John Fisher, founder and owner of The New York Injury & Malpractice Law Firm, P.C. But in the blink of an eye, Sam’s life was ended by a drunk driver. In honor of Sam and the more than 10,000 individuals who have lost their lives every year due to drunk driving, John Fisher has established ‘The Sam’s Legacy—Fighting to End Drunk Driving – Scholarship’ to prevent drunk driving. The $1,000 scholarship will be awarded annually to the applicant who writes the best 500-750-word essay promoting innovative and effective educational, legislative, and enforcement programs that help all drivers understand the risks of driving drunk and how to make responsible decisions that ensure their safety as well as the safety of others on the road

Application Deadline: September 1, 2026

Award Amount: $1,000

Eligibility

  • The scholarship is open to any current high school senior, vocational student, college student, or graduate student who is a legal resident of the United States residing in one of the 50 states or the District of Columbia and who is enrolled in a vocational program or a two to four-year post-secondary institution.
  • Employees of John Fisher, their immediate families (parent, child, sibling, and spouse), and persons living in the same households of such individuals (whether related or not), are not eligible to participate in the competition. 
  • Candidates for this scholarship should have a minimum GPA of 3.0 or higher and be in good overall academic standing

Application Requirements

  • The candidate must submit a 500-750-word essay response to the prompt: Describe innovative and effective educational, legislative, and enforcement strategies that could reduce drunk driving.
    • Please note that all essays will be checked for AI writing. If AI-generated writing is detected in the essay, the application will be denied.
  • A professional resume detailing the candidate’s academic and professional experiences must be submitted.
  • The candidate must submit a transcript from their current school. First-year college students, graduate students, or individuals who have recently transferred schools may submit an unofficial transcript from their current school and the most recent official transcript from their prior school. High school students can submit proof of acceptance to their college or university.
  • Preference will be given to students either from or attending secondary school in the state.

The recipient of the Sam’s Legacy: Fighting to End Drunk Driving Scholarship will be chosen during the month following the scholarship deadline. 

For all scholarship-related inquiries, please use this contact form. We are unable to answer scholarship questions by phone, email, or through any other contact forms listed on this website.

Please complete the submission form below to submit your application.