Curt F. Beck Law and Public Service Opportunity Fund

The late Curt Beck, professor emeritus in Political Science at the University of Connecticut for many years, established this scholarship to support UConn undergraduate students pursuing internships that focus on social justice and equal access and fair participation in the legal system for traditionally underrepresented groups (i.e.: low-income, children, elderly).

Applicants must be a current undergraduate student, continuing coursework in the fall after the summer internship (e.g. graduating seniors will not be eligible to apply). 

Applications for summer 2025 closed Thursday April 3rd, 11:59pm. 

The scholarship was awarded for the first time in 2022 to two outstanding UConn students, with all recipients featured below!

 

 

Professor Emeritus Curt Beck

Professor Emeritus Curt Beck taught at UConn for 45 years. Among his many endeavors, he served on the faculty senate and chaired the Political Science Department. Please read more about Dr. Beck, his life story, and contributions to UConn, by clicking on the picture.

2025 Scholarship Recipients

Ava Cunningham

Majoring in Political Science and an individualized major in Law & Inequality(expected graduation in 2026)

Internship: Federal Public Defender's Office; District of Connecticut

Ava will be an undergraduate intern, working with the mitigation specialists of the office to interview clients and create social history reports, digest records, and conduct social science research to be written into federal memorandums for sentencing. The internship will require frequent visits to state and federal prisons to interview clients, participation in a 16 hour restorative justice workshop, and observation of the New Haven drug support court program.
Bryanni Fana

Majoring in Political Science with a minor in Human Development and Family Sciences (expected graduation in 2026)

Internship: Pre-trail Services; Waterbury, CT

 

2024 Scholarship Recipients

Sophia Esposito '25

Political Science & Spanish

Internship: Connecticut Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities in the Legal Division
Antonio Zuquilanda '25

Political Science & Economics

Internship: Dressler Law Office

2023 Scholarship Recipients

Gloria Dickson

Political Science major (expected graduation in 2024)

Internship: The Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law
Kamara Nyahuma

History major with minors in English and HDFS (expected graduation in 2025)

Internship: Queens Defenders Summer Law Internship

 

2022 Scholarship Recipients

Nicole Freitas

Double major in Environmental Studies and Political Science (2023)

Internship: Save the Sound, focusing on climate and policy
Kamara Nyahuma

History major with minors in English and HDFS (expected graduation in 2025)

Internship: Queens County District Attorney’s office “Brave Justice Summer 2022 Legal Internship Program”