By Donald Quinn
The University of Missouri School of Law has a long tradition of creating lawyers with a heart for service, incredible integrity, and a profound sense of respect for the history and culture of the legal profession. It is with that in mind that I uprooted my family from Maryland and moved to Missouri to attend the school and the desire to contribute to the school has been a driving force for me over the last two years.

When I first arrived, I was determined to keep my head down and just get through the next three years. But I soon found myself drawn into the spirit and tradition that make up the Mizzou Law experience. The school demands a level of excellence and I quickly found that the more I immersed myself in scholarship, advocacy, and history of the school, the better the law school experience became. Through the school I became involved with the Missouri Veterans Society, the Board of Advocates, the Multi-Cultural Society, and most recently a group of students who bring strident voices to civil rights. Relationships based on respect were forged as my journey continued and I thrived in a place that valued integrity, excellence, and generosity. Living in the moment, I never considered that my involvement demonstrated more than a personal goal to be the best I could be; that they were the collective principles and character of the best of Mizzou Law has to offer. Principles that every law student should strive to embrace. I know that I have.

Being selected the 2019 Tiger ’06 Scholarship recipient was a realization that service, character, and determination matter. It was a profound honor to be nominated by a faculty member, selected by a panel of ’06 alumni, and approved by the Dean. For me, it is a personal victory because it shows that despite the struggles of coming to law school with a family and a full-time job, and despite opposition, I have embraced and been embraced by a tradition that will stay with me for the rest of my life.

Congratulations, Donald!