COSTA MESA, Calif., April 13, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Paving the way for access to higher education for low income and first-generation students, Eric Traut of the Traut Firm will give a $1,000 scholarship honoring one special student at the OC Bar Foundation's Higher Education Mentoring graduation celebration on May 20, 2015, at the Chuck Jones Center, 3321 Hyland Ave, Costa Mesa.
After hand-selecting the recipients from over 50 participants, the one-year scholarship will include $1,000 for education, and the recipient will speak to Traut Firm staff and attorneys on May 26, 2015, at 5 Hutton Ctr Dr. Ste. 700, Santa Ana, sharing his or her personal story of inspiration and will share the journey taken to get where he or she is today. The student will also receive ongoing support and mentorship services from the OC Bar Foundation. Students were considered based upon their personal stories, merit, and reviews of performance within the program.
Says Partner Eric Traut, "I've seen how important it is to level the playing field when it comes to issues regarding access to education and I support the vision of the Bar Foundation to help students overcome cultural, financial and social barriers to higher education."
Eric is also Immediate Past President of the OC Bar Foundation, where his experiences hosting an intern from the Bar Foundation programs inspired the creation of this new scholarship.
The nonprofit OC Bar Foundation Higher Education Mentoring Program offers mentoring, support and motivation to assist young people, primarily from low-income neighborhoods of Santa Ana, in the pursuit of higher education. The long-running program has served 154 students, with 57 receiving BA or BS degrees, a figure far above the 21% average matriculation rate for the region.
Eric Traut and Traut Firm are available for media interviews and photographs regarding the scholarship upon request.
ABOUT ERIC V. TRAUT: Eric Traut distinguished himself early as one of the top trial attorneys in Southern California when he was recognized as the youngest winner of the prestigious Trial Lawyer of the Year award in the history of the Orange County Trial Lawyer Association. Eric has handled high-profile cases that have resulted in appearances on Good Morning America, Fox News, Court T.V., and ABC's "Primetime." Eric is rated AV Preeminent, the highest possible rank under Martindale Hubbell's peer rating system, and is among fewer than 100 California attorneys certified by the National Board of Trial Advocacy as a civil trial specialist. http://trautfirm.com
ABOUT TRAUT FIRM: Partners of Traut Firm have litigated cases for a combined 59 years, serving as plaintiff's attorneys primarily in areas of personal injury, legal malpractice, vehicle accidents and workplace accidents. http://trautfirm.com
ABOUT ORANGE COUNTY BAR FOUNDATION: OCBF is a non-profit organization strengthening Orange County youth and families through our unique, award-winning programs committed to keeping at-risk youth in school, healthy and drug free. http://www.ocbarfoundation.org/