(Syracuse, NY – March 27, 2024) The Tully Rinckey Foundation, the philanthropic initiative of Tully Rinckey PLLC, has selected 1L Tiffany Johnson and 3L Andrew Patterson as the inaugural recipients of the Foundation’s Military Scholarships. The scholarship rewards College of Law students who have or are serving in the military or reserves.
Johnson is a Lieutenant Commander in the U.S. Navy, the 1L Representative to the College’s Military & Veterans Law Society, and a Staff Writer for Impunity Watch News, the media branch of the College of Law’s Journal of Global Rights & Organizations.
“I am honored and grateful to accept the scholarship from Tully Rinckey. As a first-year law student balancing active military service, I am committed to excelling in my studies and representing the values of both the military and the legal profession with integrity and dedication. Thank you once again for this invaluable opportunity,” says Johnson.
Graig Cortelyou, Global Chief Operating Officer of Tully Rinckey noted that Johnson was selected due to “her plans to use her legal accomplishments to address broader social issues impacting veterans and their families. She plans to participate as a student attorney in the Betty and Michael D. Wohl Veterans Legal Clinic in her second year, advocating for the military community. Her background as both a civil service employee of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and a U.S. Navy Reservist not only motivates her but also makes her suited to strengthening her commitment to the military community.”
Patterson, a former U.S. Army Captain, is a Student Attorney in the Betty and Michael D. Wohl Veterans Legal Clinic, a Member of the Military and Veterans Law Society, and a current VA work-study student.
“The scholarship validates the hard work being done by myself, the staff, and other student-attorneys at the Betty and Michael D. Wohl Veterans Legal Clinic. My application was honest, and I feel satisfaction that it was selected among a highly qualified field of applicants. I am especially proud to be among the first recipients of the Tully Rinckey Foundation Military scholarship and I intend to pay it forward with continued support of my fellow Veterans. My heartfelt appreciation goes out to the Tully Rinckey Foundation for their continued support of legal education in the Veteran community. Thank you,” says Patterson.
“Andrew discovered firsthand the positive outcomes that are generated when veterans understand the underlying process of accessing the benefits they have rightfully earned. Following service in Afghanistan as a Lieutenant, and as a Captain in the Army Reserve, he aims to become an accredited Veteran Service Officer and help his fellow troops work through trauma together,” says Mathew Tully, Founding Partner of Tully Rinckey.
The Tully Rinckey Foundation plans to add other New York state law schools to the scholarship program, further emphasizing their commitment to veterans.
“Our firm believes our service extends beyond the courtroom and into the communities where we work. Supporting the military, veterans, and their families is an important cause that Tully Rinckey backs in many ways, including the Military Scholarship,” says Mathew Tully. “We are honored and humbled to review the stellar applications from the College of Law students, and it was difficult to select two recipients. Tiffany and Andrew are leaders who will make an impact on the legal profession and our society.”
Among Tully Rinckey’s veteran-focused outreach programs are sponsorship of the annual Veterans in Economic Transition Conference (VETCON) in Albany, N.Y., and Turkeys for Veterans where they partner with local supermarkets throughout New York State to give free turkeys to veterans during the holiday season. The College of Law is a partner in the distribution of Turkeys for Veterans in Syracuse.
“The College of Law thanks the Tully Rinckey Foundation for their support of our military and veteran students. Tiffany and Andrew are well-deserving recipients who are actively engaged in the local veteran community and will continue to give back to veterans after law school,” says Professor Beth Kubala, executive director of the Betty and Michael D. Wohl Veterans Legal Clinic.