Laughing at My Nightmare's Academic Scholarship Program

Yale Law School

JD Candidate

 

I was born with Spinal Muscular Atrophy and have used a power wheelchair since the age of two. I have a bachelor’s degree in Finance and am a JD candidate at Yale Law School, where I’ve had the opportunity to join the Yale Law Journal as a First-Year Editor and serve on the boards of several student organizations. After graduating, I hope to work in health law with an emphasis on disability rights issues.

I’m thrilled and honored to have received Laughing At My Nightmare’s first academic scholarship. Living with a serious disability is an expensive proposition that compounds the difficulty of paying for school—this scholarship is making all of that more manageable and letting me focus on my education and pursue the path that’s best for me. I’m excited for a career that will allow me to work on legal problems that matter to me and so thankful for Laughing At My Nightmare’s help getting started!

UC Berkeley

Disability Studies and Public Policy Undergraduate

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Hello, my name is Lucas Cook and I have Spinal Muscular Atrophy Type 2. I graduated as a Valedictorian from my High School Class with a 4.26 GPA. In High School I was Co-Captain of the Debate Team and on the board of Alliance for Disability Awareness. I am most proud of the work I did serving as the District 3 Representative to the Los Angeles Unified School District’s Special Education Committee where I fought to create a more inclusive environment in all schools.

 

Additionally, I have interned for Vanaman German LLP a disability rights law firm. I will be going to UC Berkeley to major in Political Science and minor in Disability Studies and Public Policy. The LAMN Scholarship will help me be able to afford housing for all four years. In the future, I plan on becoming a disability rights attorney and am looking forward to going to college.