Spring 2026 Winner of the Legacy of Education Scholarship

Salome Nicole Tolvaisas

DM Family Law has named Salome Tolvaisas as the first-ever winner of the firms Legacy of Education Scholarship. Salome is an incoming freshman at the University of St. Thomas, where she will study international business and psychology. We wish Salome the best of luck as she begins the journey of pursuing a higher education!

Read Their Essay Here:

Being the daughter of an immigrant father who came to the United States alone as a 17-year-old high schooler to further his education puts a huge responsibility on me. My dad was forced to advocate for himself and adapt to a new environment in order to achieve his dreams. He knew no one, didnt have any help, and built his future from the ground up, so he is my biggest inspiration. This resilience translates to him now, as an educator. Currently, my dad teaches US History at our local university. Witnessing his passion for educating others has instilled qualities of curiosity and compassion in me. He always puts his students first. If he receives an email at 12am, he responds. If a student asks to be in a class that is full, he allows it. If a student needs accommodations or help with a subject, he runs to assist them. I will see the lights on at his at-home office, where he will be grading papers until 2am, literally falling asleep while doing so. This quality is admirable, and I can only wish to treat others the way he treats his students and also our family. This has impacted me as a person, as well as my academic pursuits. He acquired a distinguished education and values it immensely, carrying it into everything he does. Now, with college being in my near future, I deeply value the institution I will be attending, not only for prestige, but also for the person it will transform me into. I want to be bold in trying new things and take risks, as my father did as an exchange student. Like my father, I want to use my education to improve the lives and touch the hearts of others. My father taught me that my education journey does not end at undergraduate, graduate, or doctoral programs, but it is a lifelong journey. He has a deep love of learning that has been transferred to me. We always have new books that arrive at our front door. I have learned that to further my education, I must be courageous. Even when its difficult, even when I want to give up, even when things fall apart, that is when being courageous counts the most. If I want to accomplish my goals, I must have unwavering determination and passion for what I do; no one is coming to save me or push me towards my goals, so I must advocate for myself. Now we both stay up late, hard at work. I work on my homework, college applications, and scholarships, while he grades his students papers or prepares for class. He remains as proof that being a good person and holding strong to ones values will get them far in life, academically, professionally, and personally.