Stueve Siegel Hanson Gives $1M to the University of Missouri to Support Black Law Students and Journalists
Stueve Siegel Hanson today announced a $1 million gift to the University of Missouri.
The gift comprises two $500,000 scholarship funds. The Stueve Siegel Hanson Law Scholarship will establish a scholarship for Black students at the University of Missouri School of Law, and the Stueve Siegel Hanson Fund for Press Freedom will support the Alfred Friendly Press Partners at the Missouri School of Journalism.
The Alfred Friendly Press Partners provides training for journalists from countries with underdeveloped media; reporters learn at the Missouri School of Journalism and on-site in newsrooms across the U.S. By establishing a Stueve Siegel Hanson Fellowship, the firm will support a journalist working to improve the legal system or race relations in their home country.
Stueve Siegel Hanson Co-Founder Patrick Stueve said these two gifts complement the firm’s commitment to the pursuit of justice.
“We want to be an agent of positive change in the legal system,” Stueve said. “It is critical that we support diverse legal minds to serve as our next generation of attorneys, advocates, judges and legislators, and it is critical that we support journalists who can bring transparency and accountability to governments around the world.”
Mizzou has been a major source of talent for Stueve Siegel Hanson throughout the firm’s 20-year history. Currently, one-quarter of the lawyers at the firm earned their bachelor’s degree or juris doctorates in Columbia. Stueve also currently serves as the treasurer for the Alfred and Jean Friendly Foundation Board.
This is the second set of scholarships donated by Stueve Siegel Hanson in 2021. In June, the firm announced a $1 million gift to establish a scholarship for Black students at the University of Kansas School of Law.
It is a meaningful way to commemorate the firm’s 20th anniversary, said Co-Founder Norman Siegel.
“Achieving ‘Justice for All’ is not possible without action, especially from those of us who have succeeded in law,” Siegel said. “We are honored to be able to invest in a more diverse and accountable legal system, and we hope other law firms will join us in this pursuit.”
In statements, leaders from the University of Missouri expressed their appreciation for the gift.
“Increasing the diversity of the legal field is one of the most important goals of Mizzou Law and is vital to ensuring an equitable and just society. This gift will advance our goal and will help many underrepresented minority students pursue their dreams of becoming lawyers and making a difference in our world.”
- Lyrissa Lidsky, University of Missouri School of Law Dean and Judge C.A. Leedy Professor of Law
“Patrick Stueve and his wife, Janna, have been thought leaders for years with the Alfred Friendly Foundation, where Pat is also a board member. This transformative gift from Stueve Siegel Hanson underscores the continuing generosity of the firm – and their strong belief that a free press can change our world for the better.”
- Randy Smith, professor, Donald W. Reynolds Endowed Chair in Business Journalism and president, Alfred Friendly Press Partners
