D’Amore Law Group is pleased to announce Shayna Altschuller as the recipient of the 2025 Elle D’Amore Law School Scholarship. Shayna is currently a 2L student whose work and vision reflect a deep commitment to fostering unity through compassion and education.
In her essay, “Teaching Compassion: Shaping a United America,” Shayna examined the root causes of disunity in our country, including polarization, misinformation, and the psychological process of “othering.” She described how her experiences teaching Holocaust education workshops in New York City classrooms revealed the powerful impact of equipping young people with empathy and critical thinking. By engaging students in conversations about injustice and human rights, she saw firsthand how education can change minds and nurture compassion.
Shayna argued that investing in civics education, mentorship programs, interfaith dialogue, and experiential learning opportunities can help the next generation recognize their shared humanity across differences. As she wrote in her essay: “Shaping a united America involves amplifying young voices and truly listening to what they say.”
Her reflections highlight a vision of law as a tool to defend the defenseless and build bridges across divides. Guided by this perspective, Shayna is pursuing her legal education with the goal of ensuring that justice is grounded in empathy and compassion.
We congratulate Shayna on being selected as this year’s scholarship recipient and are honored to support her journey.
Read the full version of Shayna’s essay.
To learn more about the Elle D’Amore Law School Scholarship, click here.
