2025 Law School Scholarship Winner

We are pleased to announce that Onna Geddie, a graduate from Spelman College, is the winner of the 2025 ChapmanAlbin Law School Scholarship Essay Contest. Ms. Geddie will be awarded $1,000 to be used towards tuition and/or expenses at her law school of choice.

For this year’s essay, scholarship applicants were given the following prompt: “You’re starring in the pilot episode of a new legal drama about investment fraud. Write the opening scene where your character takes on their first high-stakes case.”

Read Onna’s winning essay below. 

Here I was, two months out of law school. No courtroom clout. Southern accent, fresh bar number, and heels that clicked confidently down marble floors.

The partners at my firm, straight and narrow old guys, didn’t know what to do with our new SlimShady case. A viral weight loss brand had turned into a nationwide obsession. Their scheme, SellSkinny, was a social media scam that promised money for every pound lost and every person recruited. “Build your body, build your business.”

I knew why they handed it to me. It seemed unserious—just another internet trend with no real weight. No pun intended. But I saw it for what it was. SlimShady was a billion-dollar empire built on body shame, selling a dream wrapped in pastel packaging and protein shakes.

Women, many of them young, broke, and desperate, were told they could “monetize their makeovers.” The promise of fast cash and even faster weight loss reeled them in. The more they posted, the more they sold. But to sell, they had to buy in. Investing thousands of dollars up front for pre-packaged meals, protein shakes, and content kits. Behind the TikTok weigh-ins and sparkly shakes lay a classic pyramid scheme disguised as influencer culture.

Meanwhile, the CEO profited off starvation and illusion, with cosmetic surgeries disguised as “results” and offshore accounts masked as “growth.”

When the trial came, I stood up, shake in hand, and asked,
“Were you selling skinny, or stealing savings?”

The defense froze. So did the jury.

“This wasn’t wellness. It was financial fraud in a yoga set. You didn’t empower women. You drained them. Physically. Financially. Emotionally.”

That was my first case.

I walked out of that courtroom feeling like Elle Woods. Young, underestimated, and absolutely right.

Congratulations Onna! If you are an incoming or current law student, be on the lookout for our next scholarship opportunity.

Take the next steps to find out if you have a claim:

Step 1.

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Call and speak to one of our attorneys* for a no-cost consultation to discuss your situation, answer your questions, and help you determine the next steps. This call usually takes about 15 minutes, but we are happy to talk to you as long as you would like!

Step 2.

Quick Review of Your Paperwork

If we think you might have a case, we will need to review a few basic documents. If we determine you have a case, then you will have the option to hire us as your attorneys to pursue it.

Step 3.

Signed Attorney/Client Agreement

If you decide to hire us to pursue your case, we will have you sign an attorney-client agreement so we can begin the process of trying to recover your losses.*

*In the vast majority of cases, our agreement is contingent – meaning you won’t owe us any money unless we recover money for you.


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