“For me, it was never a question of which law school to attend. It was a question of whether or not I could attend at all. It is only through the Weigand Scholarship that I am able to pursue my vision: to speak for the voiceless.”
Joan Schneider
Washburn University
Weigand Scholar: 2008, 2009, 2010
Hometown:
Wichita, KS
Education:
B.B.A., Accounting, Wichita State University, 2006
J.D., Washburn University School of Law, 2010
Employer:
US Department of Veterans Affairs
Of all disciplines, no area was of more importance to her than the understanding of the law and ethical conduct. Joan said, “It’s easy to believe in something when it costs you nothing, but what do you do when it costs you everything? There is no greater courage than integrity.”
Joan has served in the U.S. Army Reserve as a Paralegal Specialist since 2012. She also completed a period of active duty service in support of operation Noble Eagle in the Office of the Staff Judge Advocate of the 89th Regional Readiness Command. Joan’s volunteer contributions include service with Special Olympics and Big Brothers, Big Sisters. Following her first year in law school, Joan spent the summer as an intern for The Honorable Judge Sebelius.
She worked in the Army at Fort Riley, KS, working as a paralegal for the Office of Soldier’s Counsel.
Joan currently works as a Veterans Service Representative for the US Department of Veterans Affairs.
“Kansas is Kansas. It’s wind and flat plains; spectacular sunsets and unexpected thunderstorms. It’s family and community; hope, and a place to belong. There are lots of places that are extraordinary, but there is only one place that is home.”