Honoring a Lifetime Dedicated to Education – 2026 Myrna Talkov Scholarship
The Myrna Talkov Scholarship is dedicated to the life and legacy of Myrna Talkov, a lifelong advocate for education and a public elementary school teacher in California for 44 years. For Myrna, education was not simply a profession—it was her purpose.
Throughout her career, Myrna devoted herself to helping students learn, grow, and believe in their potential. That commitment extended far beyond the classroom. She inspired her children, Scott Talkov as well as Alissa Talkov (Levy), to pursue advanced education and earn doctorate degrees. In retirement, she continued teaching in the most personal way possible—educating her grandchildren Jacob, Gavin, Noah, and, later, Violet Talkov full-time during COVID and tutoring them after school once classrooms reopened.
When asked what she would do if she had unlimited resources, Myrna’s answer was simple and unwavering: she would fund college scholarships for students who are facing financial hardship and deserving. This scholarship exists to carry out that vision and to honor a woman whose life’s work was opening doors for others through education.
Scott Talkov and Talkov Law would not be where they are today without Myrna Talkov’s passion for learning, perseverance, and belief in the power of education.
Educational Legacy
Myrna Talkov earned her Bachelor’s degree from the University of Southern California and her Master’s degree in Education from California Polytechnic University, Pomona. Her dedication to teaching was inspired by her mother, Doris L. Warner, who herself retired from public school teaching in California at the age of 87, after 43 years.
Myrna’s influence continues across generations. She inspired her daughter, Alissa Talkov (Levy), to become a public school teacher and to earn a Doctorate in Education from the University of Southern California, continuing a family legacy of service through education.
Scholarship Essay Prompt
Talkov Law is awarding a $6,000 annual scholarship in honor of her six children and grandchildren whose lives most impacted by Myrna Talkov to a deserving law student who authors a winning essay. Applicants must submit an essay of 500 words or less responding to the following prompt:
Explain the impact that an educator or other influential person had on your life and how that influence will help you upon completing law school. Feel free to include your story in a brief narrative of your background and interests.
Important Dates
Application Deadline: September 6 (Myrna Talkov’s birthday)
Scholarship Recipient Announced: September 9 (Doris L. Warner’s birthday)
Through this scholarship, Talkov Law is proud to honor Myrna Talkov’s lifelong commitment to education and to support the next generation of students who will carry that legacy forward. Thank you to the following law schools for sharing this scholarship opportunity: University of Virginia School of Law, Vanderbilt Law School, University of Illinois Chicago, University of Kansas – School of Law, Washington and Lee School of Law, UC Hastings College of the Law, University of Washington, and many more. The Talkov Law scholarship began in the same year that the firm was founded in 2020 and was known as the Talkov Law Future of the Law Scholarship from 2020 to 2025. If you’re interested in sharing our scholarship opportunity, please email scholarship@talkovlaw.com.
Past Winners
| Year | Law Student Scholarship | Runner Up Scholarship | Applicants |
| 2020 | Jacob Kovacs-Goodman, Harvard Law School, 3L ($1,000) | Elizabeth Dayhuff, University of Tennessee, Knoxville ($500) | 7 |
| 2021 | Stephanie Wong, Notre Dame Law School, 3L ($1,000) | Emma Harrison, Vanderbilt Law School ($500) | 9 |
| 2022 | Xiaoli Jin, Harvard Law School, 2L ($1,000) | Romario Lee, University of Georgia Law School, 1L ($500) | 20 |
| 2023 | Moaaz Waheed, Oklahoma City University School of Law, 1L ($1,000) | Sabrina Heavey, Southern University Law Center, 3L ($500) | 22 |
| 2024 | Michael O’Key, UCLA School of Law, 1L and Stanford Ph.D. student in Education ($1,000) | Sarah Zorba, CUNY School of Law, 3L ($500) | 33 |
| 2025 | Linda Zhu, University of Washington School of Law, 1L ($1,000) | Nathan Cline, Case Western Reserve University School of Law, 3L & Dual Degree Program with Catholic University of Lille Faculty of Law ($500) | 34 |
| 2026 | To Be Selected after September 6, 2026 | To Be Selected after September 6, 2026 |
Judging Criteria
The winner will be selected based on overall writing ability, argument presentation and persuasion.
Eligibility
The scholarship is open to any law student, including undergraduates accepted to an ABA-accredited law school. Your application must be submitted below no later than the stated deadline. By submitting an application, the applicant grants Talkov Law permission to post the applicant’s name, school or university, applicant’s photo, and the winning entry on the law firm’s website, and on other marketing platforms, including blogs, social media accounts, and related sites.
Winner Notification
The winner will be notified by phone, email and/or U.S. mail after the judging has been completed.
Award Distribution
The winner must provide proof of enrollment prior to disbursement of the award. The award will be disbursed within one week after selection according to any guidelines required by the academic institution.
