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Kallins, Little & Delgado
Words: Kristan McCants
Pictures: Whitney Patton
T
he winter season marks a pivotal
time for many high school seniors
as the college process officially
begins. As students fill out applications,
write admission essays, and gather rec-
ommendations, the challenge of paying
for school remains a daunting task.
In an era of rising student loan debt,
financing school is an issue that has
plagued both students wanting to attend
and those already enrolled.
The attorneys of the Kallins, Little &
Delgado law firm in Palmetto, vividly
remember their college experiences.
One afternoon in the spring of 2005, the
partners reminisced at a local restaurant
called Norma Rae’s over lunch.
“One day, we were sitting around talking
about what is was like being in college,
law school, and being broke and how
nice it would have been had we merited
or obtained some help in acquiring our
professional degrees,” Scott Kallins said.
According to Kallins, the conversation
inspired the creation of the firm’s an-
nual scholarship program. Since 2006,
the firm has awarded over $130,000 in
scholarships to 92 graduating high school
seniors in Manatee County who aspire to
attend college.
Knowing that most scholarships typically
apply toward tuition related costs, the
firm takes a different approach by aim-
ing to help recipients with their college
expenses, specifically the things they
need to comfortably succeed.
“We thought that rather than just send a
check over to a school, we would give it
to the student so that they can buy dorm
things, books, and clothes,” said Kallins.
“You know the things you need when you
go off to college that people don't really
think about.”
According to Caitlin Burns, a 2008 recipi-
ent, the scholarship made a huge impact
in her academic pursuits. The 25-year-old
University of South Florida St. Petersburg
graduate states that she used her funds
to purchase a car.
The Best Investment
We Ever Made.

2. “It honestly changed my life because at the time my family
couldn’t afford one for me,” said Burns. “Many school scholar-
ships don’t give you liquid cash to use for non-school expenses.”
Burns, a current freelance art director based in Sarasota, touched
on the merit of students who don’t necessarily excel in academics.
“There’s a moral gray area with merit based scholarships be-
cause I can’t help but to think of the bright and talented kids I
knew who spent their afternoons car hopping at Sonic and not
participating in school stuff,” Burns said.
Since its inception, the Kallins, Little & Delgado scholarship
program has considered many factors while selecting their win-
ners. The scholarship takes into account student’s academic,
community, and life achievements.
“We’ve awarded scholarships to those who struggled academi-
cally but who exceeded all expectations by having a job and hav-
ing to help their family by caring for their brothers and sisters; we’ve
awarded scholarships to children who essentially raised their little
brothers and sisters because their parents had some difficultly or
problem being able to do that on their own,” said Kallins. “We’re
not focusing exclusively on someone’s academic achievements,
we’re looking at the whole person.”
The scholarship program also encourages recipients to bring
their talents back to Manatee County.
“In general, the theme is to go off, become an expert at something
and come back and help the community,” Kallins said.
Ashley Phillips, a 2009 recipient who continues to drive the same
car she purchased with her scholarship award has returned her
talents to the local area. The 24-year-old University of South
Florida Tampa graduate gives back as a school teacher at G.D.
Rogers Garden Elementary in Bradenton.
Philips has one simple answer to why she chose to bring her
talents back to Manatee County.
“It's my home and it's where I grew up. My family is still here and it's
familiar and safe,” said Phillips. “I love to travel and discover new
places, but home is where your heart is as cheesy as it sounds.”
Over the years, the scholarship program has received positive
feedback as other recipients have grown to become doctors,
lawyers, NASA engineers and more.
“It’s goose bump raising,” Kallins said.
Kallins states that success, frequent acknowledgements from
parents and random visits by recipients to the law firm’s office
have had a profound effect. He hopes that other local entities
will begin to award scholarships.
“They should find scholarships as a means for giving back be-
cause it’s tailored to the improvement of someone's mind,” said
2010 Scolarship recipients
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3. Kallins. “It’s something that is greatly in need and something
that is appreciated by the recipient in such a fashion that they’re
more likely to contribute similarly once they obtain their goal.”
Undeniably, the law firm realizes the importance of paying it
forward. The rewards from the scholarship program have been
priceless.
“It makes it all worthwhile when we think about the contribution
that we're making,” said Kallins. “The return is far better than any
of the investments we ever made.”
• For more information about the Kallins, Little &
Delgado scholarship program, visit:
www.kallinslittledelgado.com/scholarship.php
2011 Scolarship recipients
2014 Scolarship recipients
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