Brain Injury Lawyers Award Scholarship to New York TBI Survivor, Student
September 6, 2017
The Law Offices of De Caro & Kaplen, LLP presented the inaugural De Caro & Kaplen, LLP Traumatic Brain Injury Scholarship on September 1, 2017 to Courtney Bruun-Andersen. Courtney is a graduate student pursuing a Master’s degree in Social Work at the New York University Silver School of Social Work.
As announced in February, the scholarship opportunity is available to those who have sustained a traumatic brain injury and are pursuing a higher education. Shana De Caro, a member of the Board of Directors of the Brain Injury Association of America and past chair of the American Association for Justice Traumatic Brain Injury Litigation Group, commented, “Our winner, Courtney Bruun-Andersen, has shown incredible determination and tenacity in learning to adapt to life after a brain injury and to continue to pursue her goals.” Shana continued, “Courtney sustained a significant brain injury in 2010 when she was just 19 years old and a college sophomore at University of North Carolina. She worked extraordinarily hard at her rehabilitation and pushed herself to return as a full-time student in 2012. Though she experienced setbacks on her journey, requiring an additional medical leave from school, she finally completed her degree. Through her ordeal she maintained a can-do attitude and discovered that there were many others like her, who had sustained the all too invisible brain injury. She became cognizant, not only of the day-to-day struggles of a person with a brain injury, but increasingly she became aware of the societal prejudice and obstacles that confronted her and other people with similar injuries.”
As announced in February, the scholarship opportunity is available to those who have sustained a traumatic brain injury and are pursuing a higher education. Shana De Caro, a member of the Board of Directors of the Brain Injury Association of America and past chair of the American Association for Justice Traumatic Brain Injury Litigation Group, commented, “Our winner, Courtney Bruun-Andersen, has shown incredible determination and tenacity in learning to adapt to life after a brain injury and to continue to pursue her goals.” Shana continued, “Courtney sustained a significant brain injury in 2010 when she was just 19 years old and a college sophomore at University of North Carolina. She worked extraordinarily hard at her rehabilitation and pushed herself to return as a full-time student in 2012. Though she experienced setbacks on her journey, requiring an additional medical leave from school, she finally completed her degree. Through her ordeal she maintained a can-do attitude and discovered that there were many others like her, who had sustained the all too invisible brain injury. She became cognizant, not only of the day-to-day struggles of a person with a brain injury, but increasingly she became aware of the societal prejudice and obstacles that confronted her and other people with similar injuries.”
Michael V. Kaplen, a three-term president of the Brain Injury Association of New York State, and professorial lecturer teaching a course in brain injury law at the George Washington University Law School, adds, “Courtney is a very determined person. She learned from her own experiences that the work and academic environment are not welcoming or accommodating to those with disabilities. Courtney is involved in both the North Carolina and the New York Brain Injury Associations, participating and mentoring others who are at the beginning of their journey after brain injury, and offering them hope. This has made her more determined to continue to pursue her dream working with survivors.”
