The 34th Annual VelanDale Scholarship Dinner

Join the Wisconsin Association of African-American Lawyers (WAAL) on Thursday, September 25, 2025, for the 34th Annual VelanDale Scholarship Dinner at the Grain Exchange in Milwaukee.

This dinner is an opportunity to celebrate and honor the achievements of the late Vel and Dale Phillips, as well as the next generation of Wisconsin lawyers. We hope that you will join us for an evening of celebration, scholarship, and excellence with friends and colleagues throughout Wisconsin.

5:00pm - 6:00pm Cocktail Hour

6:00 pm - 9:00pm Scholarship Dinner Program

VelanDale Scholarship Awards

WAAL is proud to honor the career and legacy of the late Vel and Dale Phillips for the last twenty-nine years. In 1990, WAAL established a scholarship in the name of the late W. Dale Phillips to provide scholarships to African-American law students at Wisconsin’s two law schools--Marquette and the University of Wisconsin. In 2004, WAAL proudly renamed the scholarship the VelanDale Scholarship Award to include and honor Vel Phillips' outstanding accomplishments. Vel Phillips passed away in 2018 and Dale in 1988, but their community work and legacy will forever live on. WAAL will award two law students with this honor.

Honorable Maxine Aldridge White Book Scholarship Award

In 2013, WAAL created the Honorable Maxine A. White Book Scholarship Award. The scholarship, named after Chief Judge Maxine Aldridge White of the First Judicial District, honors Judge White's continuous service to WAAL's mission and her pursuit of personal and professional excellence. The scholarship will be awarded to one law student from Marquette University Law School or the University of Wisconsin Law School.

Honorable Charles N. Clevert, Jr. Scholarship Award

In commemoration of Judge Charles N. Clevert, Jr.'s retirement after nearly 40 years of distinguished service on the federal bench, WAAL established a scholarship in his name in 2017. The Honorable Charles N. Clevert, Jr. Scholarship Award honors the achievements and contributions of Judge Clevert as the first African-American federal judge in Wisconsin. The scholarship will be awarded to one law student from Marquette University Law School or the University of Wisconsin Law School.

Honorable Nancy Joseph Pre-Law Scholarship Award

In 2023, WAAL created the Honorable Nancy Joseph Pre-Law Scholarship which aims to assist undergraduate students with the costs associated with preparing for the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) and honors and recognizes Judge Nancy Joseph’s contributions and dedication to creating a pipeline to law school and ultimately the legal profession for students of color.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

The Grain Exchange | A Bartolotta Catering & Events Venue, 225 East Michigan Street, Milwaukee, United States