Kozyak Summer Fellowship Fund

The Kozyak Summer Fellowship Foundation (“KSSF”)  is a successor to the Kozyak Minority Mentoring Foundation and is now managed through the Miami Foundation (“KMMF”).

For most of John Kozyak’s fifty-year legal career, he has been promoting mentoring, diversity, and inclusion for all Florida law students. KMMF hosted a large picnic for more fifteen years and law students from all the Florida law schools sent students, faculty, and alumni. In 2016, approximately 5,000 people attended. Subsequently, KMMF , John and many supporters hosted annual receptions for law student groups to help the students find mentors and support.  KMMF and now, KSFF have provided $5,000 summer fellowships to outstanding law students attending a Florida law school and to Florida residents attending other law schools.   These are awarded to students who are academically and professionally driven, who have substantial financial need, and who wish to intern for a Judge, nonprofit or governmental agency during the summer. These are important positions for developing the skills law students need, and they are also unpaid. In 2025, KMMF/KSSF awarded thirteen fellowships to an amazing, diverse group of law students. Most of the recipients are first-generation law students and represent the richness of the diverse population in Florida and the large number of women attending law schools. Veterans,  people with disabilities, all nationalities, and the LQBQT community are encouraged to apply and to engage in the mentoring opportunities. 

 

KSSF collaborates with voluntary bar associations to host mentoring receptions in South Florida and John Kozyak and other supporters devote substantial time helping students find mentors and to succeed.

 

John and his wife, Barbara Silverman, underwrite the receptions and some of the fellowships. Other supporters, including Invenio Wealth and Harley and Sherry Tropin, fund a student fellowship every year.  Hundreds of others, devoted to providing opportunities for law students.