The outpouring of support was palpable when friends and family gathered at The Roasterie Factory on Friday, April 8th to celebrate the life and work of JoEllen Flanagan Engelbart (J.D. ’15) and to raise funds for a Memorial Scholarship Endowment in her honor.
“JoEllen was the heart of the law school and our hearts were broken by the loss of her. But we are finding our way forward by picking up the pieces of our broken hearts and building something good that will honor JoEllen.” Dean Barbara Glesner Fines remarked.
Engelbart, assistant prosecutor in the Special Victims Unit of the Jackson County Prosecutors’ Office died last year due to complications from COVID-19 shortly after giving birth to her son, Ross, who was born three months early. She is also survived by her husband, Matt.
JoEllen was a passionate advocate with a mission to help others, especially those most vulnerable. She most recently worked in the Special Victims Unit and was also actively involved in numerous non-profit organizations, including Rose Brooks, Association for Women Lawyers (AWL), and the Metropolitan Organization to Counter Sexual Assault (MOCSA). While in law school, JoEllen logged more than 1,000 pro bono service hours. To continue JoEllen’s legacy and impact, her family has chosen to establish this scholarship endowment in partnership with the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law.
As part of the fundraising effort, The Roasterie created a special coffee blend in honor of JoEllen, appropriately called “Benevolent Jo.” Matt and JoEllen were married at The Roasterie Factory in 2014.
This endowment will provide annual scholarships to support incoming first-year law students with a demonstrated interest in pursuing the practice of law in public service. The scholarships will be awarded to students who show strong community involvement and preferably financial need.
Give Online at https://umkclaw.link/joellenscholarship