Attorney's Transformational $1 Million Gift for CT State Manchester’s Paralegal Students

The Manchester Community College Foundation has received a $1 million gift from the Estate of Thomas F. Goldman, benefitting the Paralegal Studies Program at CT State Community College Manchester. This remarkable contribution will establish the Thomas F. Goldman Endowed Fund to Advance the Paralegal Profession and provide academically achieving paralegal students with scholarships and stipends to support the expense of undertaking unpaid internships. With nearly 70% of CT State Manchester students being the first in their families to attend college, this new endowed fund is more than a financial gift — it’s an investment in equity, access, and opportunity.

 While many paralegal program students pursue internship opportunities, some are unable to engage in this type of experiential learning because many internships are unpaid. “Stipends from this new fund will help to support expenses for students who undertake unpaid internships, giving them real-world experience within the profession and helping them to establish a network of professional colleagues, something that first- generation college students lack,” said Peter Grose, president of the Manchester Community College Foundation, an independent educational foundation established in 1968 to support Manchester Community College, now CT State Manchester.

Attorney Thomas F. Goldman, a former professor of law and management and a pioneer in paralegal technology and training, made a lasting impact through scholarship and service. “Attorney Goldman’s research on the use of technology for paralegal work in law offices and his textbooks revolutionized the teaching of paralegal studies. Its implications are still relevant to today’s paralegal students,” said Dr. Nicole Esposito, campus CEO of CT State Manchester. Goldman’s commitment to student success continues with this latest legacy gift — his second major contribution to CT State Manchester through his estate — following the establishment in 2024 of a $500,000 endowed scholarship fund for English as a second language (ESL) learners.

 “This generous gift will help to ensure that our paralegal students are relieved of financial burdens so they can focus on being fully prepared when they graduate, allowing them to flourish throughout their careers,” said Esposito.

Learn more about the Paralegal Studies Program at CT State Manchester by visiting: www.ctstate.edu/academics/programs