By all accounts, Nicole Van Gundy, L ’23, was a radiant force in the field of child welfare and adoption law. Tragically, her life was cut short in a car accident in February 2024 at the age of 40.
“Kids, at the end of the day, that’s what drove her passion to get into law,” says her husband, Brock Van Gundy. For Nicole, it was never work; it was her calling.
In honor of Nicole’s legacy, Brock is establishing a scholarship at Capital University Law School to support aspiring attorneys who are dedicated to child welfare and adoption law, the very causes Nicole championed throughout her life.
“The family and I want the scholarship to empower rising attorneys who will focus on improving the child welfare and adoption system,” Brock shares. “Ultimately, it’s about helping kids and families - that’s what Nicole cared the most about.”
Nicole’s journey was marked by exceptional achievements. While working full-time at Nationwide, she attended night classes at Capital Law and graduated with honors. She was a leader on the Student Bar Association Governing Board and, alongside her team, secured first place in the National Moot Court Competition in Child Welfare and Adoption Law in March 2023. She also completed an internship with Judge Algenon L. Marbley at the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio.
While attending four years of law school and growing her career, Nicole and Brock fostered seven children, adopting two sons, Harrison, now nine, and Clayton, now five. Nicole’s admission to the Ohio Bar in July 2023 was a moment of great pride, solidifying her plans to specialize in adoption law.
For Nicole, law school allowed her to make her passion her job.
“We first met when she was 18,” Brock recalls. “She always dreamed of becoming an attorney.”
Her passion for law was reignited when the couple became foster-to-adopt parents.
“She wanted to make a difference,” Brock said. “She had the intellect and determination to make a real difference in the lives of so many families."
Nicole was tireless in her efforts to support children and families. She worked closely with foster care agencies, social workers, and biological parents, offering guidance and compassion to those in her care. Her generosity extended far beyond her immediate circle. Brock recalls hearing countless stories at Nicole’s funeral and calling hours about her selflessness. One attendee shared how Nicole texted him at 2:30 a.m. to congratulate him and his wife on the birth of their child, adding that she would soon drop off diapers. Known for keeping baby and child supplies in her car, Nicole was always ready to help those in need at a moment’s notice.
Brock finds solace in the legacy Nicole leaves behind, especially in the love and values she instilled in their sons.
“She was an extraordinary mom,” Brock says. “All the care and hard work she poured into others; it’s reflected in her boys. They’re living examples of her love.”
To support the Nicole Van Gundy Scholarship Fund, go to capconnect.org/donate, click Designation: Other, and enter the Van Gundy Scholarship.
You can also send a check, with the Van Gundy Scholarship in the memo line, to Capital University, Development Office, 1 College and Main, Columbus, OH 43209.