An Unexpected Direction

April 2025

When Jenny Trogden graduated with her undergraduate degree in English from BYU–Idaho in 2015, law school was only a vague possibility. “I actually bought an LSAT prep book back then,” she says, laughing, “but I never opened it.” Life took her in another direction—working to support her husband through his studies and navigating personal life challenges.

But as her husband was wrapping up his master’s degree and applying to PhD programs, Trogden found herself at a turning point. She recalls, “I wanted to do something for myself.” Trogden applied to several state law schools, planning to attend wherever she and her husband were both accepted into programs.

BYU wasn’t originally in the plan—but when Trogden’s husband was unexpectedly accepted to BYU, everything shifted. “He told me he wanted to go to BYU, and I was like, ‘Are you serious?’ I hadn’t even applied to that school since I didn’t think it was an option for him!”

Despite the scholarship deadline having passed, Trogden submitted a late application to BYU Law and was soon contacted by Dean Tony Grover for an interview. She was offered admission and, to her surprise a few weeks later, the Fritz B. Burns Scholarship—a full-tuition scholarship awarded to top academic applicants.

“I was honestly stunned,” Trogden says. “It was such a huge blessing, especially since I had applied late. I really thought I had missed my chance.”

Now a 3L preparing to graduate, Trogden is set to join Parsons Behle & Latimer, a respected regional firm in Salt Lake City. “They were my top choice,” she says. “I wanted big law experience, but not massive law—and I really love the people and the platform there.”

Reflecting on her journey, Trogden shares just how impactful the Fritz B. Burns Scholarship has been: “Going back to school later in life and stepping away from being the primary breadwinner was scary. I couldn’t justify taking on significant debt.” The scholarship lifted that burden entirely. “It took the fear out of the decision. It let me throw myself into law school fully, focus on my education, and ultimately land the job I really wanted.”

But beyond financial relief, the scholarship left a deep personal impression. “It made me feel like someone believed in me—that I was worth investing in,” Trogden says. “That’s not something I take lightly. It motivates me not just to be a great lawyer but to be a good person. I want to represent BYU and the Burns Foundation well and to always stay humble about the help I received. I’m determined to pay that trust forward.”