For students like Isaiah Moshe, A&S '24, Law '28, the fellowship is helping level the playing field and strengthen his future career prospects.

"Corporate law is hard to get into. Having a fellowship helps make you a more competitive candidate. And for someone like me, who grew up not having any of those kinds of opportunities, being able to study, research and have that tax law experience behind your name makes you a more competitive applicant and helps you focus on your future career goals," he said.

Moshe and fellow recipient Sam Florence, Law '27, have found that the fellowship offers far more than funding. The experience has provided meaningful exposure to the field of tax law, helping them develop confidence, expand their professional networks and gain a clearer vision for their careers. With the support of the Bleznick Tax Fellowship Fund, students are not only exploring their interests but also building credentials and experiences that can help open doors in the legal profession.

"After a long and rewarding career as a corporate tax lawyer, I have always wanted to pay it forward by funding scholarships and mentoring talented students who may need some assistance to achieve their full potential," said Bleznick. "Sam Florence, the first Bleznick Tax Fellow, exemplifies what I hope this program will accomplish. He has the intelligence, work ethic and dedication to become an excellent tax lawyer. I am equally excited to welcome Isaiah Moshe as the second Bleznick Tax Fellow. He has been impressive in my initial interactions with him, and I am confident he has the qualities to succeed in the tax profession."

From field to court: Isaiah Moshe's introduction to tax law

Moshe once imagined college as a place to continue his football career. But after a serious injury forced him to reconsider his career plans, a social studies teacher introduced him to mock trial—and opened the door to a different future.

Mock trial sparked Moshe's intellectual curiosity and led him to pursue political science at UC, with law school as his next goal.

His interest in tax law, however, began closer to home. Growing up, Moshe watched his mother work as an accountant while raising four boys, and her perseverance shaped both his work ethic and his understanding of what opportunity can mean.

"My mom wanted to be an attorney, but as a single mother of four boys, higher education just wasn't a feasible option for her," said Moshe. "She never pushed me toward law school, but she always pushed me to do my best."

For Moshe, pursuing higher education meant overcoming barriers many students never face. Those experiences made the support of the Bleznick Tax Fellowship especially meaningful—not only as financial assistance but also as an investment in his potential.

That persistence carried Moshe into law school, where the fellowship helped him deepen his interest in tax law through research, mentorship and career-focused experience.

"I worked in the mail room at Dinsmore and Shohl and started talking with attorneys, getting coffee and learning from them," Moshe recalled. "That networking helped me see tax law as something I could do long term. I quickly realized that tax law is where I wanted to be."

Through the Bleznick Tax Fellowship, Moshe found a way to connect that growing interest with meaningful mentorship, professional exposure and the kind of philanthropic support that helps students see themselves in competitive legal careers.

The game of life: Sam Florence's passion for tax law

Like Moshe, Sam Florence found that the Bleznick Tax Fellowship offered more than financial support—it connected his academic interests with mentorship and professional opportunity.

Though Florence's first interest in law came from a childhood realization that, aside from being a doctor, a lawyer was the second highest-paying job in the board game The Game of Life, Florence's interest in tax law blossomed during his undergraduate years. An internship in public accounting introduced him to the complexities of the tax system and, once in law school, mentors like Bleznick helped him see tax law as a long-term career path.

"Jordan Bleznick is really inspirational," said Florence. "He has had an exceptional career, and he has been a great mentor—someone I can talk with about my career goals. Working with him on a research project about taxing billionaires gave me the chance to know him beyond his role as the donor and better engage and expand my knowledge in tax law."

More than checking boxes: philanthropy fueling excellence

For both students, the fellowship represents the kind of philanthropy that can widen access to competitive fields and affirm students whose potential may not always be captured on paper.

"Don't forget to take chances on those who may not check every traditional box," said Moshe. "I didn't always show up through standardized scores, but I was competitive and passionate and I wanted to be part of the conversation."

That belief in student potential is at the heart of the Bleznick Tax Fellowship, which continues to shape individual careers while strengthening the Corporate Law Center's reach.

"Experiences like this build on your coursework and help you grow as a professional," said Florence. "Jordan Bleznick's philanthropy has been a catalyst for my development and for bringing greater awareness to the law school, the Corporate Law Center and the work happening here."

Florence and Moshe plan to pursue careers in tax law after graduation, and Bleznick's mentorship and support are helping them build the confidence, experience and professional foundation to move forward in tax law.

Featured image at top: Donald P. Klekamp College of Law at the University of Cincinnati. Photo/Michael Keating for the UC Foundation.