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EMLF Announces 2026-2027 Scholarship Recipients

To date, EMLF has granted over $760,000 in scholarships to students from member law schools in our mission to foster the study of energy and mineral law.

This year, $35,300 went to twelve students from six member law schools. The funding for the scholarships comes from a combination of the EMLF investment fund, and the endowments created for each named scholarship fund. The students are selected by the Scholarship Committee, chaired by Melanie Kilpatrick, Ogletree Deakins, and comprised of: Nicolle Bagnell, Reed Smith; Buzz Bellville, Appalachian School of Law; Robert Burns, Buchanan Ingersoll Rooney; Ann Eisenberg, West Virginia University College of Law; Elizabeth Elmore, Jackson Kelly; Anna Girard Fletcher, Energy & Mineral Law Foundation (ex officio); Whitney Kerns, Bowles Rice; Tom Lane, Bowles Rice; Alexandria Lay, Steptoe & Johnson; Lucas Liben, Reed Smith; Joe Schremmer, University of Oklahoma; Ernest Smith, University of Texas; and Josh Snyder, Babst Calland.

The Wade Massie Scholarship, new for 2026, is a five-year scholarship program made possible through a generous member donation. A scholarship of $1,000 each year is awarded to a student from southern West Virginia who is a first, second, or third year law student at a law school in West Virginia, Virginia, or Kentucky.  This year’s recipient is Olivia Moncada, West Virginia University.

The James H. Davis Scholarship was established in 2004 primarily through donations from the National Council of Coal Lessors and its members and is awarded to a student with Appalachian roots.  A scholarship of $3,100 is given from this fund. This year’s recipient is Sydney Kimberlain, Appalachian School of Law.

The Mary Sue Schulberg Scholarship is giving annually in remembrance of Mary Sue, a former president and longtime valuable member of EMLF.  Each year, a total of $8,000 in scholarships are awarded with no stated restrictions.  This year’s recipients are Jillian Donahue, West Virginia University, $5,000; Anneka Harralson, University of Houston, $1,500; and Lorraine Coronato, University of North Dakota, $1,500.  

The Cabot Scholarship was established in 2012 as a result of a litigation settlement which directed funds to EMLF for use in providing scholarships to students at West Virginia University College of Law.  When there are no qualified WVU applicants, no scholarships are awarded from this fund.  This year’s recipient of a $2,500 award is Travis O’Neal, West Virginia University.

The Sharon Daniels Scholarship was established in 2018 in honor of retiring longtime Executive Director, Sharon Daniels.  A scholarship of $700 is given from this fund to a female candidate with an emphasis on need over academic performance, and with preference to a University of Oklahoma student where possible. This year’s recipient is Elizabeth Housley, University of Oklahoma.

Scholarships from the EMLF general fund were awarded as follows: Travis O’Neal, West Virginia University, $2,500; Sydney Kimberlain, Appalachian School of Law, $600; Anneka Harralson, University of Houston, $1,250; Bennett Lanza, Louisiana State University, $2,750; Louis Krivanek IV, University of Oklahoma, $2,750; Lorraine Coronato, University of North Dakota, $1,250; Olivia Moncada, West Virginia University, $1,400; Christian Stock, West Virginia University, $2,400; Travis Henson, University of Oklahoma, $2,400; Ally Goedecke, Appalachian School of Law; $2,400, and Elizabeth Housley, University of Oklahoma, $300.

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