2025-2026 Scholarship Recipients

As part of its mission to foster the study of energy and mineral law, the EMLF presents scholarships to students attending EMLF member law schools. To date, over $730,000 in scholarships have been awarded. Applications are solicited from member law schools in the spring of each year. This year, EMLF presented $30,000 in scholarship awards to eleven 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; Joseph Reinhart, Babst Calland; Joe Schremmer, University of Oklahoma; Ernest Smith, University of Texas; and Josh Snyder, Babst Calland.

The EMLF Scholarship Committee met on April 29, 2025, after having reviewed all the applications and discussed the applicants thoroughly and made the following awards: 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 $1,500 is given from this fund. This year’s recipient is Matthew Chaney, University of Kentucky.

The Mary Sue Schulberg Scholarship is giving annually in remembrance of Mary Sue, a former president and longtime valuable member of EMLF. Each year, two scholarships in the amount of $2,000 each are awarded with no stated restrictions. This year’s recipients are Addison Jones, Louisiana State University, and Iyana Vhane, Appalachian School of Law.

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 $4,000 award is Alan Parsons, West Virginia University.

The Sharon Daniels Scholarship was established in 2018 in honor of retiring longtime Executive Director, Sharon Daniels. A scholarship of $1,000 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 Iyana Vhane, Appalachian School of Law.

Scholarships from the EMLF general fund were awarded as follows: Jared Mazezka, West Virginia University, $4,000; Nathaniel Corwin, University of Texas, $3,000; Jesse Davis, Appalachian School of Law, $3,000; Jake Hill, Texas Tech University, $3,000; Matthew Chaney, University of Kentucky, $1,500; Piper Cotton, Louisiana State University, $1,000; Addison Jones, Louisiana State University, $1,000; Alan Parsons, West Virginia University, $1,000; Megan Skean, West Virginia University, $1,000; and Arnando Smith, Appalachian School of Law, $1,000.