2023-2024 Scholarship Recipients

For the 2023-2024 academic year, EMLF gave $30,500 in scholarships to eight students from four member law schools. West Virginia University student Colin Dunn received $1,000 from EMLF’s general fund and $4,000 from the Cabot Scholarship. The scholarship was established in 2012 as a result of a litigation settlement, which funds scholarships for students at West Virginia University School of Law. WVU student Tyler Compston received $5,000 from EMLF’s general fund and Taylor Ours, also from WVU, received $1,000 from the Sharon Daniels Scholarship, and $2,000 from the EMLF general fund.

The James H. Davis Scholarship was established in 2004 primarily through donations from the National Council of Coal Lessors and its members, for students with Appalachian roots. Meredith Waugh, a student from Appalachian School of Law, received $1,500 from the scholarship as well as $3,500 from the EMLF general fund. ASL student Lauren Stewart received $1,500 from the EMLF general fund.

The Mary Sue Schulberg Scholarship is given annually in remembrance of Mary Sue, a former president and longtime member of EMLF. Two scholarships in the amount of $2,000 each were presented to Mollie Naegeli, from Southern Methodist University’s Dedman School of Law; and Amy Stephens from Texas Tech. In addition, Naegeli received $3,000 and Stephens received $1,000 from EMLF’s general fund.

Additional EMLF general fund scholarships: $3,000 to Braxton Iden, from SMU.

As part of its mission to foster the study of energy and mineral law, $700,000 – plus in scholarships has been given by EMLF. This year’s Scholarship Committee met on May 10, and reviewed 17 applications. The committee: Nicolle Bagnell, Reed Smith; Buzz Bellville, Appalachian School of Law; Melanie Kilpatrick, Williams Kilpatrick; Blake Klinkner, Washburn University; Tom Lane, Bowles Rice; Joseph Reinhart, Babst Calland; and Ernest Smith, University of Texas.