Scholarships

The 2023-2024 Scholarship Application Period Is Closed

Applications for the 2024-2025 Academic Year will open in December 2023 

Application Deadlines for 2024-2025 Academic Year 

JD Candidates: February 28, 2024

LLM/SJD Candidates: March 15, 2024 

The Foundation for Natural Resources and Energy Law has a number of scholarship programs that provide tuition support to law students who attend the Foundation’s Constituent Law Schools: the Foundation Scholarships, established in 1993 and funded by the Foundation’s unrestricted funds (including scholarships in honor of former long-time Executive Director Dave Phillips); and endowed restricted scholarships in memory of Mary Viviano and Chuck Moran; and other restricted scholarships in memory of Dick Bate, Jim King, and Cassie Boggs. The Foundation also offers Frances Hartogh Diversity Outreach Scholarships (FHDOS) that support living expenses for students at CLS, and Equity and Inclusion scholarships for JD students at any accredited law school that identify as Black, Indigenous, Latino or Latina, Asian-American, Pacific Islander, or other person of color. For background on the establishment of the FHDOS awards, “Race, Ethnicity, and Natural Resources in the United States: A Review,” by John Schelhas, may be viewed here.) 

In 2023 alone, the Foundation awarded over $283 thousand in scholarships, and since the inception of the scholarship programs, the Foundation has awarded more than $4.2 million in scholarships.

Students at CLS may complete an application that covers each of these programs (students must complete a separate application for the Equity and Inclusion scholarship), although students should pay special attention to the criteria for the named scholarships and address those criteria in the application, if applicable. General criteria apply to all of the scholarship programs, but certain scholarships, other than the Foundation Scholarships, may have additional criteria. Students should review the scholarship application for more information. 

Equity and Inclusion Scholarships

The Equity and Inclusion Scholarship was established in 2020. Scholarships are awarded to JD applicants annually who meet certain general criteria and who identify as either Black, Indigenous, Latino or Latina, Asian-American, Pacific Islander, or other person of color. To be eligible for this scholarship, a student must be enrolled full time at an accredited law school but need not be attending a Constituent Law School. A student must demonstrate serious and diligent pursuit of academic achievement (although academic performance is not determinative). Other criteria include leadership ability, year in law school, and financial need. 

Learn More Here

Eligibility

For most scholarships, a law student who is enrolled full-time at one of the Foundation’s Constituent Law Schools and who can demonstrate a commitment to the study of natural resources or energy law is eligible to apply. LLM students and incoming 1Ls who have applied to one of these schools but have not yet been accepted may also apply. Unlike our other scholarships, Equity and Inclusion Scholarships are available to full-time Black, Indigenous, Latino or Latina, Asian-American, Pacific Islander, or other person of color JD students at accredited law schools whether or not they are attending a Constituent Law School. 

Scholarship Amounts

Fall, spring, and full-year scholarships may cover partial or full tuition. Recent awards have ranged from $1,000 to $18,000. Tuition scholarships must be used at, and will be paid directly to, the student's law school.

Award Process

Applications are evaluated and awards are made by the Foundation’s Scholarships Committee according to the following criteria:

  • Potential to make a significant contribution to the field of natural resources law
  • Academic ability
  • Leadership ability
  • Year in law school
  • Financial need
  • Foundation Student Member (Student Membership in the Foundation is FREE - join today!)

Application Process

Students should complete the online application in its entirety and submit the application and all applicable attachments. If you have questions regarding the online application process, please contact scholarships@fnrel.org

Application Deadlines

The completed application and supporting documents must be submitted by February 28, 2024, for JD Applicants and March 15, 2024, for LLM/SJD Applicants. Students enrolled in a combined JD/Masters programs must  observe the JD Application deadline. INCOMPLETE APPLICATIONS AND APPLICATIONS RECEIVED AFTER THE DEADLINE WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED.

Congratulations to all the 2023 - 2024 Scholarship Recipients

Legacy and Recognition Fund Scholarship Awards

Sawyer Connelly, University of Montana
Morgan Pettit,
University of New Mexico  

Richard H. Bate Scholar

Pryce Stewart, Texas Tech University

Catherine J. Boggs Scholar

Kendall Fowler, University of Denver

James M. King Scholar

Katherine Carter, University of Colorado

Mary A. Viviano Scholar

Jamie Johnson, Lewis and Clark Law School 

Charles Edgar “Chuck” Moran Scholar

Bryce Talsma, University of Tulsa

Francis Hartogh Diversity Outreach Scholarships

Nickolasa Jackson, Washburn University
Susie Wilbur, Washburn University
Senait Yohannes, University of Calgary

Equity and Inclusion Scholars

Andrew Hallak, University of California-Irvine
Haekyong Min, University of Houston

The Foundation Scholarship Awards

Colin Bryden, University of Alberta Chance Mitchell, University of New Mexico  
Maren Carron, Brigham Young University Nathan Murray, University of Calgary
Katherine Carter, University of Colorado Alexandra Nielsen, University of Colorado
Sawyer Connelly, University of Montana Lauren Ottmers, Texas Tech University
Imoreshi Dania, University of Calgary Wesley Peebles, University of Utah
Colton Edwards, University of Wyoming *Morgan Pettit, University of New Mexico
Kendall Fowler, University of Denver Katherine Sheftic, University of Idaho 
Cameron Hekkert, Texas Tech University
Mary Slosson, University of Colorado
Nickolasa Jackson, Washburn University
Jeffrey Steen, University of Tulsa
Jamie Johnson, Lewis and Clark Law School 
Pryce Stewart, Texas Tech University
Jennifer Kieffer, University of Montana
Bryce Talsma, University of Tulsa
Avery Lajeunesse, University of California-Davis
Kristen Verwey, University of Calgary
Isaiah Martin, University of Calgary
Daniel Volin, University of Kansas
Rachel Miller, University of Oklahoma
Senait Yohannes, University of Calgary
Haekyong Min, University of Houston

 

*David P. Phillips Scholarship

The Foundation congratulates the awardees and thanks all of the applicants for their interest and efforts!  

If you would like to support and/or learn more about the Foundation and its programs, contact the Foundation at 303-321-8100 or scholarships@fnrel.org