Washburn students receive scholarships and support from the Energy and Mineral Law Foundation

Photograph: Aaron Friess. Photograph: Arthur Bridgens.
Aaron Friess Arthur Bridgens

Aaron Friess has been awarded the Energy and Mineral Law Foundation’s  (EMLF) President’s Scholarship for 2013. Friess is entering his third year of law school and is working this summer with the Hinkle Law Firm in Wichita. During the 2012 scholarship cycle, Arthur Bridgens received an EMLF scholarship. Bridgens graduated in May 2013 and has accepted a position with Nobel Energy, Inc. in Denver.

Commenting on the role the EMLF has played in Washburn’s oil and gas law program, Professor David Pierce noted, “In addition to the EMLF’s generous scholarship support, the EMLF has made it possible for Washburn students to attend programs by waiving registration fees. Combine this with Washburn’s student travel assistance programs and our students are able to learn more about the exciting oil and gas developments taking place in the eastern part of the country, including the Marcellus Shale in Pennsylvania and the Utica Shale in Ohio. This helps our students to make contacts with lawyers practicing oil and gas law in particular geographic areas of interest. For example, Ryan Smith, who graduated in May 2013, has returned home to Ohio to practice oil and gas law with the Bricker & Eckler law firm in Columbus.

“These are mutually beneficial relationships. The Foundation creates the opportunity for our students to meet Foundation members. It allows Foundation members to meet students who have a commitment to the areas of law that are the subject of the Foundation’s educational programs. All of this is taking place in a first-rate professional educational environment.”