The University of Alberta Faculty of Law is pleased to announce that one of its law students, Brett Colvin, who will be going into 3L in September, is the recipient of a prestigious AIPN scholarship, for the 2014-2015 academic year. The competition includes all the law schools in Western Canada and the Western United States.
Annually, the Association of International Petroleum Negotiators (AIPN) sponsors scholarships awarded to students who demonstrate strong character, academic ability, and potential to make a significant contribution to the field of international oil and gas negotiations. This scholarship has been created in honor of one of AIPN's founding members, Gordon Barrows.
"I am very grateful to be a recipient of the AIPN Scholarship for 2014-2015," Brett exclaimed. "AIPN is a terrific organization and this scholarship will help offset some of the costs associated with law school."
This year, out of the many outstanding students who submitted applications, thirteen deserving students received scholarships, with Brett Colvin being the only University of Alberta student to be awarded this honour. The recipients will each receive a $5,000 scholarship for the 2014-2015 academic school year.
In order to be considered for the AIPN Brett was required to fill in the AIPN application with his personal and academic information including his LSAT score, his Faculty of Law grades from the year, a list of courses he had taken that related to oil or gas or negotiation skills, and a list of classes he intend to take in the future relating to these areas. AIPN also took student applicants' college extra-curricular activities or volunteer activities into consideration. Brett is very involved in volunteering and community involvement. He volunteered with the Faculty of Law's Student Legal Services and was a member of the Energy Law Club. Brett is also involved in the city's soccer community, having played five years for the Golden Bears during his Bachelor of Commerce degree. He also had the honour of playing for Canada at the 2009 Universiade Games in Serbia.
"I heard about the scholarship opportunity via an email that was circulated throughout the law faculty, and the AIPN briefing document said they were looking for students who possess the potential to make a contribution to the field of international oil and gas negotiations, with strong academic, leadership, and negotiation ability," Brett remarked. "I felt that I had some of the abilities they were looking for and being from an oil-centric city like Calgary figured I'd give it a shot!"
Brett explained that this AIPN scholarship has come at a particularly opportune time for him as he has applied to do an exchange in the winter 2015 semester at the University of Uppsala in Sweden. This will be Brett's second international exchange and is indicative of his passion for travel and exploring the world. It also helps explain his serious interest in pursuing a career in international negotiations.
"Brett joins a number of other University of Alberta Faculty of Law students who have won major international awards for their work in Oil and Gas Law in recent years, competing successfully against top students from across the Western United States and Canada," said Professor David Percy.
Click links for further information on AIPN and their scholarship opportunities