Meet the 2019 Brimmer Scholar

The College of Law is pleased to feature Meridith Heneage, of Lexington, S. C. as the 2019-2020 Brimmer Scholar.

A graduate of the University of South Carolina, Heneage earned her degree in Finance Summa Cum Laude while competing as a Division I athlete in Track & Field and Cross Country. With a year of eligibility left when she began law school, Heneage finished out her athletic career at the University of Wyoming. She represented the Cowgirls, competing in the 2017 cross-country season and Mountain West Championship while attending the College of Law.

Thus far in her legal education, Heneage has worked with that same diligence and ferocity. She has been an active member of the student chapters for Equal Justice Wyoming, Women in Law Forum, Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity, and the Student Ambassador Program. She has also worked as a research assistant for Professor Melissa Ballengee Alexander.

Heneage recently took over as the Managing Editor for the Wyoming Law Review. She is poised to publish an article she authored on compensating the wrongfully convicted in Wyoming, and will further explore that topic as she works for the Defender Aid Clinic in the fall.

In addition to being involved internally, she has gained valuable experience outside the law school. She served as an extern for the Honorable Tori R.A. Kricken in the Wyoming District Court for the Second Judicial District, and is currently working as a summer intern with the Spence Law Firm in Jackson.

With a dedication to her community and a continued passion for fitness, Heneage volunteers her time as a coach for the “She’s a Runner Girl” Program in Laramie which helps mentor young girls about the joys of running and exercise. She is also a founding member of the Laramie Downtown Running Club, as well as the Wyoming Law Service Club, which facilitates volunteer projects for law students within the community.

Heneage’s commitment to service, advocacy, and excellence is exemplified moreover by her career aspirations. Following the completion of her legal education, Heneage hopes to serve as a law clerk for a year before fulfilling her dream to serve the country as a Judge Advocate General (JAG) in the United States military.

“I think that JAG offers an incredible opportunity to serve the country, see the world, and get a wide range of legal experiences as a new attorney,” she comments.

Heneage has certainly excelled and distinguished herself among her peers as a deserving recipient of this scholarship. Along with the title and honor of being a Brimmer Scholar comes the responsibility to carry on the legacy of Judge Brimmer with a continued dedication to excellence.

Named for the Honorable Clarence A. Brimmer, the Brimmer Scholars Program was established in 2011 and is the largest and most prestigious scholarship offered by the College of Law. It is intended to honor the long and distinguished service of Judge Brimmer, and to ensure that his renowned career serves as an inspiration to up-and-coming generations of legal professionals.

The Brimmer Scholar is selected from a group of finalists that undergo an intense interview process with the distinguished Brimmer Scholarship Selection Committee. The Committee varies from year to year and consists of representatives from the judiciary, the Wyoming bar, the faculty, former clerks of Judge Brimmer, and members of the Brimmer family.

It is an exceptional honor to be a recipient of this award as well as a finalist.

This year’s group finalists included Kari Hartman, of Cheyenne; Toni Hartzel, of Cheyenne; Renee Leone, of Jackson; Jason Mitchell, of Great Falls, Mont.; Mackenzie Morrison, of Evansville; and Connor Thompson of Rawlins.

“I feel very grateful and humbled to have been selected from such an accomplished group of finalists,” says Heneage. “This scholarship and opportunity means so much to me and is truly life changing. Judge Brimmer left behind an incredible and distinguished legacy in the state of Wyoming, and it is an extraordinary honor to be a part of that through this program.”

As the most recent member of a proud legacy, the College of Law congratulates Heneage on this prestigious accomplishment, as well as all of the finalists. (See past recipients here).