March, 2019
Introducing our newest Weigand Scholars!
We're quite excited to fill the pipeline with worthy Kansas law students! The legal community has a lot to look forward to as these scholars integrate their talents and experiences into the fabric of their home state!
Joseph Bryden, 1L KU
Shawnee
Joseph will be graduating from Washburn University in May with a double major in Finance and Marketing. He has been on the President’s Honor roll every semester of undergraduate and am graduating with Summa Cum Laude Latin Honors. In his time at Washburn, he served as the President of Sigma Phi Epsilon, and was also involved with the University’s Honors Program, President’s Roundtable, Beta Gamma Sigma, Mortar Board, Sagamore, Rotaract and the Washburn Finance Society.Since the Fall of 2015, he has worked for the District of Kansas at the U.S. Attorney's Office as an Administrative Clerk.

He will be spending the summer in Europe working on an international business project. He was married in January to Nicole who works at Advent Health as an Occupational Therapy Assistant.

"I am extremely proud to be a Weigand Scholar. The caliber of my fellow scholars is incredible and I feel very lucky to join such an impressive network. The Weigand Trust has left an incredible impact on the state of Kansas and I look forward to furthering the vision of J.L. Weigand in law school and beyond."
Nick Kellum, 2L KU
Baxter Springs
Nick began his legal education after serving three years with the FBI as an Investigative Specialist, covertly gathering intelligence in support of ongoing terrorism, foreign counterintelligence, and domestic criminal investigations. While working for the FBI, Nick was selected for specialized covert trainings from the world's preeminent law enforcement and intelligence agencies and was able to utilize his fluency in Arabic to promote national security.  

In 2014, Nick graduated with highest distinction and university and departmental honors from the University of Kansas, majoring in Global and International Studies and Arabic Language. During his time as an undergrad at KU, Nick received the Critical Language Scholarship from the Department of State to study Arabic in Oman. Additionally, he was selected to compete nationally as KU's nominee for the Rhodes, Marshall, and Mitchell Scholarships whereby he received recognition as a Rhodes Scholar Finalist.

Nick returned to his alma mater for law school as a Rice Scholar. He has since received four CALI awards and the Payne & Jones Lawyering Award for Best Memo in his small section. He will be working as a summer associate at Shook, Hardy & Bacon in Kansas City.

"In my previous employment, I was necessarily deprived of and isolated from community. I felt the pains of that deprivation and the need to return to and cultivate a relationship with this state that I love. The Weigand Trust's mission—to educate Kansas talent and encourage students to return to and improve their home—provides me that opportunity. It is with immense honor and humility that I accept the title and accompanying responsibility of a Weigand Scholar and look forward to giving back to a state that has given so much to me."
Kate Lander, 3L Washburn
Olathe
In 2015, Kate graduated from Emporia State University with a degree in Elementary Education. After college, she returned to Olathe, where she taught first grade for two years. While teaching, Kate discovered a passion for advocacy, which sparked her decision to attend law school.

At Washburn, Kate is a junior staff writer on the Washburn Law Journal and a representative-at-large on the Washburn Student Bar Association. This summer, she plans to work at Spencer Fane LLP in Kansas City. Outside of school, she loves baking for my friends and family and cheering on the KU Jayhawks. 

"I am incredibly proud to have been selected to be a part of the Weigand Family. I hope to represent J.L. Weigand’s legacy well in the Kansas legal community and at Washburn. I look forward to being mentored by fellow Weigand Scholars and mentoring young law students one day."
Alisha Peters, M.B.A., 3L KU
McPherson
Alisha received her B.S. in Business Administration from Sterling College in 2008 and completed her M.B.A. from the University of Wisconsin in 2011.

After college and graduate school, she worked in business management at a large teaching hospital in Portland, Oregon. Alisha found the projects that involved legal issues quickly became the favorite part of her job, and she found navigating the complex intersection of law, business, and healthcare fascinating. In 2012, she left Oregon and moved to Kansas City where she worked in a similar role at the University of Missouri-Kansas City Dental School.

As a current 2L at KU, Alisha is a member of Law Review and the Native American Law Student Association Moot Court team. She serves as a Student Ambassador, and as a teaching assistant for Lawyering Skills and Business Law for undergraduates. Next year, she will participate in the Project for Innocence Clinic and the Medical-Legal Partnership with the KU Medical School.
Last summer, Alisha worked as a legal intern at Koch Industries in Wichita. This summer, Alisha will be a summer associate at Stinson Leonard Street in Kansas City. 

"The J.L. Weigand Scholarship is an amazing program, and I am honored to be selected as a recipient! I'm greatly honored to be a Weigand scholar and will continue to pay it forward throughout my legal career. I am particularly interested in helping non-traditional students navigate their new career and hope I can help them with their transition back to school."
Emily Reed, 2L KU
Pomona
Emily is an upcoming 2L at University of Kansas School of Law. During her first semester, Emily won the Payne and Jones Lawyering Award for best memo in her section. Emily also co-founded and is the current Vice President of the law school’s Midwest Innocence Project Student Organization. This summer Emily will be an associate at Spencer Fane, LLP in Kansas City.

In 2018, Emily graduated Summa Cum Laude from Emporia State University with a B.S. in Political Science. Prior to Emporia State, Emily spent two years at Cowley College where she played volleyball and was Second Team All Conference and All Region, making nationals both years. She spent an additional season at Lander University in South Carolina and made it to the NCAA Division II National Tournament with her team. She then returned to Kansas to finish her undergraduate degree at Emporia State University, where she was a file clerk for Atherton and Huth Law Office.
Emily, the youngest of four, grew up on a farm in Pomona, Kansas, a town of about 900. Her father Carl is a farmer, and her mother Nancy is a Special Education teacher.

“I am honored to be named a Weigand Scholar and to be included in such an accomplished group of individuals. I look forward to being a part of the Weigand family and playing a part in giving back to my home state.”​
Courtney Ress, 1L, Washburn
Colby
Courtney has racked up a list of degrees from Kansas State University, where she was a four-year member of the Pride of the Wildcatland Marching Band . In 2012, She received her B.A. in English, with a minor in German. In 2015, she received her B.A. in German. In 2014, She received her Master of Arts in English, British and American Literature.

Courtney is a full-time Instructor of English at Kansas State University. She also works and volunteers extensively with Crisis Center, Inc. and hopes to take her law degree to her hometown of Colby to practice.

"I am excited to join the Weigand family as a 1L law student! In joining this family, I affirm my commitment to serving my fellow Kansans through my future career as an attorney. I have been so impressed with the tight-knit network of legal scholars, and I am honored to be accepted into their ranks. I believe that this wonderful community of scholars and alumni is key to the success of a state justice system that works together for the benefit of all Kansans. I could not be more grateful for the opportunity to participate in this effort as a Weigand scholar!"
Hannah Sanchez, 3L Notre Dame
Overland Park
Hannah returns as a three-time Weigand Scholar. Hannah graduated from Georgetown University in 2017 with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Government. While at Georgetown, Hannah was a four-year member of the GU Cheerleading team. In the spring of 2015, she was a legislative intern for the Office of Nancy Pelosi at the U.S. House of Representatives, and in the summers of 2014 and 2015, she was an intern at Orrick & Erskine, LLP in Overland Park.

Hannah began law school at Notre Dame in the fall of 2017. Currently in her second year, Hannah serves as the President of the Women’s Legal Forum, as a research assistant for Professor James Seckinger, and as the Alumni Ambassador for Kansas City. Also, Hannah is a Brief Writer and the Brief Writing Chair for the Vis Moot Court team. Last summer, Hannah worked as a summer associate for Shook, Hardy & Bacon LLP in Kansas City, and she looks forward to returning to Shook this summer. 

“I am honored to enter my third year at Notre Dame Law School as a Weigand Scholar. The Weigand Trust has made my legal education at Notre Dame possible, and there are no words to sufficiently convey my gratitude. I am humbled to be among the current class of scholars who maintain the spirit of J.L.’s legacy with their integrity and commitment to excellence, and I look forward to welcoming the newest scholars to the Weigand family as we come together for the betterment of Kansas’ legal field.”