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QUENTIN COLLIE , a Parkersburg , WV , native , decided to venture out of state to pursue his undergraduate degree in English at the University of Notre Dame and master ’ s degree in education at Wake Forest University . After graduating in 2015 , he worked as a middle school English teacher for a few years before deciding to pursue a career in law .
As a teacher thrown back
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into the role of student , Collie found himself with a renewed enthusiasm for learning . During his time at the West Virginia University ( WVU ) College of Law , Collie worked as a summer associate for Steptoe & Johnson PLLC , a graduate assistant for WVU Student Legal Services and copy editor for the Student Bar Association ’ s in-house newsletter .
“ While the heavy workload was very challenging , it also resulted in some of the most meaningful learning experiences ,” he says .
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With his strong background in English , he was also selected to join the West Virginia Law Review and worked as an associate editor during his second year and later as the editor in chief of Volume 122 .
“ Ultimately , while both years were challenging , the opportunities to work with such talented peers and develop real-world skills were some of the most important lessons I learned ,” he says .
With a full class load and a variety of extracurricular commitments , Collie graduated
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third in his class with Order of the Coif honors and received the Patrick Duffy Koontz Award for scholastic ability , character and leadership . He is currently working as an associate for Steptoe & Johnson .
He feels he owes his success to the people of the Mountain State and aims to show his appreciation tenfold .
“ Since coming home , I have grown to appreciate the genuine sense of community West Virginians possess . I hope to give back to the people who have empowered me here ,” he says . •
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ALTHOUGH SHE IS originally from Virginia Beach , VA , Amanda Demmerle ’ s time at the West Virginia University ( WVU ) College of Law felt like home . She graduated first in her class this spring , receiving Order of the Coif honors and the public interest distinction .
“ The most special part of the WVU College of Law was the feeling of community ,” she says . “ I know that by coming to this state and this school , I was afforded opportunities I would not have received elsewhere .”
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Demmerle attended the University of Virginia for her undergraduate degree , majoring in both environmental sciences and environmental thought and practice . While she initially grappled with the decision to attend law school , she received a full tuition scholarship to WVU and decided to pursue her passion for the environment .
She credits Professor Jamie Van Nostrand for furthering her pursuit of environmental law .
“ During my 1L and 2L years , I helped write the bench brief
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for the National Energy & Sustainability Moot Court Competition ,” she says . “ During my 3L year , Professor Van Nostrand trusted me to write both the problem and the bench brief for the competition . I studied environmental law concepts I would not have otherwise learned while at WVU because of Professor Van Nostrand and the competitions .”
The problem from the 2019 competition inspired Demmerle to write her law review note , “ Pain in the Ash ,” which was published last year and received
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a Burton Award for Distinguished Legal Writing . During law school , she also served as the senior managing editor of the West Virginia Law Review and a student clinician in the WVU Land Use and Sustainable Development Law Clinic .
Demmerle is currently working for the Honorable Judge Robert King on the Fourth Circuit as one of his term law clerks and will clerk for the Honorable Judge Frank Volk in the Southern District of West Virginia immediately after . •
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