Samantha Sergent has been named the Helen Strong Curry International Law Scholar for the Class of 2019. Sergent is the first recipient of the scholarship endowed through an estate gift from Jean Curry Allen (BA’44), which will be awarded each year to a first-year student who demonstrates strong academic performance and plans to focus their upper-level studies on international law. The scholarship was named in honor of Allen’s mother, Helen Strong Curry.
“I’m excited to announce Sam Sergent’s selection as the Helen Strong Curry International Law Scholar for the Class of 2019, and I look forward to her contributions to the International Legal Studies Program and to the legal profession,” said Ingrid Wuerth, who holds the Helen Strong Curry Chair in International Law. “We had an outstanding group of applicants for the scholarship. This year’s 1L class has a very talented group of students who are studying international law.”
Sergent will attend the 2017 Vanderbilt in Venice summer study program, which focuses exclusively on international law topics, after which she will spend two months working in the International Humanitarian Law division of Global Rights Compliance, an international legal partnership that fosters and support compliance with international human rights laws.
“Society is increasingly global, and that creates interesting challenges in every area of law,” Sergent said. “I chose Vanderbilt specifically because of its strong International Legal Studies Program, and I’m really grateful for this scholarship.”
Sergent earned her undergraduate degree in political science and psychology at Boston University, during which she spent semesters at Dublin City University and the University of New Zealand, during which she worked as an intern for New Zealand Parliament member Nikki Kaye.
After earning her undergraduate degree, Sergent worked for two Boston law firms, Clark + Elbing and Nixon Peabody, both of which handled cases involving international law. Her interest in a career in international law was also confirmed by her experiences studying abroad; visits to her sister, a Peace Corps volunteer in South Africa; and a month-long backpacking trip through South America.
As a 1L, she has served as the 1L representative for the American Constitution Society and for the Law Students for Innocence and Prisoner’s Rights and on the Legal Aid Auction committee. She is a member of the Phi Delta Phi honor society.