Vinson & Elkins Names Its 2026 Class of V&E Scholars

Vinson & Elkins today announced its 2026 class of V&E Scholars, awarding $10,000 scholarships to outstanding high school graduates from the Houston, Dallas, and Austin areas as they begin the next chapter of their academic journeys.

The V&E Scholars Program is a key component of the firm’s efforts to expand access to educational and professional opportunities for aspiring legal professionals. Beyond financial support, the program provides recipients with summer internships, attorney mentorship, and LSAT preparation assistance. Along with V&E’s founding sponsorship of the UT Pipeline Program, the initiative underscores the firm’s commitment to developing the next generation of legal talent.

“A scholarship opens a door, but the mentorship, internship experience, and connections that come with it can change the entire trajectory of a student’s future. We’re honored to welcome this year’s scholars and help them on their career journey,” said Milam Newby, partner and chair of the firm’s scholarship foundation.

Congratulations to this year’s seven V&E Scholar recipients:

AUSTIN

Belen Vásquez is a graduate of Jack C. Hays High School and will be attending Rice University in the Fall. She was selected as Head Coach for the National Hispanic Institute (NHI) Austin Great Debate team, leading and mentoring students across multiple competitive events.

“I am thrilled and deeply honored to have been selected as a V&E Scholar,” Vásquez said. “I am especially grateful to be supported by a firm like Vinson & Elkins, whose commitment to celebrating diverse talents and using legal expertise to serve those in need reflects the values I hope to carry into my own career. The opportunity to alleviate some of the financial burden of college, receive support as I prepare for law school through reimbursement for an LSAT preparatory course, and gain firsthand experience through a V&E internship is truly invaluable. This scholarship not only opens doors for me, but also strengthens my commitment to using my education and future legal career to empower others, advocate for those whose voices are often overlooked, and pursue justice with both compassion and purpose.”

DALLAS

Germyah Bennett is a graduate of Judge Barefoot Sanders Law Magnet and will be attending Sam Houston State University in the Fall. She was the president of the Black Student Union Club at the Yvonne A. Ewell Townview Magnet Center and was a mentor for the Judge Barefoot Sanders Law Magnet Law Link Crew.

“Receiving the V&E Scholarship is truly a blessing,” said Bennett. “As someone who knew early on that my single mother wouldn’t be able to cover the cost of college, I made it a priority to apply for every scholarship I could find, and the V&E firm was one of them. To now be selected as a recipient is both an honor and a blessing. Not only have you lifted the financial burden of college off my mom’s shoulders, but you have also shown that you believe in me enough to invest in my education. For that, I am deeply grateful for your firm and for the work you do to support young people.”

Fermin Sarmiento is a graduate of North Dallas High School and will be attending the Washington University in St. Louis in the Fall. He served as captain of the Mock Trial team, competing at the district level and earning recognition as Best Debater.

“Receiving the V&E Scholarship is an investment in both my future and the future of my family. It is a reminder that others believe in me and are willing to support my goals,” said Sarmiento. “As a first-generation college student, I hope to set a path for the rest of my family to follow and show what is possible through hard work and education. This scholarship will help make that goal a reality. Maybe one day, I will be the one handing out this scholarship to help another student pursue their dreams.”

HOUSTON

Noah Dinh is a graduate of Glenda Dawson High School and will be attending the University of Texas at Austin in the Fall. He was president of Project LETS Talk, where he led a volunteer-driven initiative delivering structured English instruction and social development to more than 40 ESL students at Carleston Elementary.

“I’ve wanted to be a lawyer since I was 10 and have made small, deliberate steps since then to make that goal a reality,” said Dinh. “Being named a Vinson and Elkins Scholar is a meaningful step towards that aspiration and I’m excited for the learning opportunities and relationships that I will cultivate through this program. I’m truly honored, as this scholarship will give me the opportunity to share my story while learning from the experiences and perspectives of others.”

Diya Patel is a graduate of Clear Falls High School and will be attending Stanford University in the Fall. She was the founder and executive director of Supplies for Smiles, where she led an international organization advancing educational equity across Gujarat, India, delivering more than 30,000 educational supplies and $3,000 in funding to over 1,000 students across 11 under-resourced schools in partnership with India’s Ministry of Education.

“Receiving the V&E Scholarship feels like someone pressed pause on my journey, looked at the path I’ve carved since childhood, and said, “yes, keep going!” I decided I wanted to be a lawyer at the ripe age of four, long before I even understood what the word “career” meant, while other kids cycled through astronauts, princess, firefighter,” said Patel. “I showed up to career day in a suit two sizes too big, carrying a briefcase filled with crayons and conviction. That stubborn spark never left. Determination became the quiet engine behind everything: making sense of the world during the isolation of COVID in middle school, navigating the maze of college applications as a first-generation college student, learning to advocate for myself in rooms where no one looked like me or shared my starting point. But I never walked alone. My family, my teachers, my mentors, they all poured into me. And now, V&E joins that circle. To me, this scholarship isn’t just financial support. It’s a signal. It tells me that the change I want to create in the world is seen, valued, and worth investing in. It tells me that the community I hope to serve is already rooting for me. I’ve always carried the words “be the change you want to see in the world” as my north star. With V&E behind me, that star feels a little brighter, and the path ahead feels a little more possible.”

Christianna Thomas is a graduate of Heights High School and will be attending Georgetown University in the Fall. In school, she was the president of her debate team. Outside of school, she is the Programs Director for a student-led advocacy nonprofit, managing a $150,000 yearly budget and mobilizing 400 students to advocate for improved educational standards. She is also the founder of the Web Filter Toolkit, an interactive narrative game that teaches students about school surveillance.

“Being selected to be a V&E scholar fills me with honor and humility,” said Thomas. “I am filled with honor in that a law firm that is changing the legal landscape by the cases they win and trials they fight recognized me as valuable enough to invest in my future. At the same time, I am filled with humility that my passion for the law will be cultivated by V&E. The internship, mentorship, and LSAT preparation the scholarship provides will equip me with the knowledge to succeed in this field of study.”

Liya Degefu is a graduate of Cristo Rey Jesuit College Preparatory School of Houston and will be attending the University of Texas at San Antonio in the Fall. She is the founder of her school’s debate club, a varsity soccer athlete, and a trusted student ambassador who regularly represents her school to community supporters.

“Receiving the V&E Scholarship means more to me than I can put into words,” said Degefu. “As someone who has dreamed of becoming a lawyer for as long as I can remember, this scholarship feels like a reminder that the goals I have worked toward for years are no longer distant dreams—they are becoming reality. One quote that has shaped the way I see the world is, “Unless the lion learns to write, every story will glorify the hunter.” It taught me that there is always an unheard side of every story, and that belief is what first sparked my passion for law. I want to be someone who listens carefully and helps give people a voice. What makes this scholarship even more meaningful is that it comes from a firm I deeply admire. I have always valued experience above everything else, and the opportunity to learn from the attorneys at Vinson & Elkins is something I am incredibly grateful for. As I begin college, I look forward to continuing that growth through debate, student organizations, and new experiences. Receiving this scholarship reminds me that the future I have worked so hard for is within reach.”

About Vinson & Elkins
For more than a century, Vinson & Elkins has provided outstanding client service across important industries that drive the global economy. Built on a strong culture of collaboration across 14 offices worldwide, V&E lawyers are committed to excellence, offering clients decades of legal experience in handling transactions, investments, projects and disputes across the globe. Learn more by visiting www.velaw.com or connect with us on LinkedIn.

For more information, please speak with our media contacts.