The Buttonwood Foundation Inc. awarded Robert Noens (J.D. '18) with its annual J. Marshall & Jane H. Booker Graduate Scholarship Award. The $10,000 scholarship is available to graduate, medical or law students with a parent who has worked for the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) for more than 10 years. Noens’ father works for the NYSE’s parent company Intercontinental Exchange (ICE).
“When I applied, I wasn’t sure I had a chance to win,” Noens said. “The level of competition among students with parents working for ICE and its subsidiaries is extremely high. I was shocked and honored to win.”
The Buttonwood Foundation awards the scholarship to students that have demonstrated a high level of academic success. Noens’ accomplishments as an undergraduate at University of Georgia and during his first year at Georgia State Law stood out from the other applicants.
In addition to being vice-president of the pre-law fraternity, Phi Alpha Delta, he was a member of UGA’s award-winning Model United Nations team. After his first year of law school, he accepted an extern position for the Fulton County Superior Court Chief Judge Gail S. Tusan and worked as a summer associate at MBW Law LLC.
Assistant Professor of Law Courtney Anderson taught Noens Property his first semester and recommended him for the scholarship.
“Robert exemplifies a dedicated law student who is certain to make a profoundly positive impact on the profession and his community,” she said. “His success in law school and as an attorney is extremely apparent and inspiring.”
Noens decided to attend law school after working with an attorney to argue a ticket for reckless driving. Noens had attempted to make a turn too late and overcorrected, which resulted in one-car accident that totaled his vehicle. The lead officer didn’t believe his story, and instead concluded he was speeding to beat oncoming traffic. Noens realized his love of legal work while preparing to argue his case in court, which was ultimately dismissed.
“For the first time, I had put my time, energy and real focus into accomplishing something with such a rewarding payoff,” he said. “I loved it and knew I wanted to become an attorney to help people and defend those that have had their rights infringed upon.”
After graduation, Noens plans to purse a career in civil or commercial litigation.