Jaskiran Braich (left), pictured at a moot competition, is the inaugural recipient of the Alexandra J. Paul Memorial Scholarship. (SUBMITTED BY JASKIRAN BRAICH/University of Windsor)
By Sara Meikle
As the world watches the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games, stories of dedication, perseverance and national pride are unfolding on the ice and snow.
At the University of Windsor Faculty of Law, attention turns closer to home, remembering one of its own whose Olympic journey inspired so many.
Alexandra J. Paul represented Canada at the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia before later earning her law degree at Windsor Law.
Remembered for her discipline, grace and unwavering commitment to excellence, she carried the same focus and determination from elite sport into her legal studies and professional life before a motor vehicle accident tragically cut her life short in 2023.
In 2024, the Alexandra J. Paul Memorial Scholarship was established in her honour, a tribute that connects her passion for sport, community involvement and academic achievement.
The award is presented annually to a returning Windsor Law student who has demonstrated strong involvement in extracurricular activities, with preference given to those connected to sports and recreation. Financial need may also be considered.
For inaugural 2024-25 recipient Jaskiran Braich, the scholarship is both humbling and motivating.
“When I learned that Alexandra was an Olympian and a Windsor Law graduate, it really stood out to me,” Braich said. “Her drive to compete on the Olympic world stage and then pursue a law career is incredibly inspiring.”
Now in her third year and paying her own way through law school, Braich said the scholarship provides relief on the financial strain that often accompanies a professional degree.
“I’m constantly budgeting — hunting for used textbooks online and looking for part time jobs,” she said. “This scholarship relieves a real financial pressure and allows me to focus more on my studies.”
Braich grew up immersed in sport, competing in soccer and track and field. Today, she remains active through intramural volleyball and student initiatives at Windsor Law, seeing those commitments as essential to maintaining balance in a demanding program.
“Law school can be intense,” she said. “Being involved outside the classroom keeps me grounded. It reminds me why I’m here and who I’m doing this for.”
The timing feels especially poignant as the Olympic Games capture global attention — a celebration of perseverance, resilience and teamwork. Those same qualities are reflected in the scholarship’s criteria and in the kind of student it seeks to uplift.
“Sport teaches discipline, dedication and giving your best effort,” Braich said. “Those lessons translate directly into law school.”
By recognizing students who remain engaged beyond academics, the Alexandra J. Paul Memorial Scholarship reinforces a broader vision of legal education — one that values balance, leadership and service alongside scholarly achievement.
For Braich, being the first recipient carries special weight.
“It’s an honour,” she said. “I hope to carry forward the spirit of excellence and hard work that Alexandra embodied.”
For Windsor Law, the award ensures that Paul’s legacy remains present in the community she once called home. Her path — from Olympic ice dancer to lawyer — stands as a powerful example of what is possible when passion and purpose intersect.
For Braich, the scholarship has been transformative.
“Without this scholarship, I don’t know what sort of mental state I would have been in trying to pursue this goal,” she said. “All I can really say is thank you — thank you for thinking of students and giving others this opportunity.”
As Olympic athletes remind the world what dedication can achieve, Windsor Law honours that same spirit in the classroom, in the campus community, and in the lives of students inspired by Paul’s enduring legacy.
You can support the Alexandra J. Paul Memorial Scholarship by making a donation.