The American Bar Association (ABA) Section of Dispute Resolution announced Hunter Belcastro, '25, as the 2025 winner of the James B. Boskey Law Student Essay Contest in Dispute Resolution.
The Boskey Essay Contest, established in memory of Professor James B. Boskey, encourages law students across the nation to explore current issues and opportunities in dispute resolution. Each year, the contest recognizes outstanding scholarship that advances dialogue and innovation in the field.
Belcastro’s winning essay, titled “Arbitration Can Help Put an End to The Wild West of Name, Image, and Likeness,” examines how arbitration could provide stability and fairness in resolving disputes surrounding student-athletes’ use of their name, image, and likeness (NIL). His paper highlights arbitration’s efficiency, neutrality, confidentiality, and expertise as tools that could help the NCAA and other stakeholders address this rapidly evolving area of law.
By proposing arbitration as a structured alternative to traditional litigation, Belcastro’s essay contributes to the broader conversation about how dispute resolution can adapt to new challenges in sports, education, and beyond.
The ABA Section of Dispute Resolution praised the paper for its originality, depth of analysis, and practical approach to applying dispute resolution principles to one of the most pressing legal topics in collegiate athletics today.
