BY WAYNE LARSON
The KU School of Business’ Business Minor program has been paying off for me since I began the program in the spring 2008 semester. But I never thought the program, which will undoubtedly help me the rest of my life, would pay me back as quickly as it did on Sept. 22.
Twenty-seven Business Minor students, including myself, were honored as Business Minor Scholars for our academic achievement. Each of us earned an A in three or more Business Minor classes during our time in the program. We received $250 for each class we had taken prior to the fall 2009 semester.
I think it is safe to say that the Business Minor Scholars who attended the scholarship reception at the Adams Alumni Center were shocked when School of Business Student Success Director Jason O’Connor announced the scholarship we would all be awarded. The total amount was $27,750 awarded to the 27 Scholars for the 2009-2010 academic year.
The scholars introduced themselves and explained why they chose to achieve a Business Minor. Future dentists, engineers, journalists, nurses and pharmacists all discussed that they knew business would be an integral part of their professional lives no matter what profession they went into. That is why they decided to pursue the practical and lucrative Business Minor.
The students’ desire to become well-rounded in the business realm is cohesive with School of Business Associate Dean of Academic Affairs Keith Chauvin’s aspiration for the program. “I hope the Business Minor is going to add a bit of business savvy to your academic career, so you can use that as leverage in the professional world,” said Chauvin.
The scholarship was developed by the School of Business as a way to support high ability, high achieving students, and is given to students in recognition of outstanding academic performance in the Business Minor.
The Business Minor program is in its fourth year and currently has 684 declared students. This is the first year for the Business Minor Scholars Program.
The $750 I was awarded will definitely help me in the financial short-term, and I am grateful for that. However, I am even more grateful for the long-term impact I know the Business Minor will have on my academic, professional and personal life in years to come.
2009-2010 academic year Business Minor Scholars:
Alyssa Aude – Shawnee, Kansas
Nicholas Bergmann – Shawnee, Kansas
James Bernard – Prairie Village, Kansas
Sonya Bhakta – Lawrence, Kansas
Marek Brzozowski – Prairie Village, Kansas
John Cain – Leawood, Kansas
Tyler Cordel – Hutchinson, Kansas
Paige Elliott – Hutchinson, Kansas
Kathryn Gaylord – Plano, Texas
Valerie Gunn – Linwood, Kansas
Carrah Haley – Cincinnati, Ohio
Austin Hausmann – Liberal, Kansas
Andrew Herwig – Overland Park, Kansas
Kirsten Hudson – Wichita, Kansas
Brisa Izaguirre – Overland Park, Kansas
Wayne Larson – Wichita, Kansas
Tyler Leiker – Olathe, Kansas
Andrew Lindemann – Overland Park, Kansas
Paige Mazour – Franklin, Nebraska
Lindsey Parker – Salina, Kansas
Lauren Parrish – Southlake, Texas
Alan Pfortmiller – Olathe, Kansas
Alyssa Steffen – Winfield, Kansas
Christopher Touoboun Tsotezo – Lawrence, Kansas
Allie Wallace – Wichita, Kansas
John Weeks – Wichita, Kansas
Neil Young – Erie, Kansas
