ANNUAL REPORT 2017-18 Opportunity Scholars
CLIMB MOUNTAINS NOT SO THAT THE WORLD CAN SEE YOU, BUT SO THAT YOU CAN SEE THE WORLD.
OPPORTUNITYSCH Since it’s inception in 1997, the Opportunity Scholars program continues to service a growing first-generation student population in the Eccles School of Business. The program has supported almost 600 students as they earn their degrees from the David Eccles School of Business at the University of Utah
CHOLARS
21 YEARS 1 9 9 7 - 2 0 1 8
Who are the Opportunity Scholars? Student must meet the following criteria to participate in the program: • First-Generation: Students’ whose parents have not attended or graduated from a four-year higher education institution. Students are the first in their immediate family to attend college.
Richard Kaufusi program director
• Underrepresented: Students are from a social group that is underrepresented in higher education. • Need: Students have a demonstrated financial need as evidenced through federal student aid. • GPA: Students’ grade point average is greater than 3.0. Continued eligibility in the program is dependent on maintaining a GPA greater than 3.0.
Latu Kinikini
program manager
OPPORTUNITY SCHOLARS
MISSION The goal of the Opportunity Scholars program is to support and enhance the educational experience of first-generation business students as they progress toward graduation.
CORE VALUES The student first and foremost A sense of community Promote diversity in the classroom and in the workplace Success by increasing retention and graduation rates Provide scholarship opportunities for low-income and/or underrepresented students
4 C O R N E R S T O N E S L AY O U R F O U N D AT I O N 1. Promote diversity in the classroom and in the workplace. 2. Create a sense of community.
3. Increase retention and graduation rates for first-generation business students. 4. Provide scholarship opportunities for low-income and/or underrepresented students.
Opportunity Scholars directly benefits the students in the program by providing retention resources such as tutors, mentors, internships, advising, career-services, service-learning projects, community outreach, networking opportunities, counseling, financial assistance and anytime access to the program director. These resources help first-generation students from diverse backgrounds overcome the hurdles that may stand in their way to a higher education.
promoting diversity in the classroom and in the workplace
The program also contributes to the educational experience of all students at the Eccles School by introducing students with diverse backgrounds and experiences into the academic setting.
28%
2017
19%
18%
108 TOTAL STUDENTS
20%
2018
5%
114 TOTAL STUDENTS
6% 32%
49%
51%
4% 9%
27%
47%
22%
53% 21%
■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■
Multi-racial Asian Black Hawaiian/Pacific Islander Hispanic White
Janet Tran “The Opportunity Scholars Program have helped me navigate my best and worst experiences throughout my college career. As a first generation student, I struggled to feel welcome and to fit in at the business school. I questioned if pursuing college was the appropriate choice for me and even considered dropping out. After expressing my struggles to Latu Kinikini, she recommended I join the Opportunity Scholars Program. In the program, I found a cohort of diverse students who shared similar experiences and backgrounds with me. My peers and mentors inspired me to continue my education and to graduate. When I received my job offer at Goldman Sachs, I told Latu and Rich first. As a direct result of Opportunity Scholars, I have found a home and sense of belonging on this campus.�
Giovanni Nava "Opportunity scholars has provided me a chance to chase my dreams and created a home away from home. I couldn't be more thankful to be part of this family."
sense of community
creating a
The Opportunity Scholars program hosted 14 events in the 2017-18 school year to foster a sense of community among its members. Those events included:
Service Project: As part of the FOCUS Orientation, students were engaged in an off-campus service project. First Gen Meeting: Opportunity Scholars hosts a community meeting for all first-gen students in the School of Business and invites representatives from various programs on campus that serve first-generation college students. Etiquette Luncheon: The annual etiquette luncheon is an opportunity to learn and practice good table manners and assist students in being successful. End of semester social – LUAU: The end of semester Luau is a highlight for our students. Graduating students get to share their journey as they pursued their studies, but they also leave words of wisdom for current students. Eccles Career Summit: Students participated in the Eccles Career Summit. This event was hosted by the Business Career Services Department. Leadership Retreat: A great trip to Zion National Park – camp, s’mores, dutch oven peach cobbler, hiking/biking, team activities, special guest speaker, Marriott hotel and dancing…just to name a few!
In 2017-2018, we awarded over $400,000 in scholarships to low-income and/or underrepresented students.
opportunity scholars
advisory board members SHAUNA BAMBERGER-PRISKOS
KRISTIN DITTMER EnerBank – EVP Finance and Credit
SCOTT SIMMONS
KELLY BARNETT
MARY DRAPER Guadalupe School
TRAVIS SOTO
JUSTIN HALEY
SHAWN TRUJILLO
Fidelity Investments – Community Relations Manager
Web Bank – President
ANDY BAUMAN Merrick Bank – VP Treasurer
ALENE BENTLEY Rocky Mountain Power – Customer & Community Manager
MELISSA CEBALLOS B.O.S.S Retirement Advisors – Director of Business Development
JILL CHRISTENSEN
Workers Compensations Fund – AVP Human Resources
NICOLE COTTLE
Medallion Bank – SVP Chief Operating Officer
NICHOLAS HINTZE
US Bank-Vice President – RM UT Commerical Banking
J.R. HOWA
Mountain West Commercial Real Estate – Commercial Real Estate Agent
NATHAN MORGAN Continental Bank – CEO
JEAN PERSCHON UBS – CFO
West Valley Municipal Corporation – Assistant City Manager / General Counsel
PATRICK SALAZAR
KEVIN DANSIE
BILL SHIELDS
WEX Bank – V.P. and Chief Risk Officer
mOppenheim Associates - Principal
Sallie Mae Bank - Deputy Chief Compliance Officer
Marlin Business Bank - CFO
Green Dot Corporation – VP Payment Operations, Financial Ops. & IT
Lunatic Fringe/Paul Mitchell Schools – Owner and Founder
CHRISTINE WHIPPLE Intermountain Research & Medical Foundation | AMICUS – Annual Fund Officer
MONTÉ WYLIE
Enterprise Rent-A-Car – Group Talent Acquisition Manager
MONICA YOCOM
Fidelity Investments – Community Relations Manager
MARK ZUPON
First Utah Bank – Executive Vice President
honoring
our graduates Fall 2017
13 graduates
Maxwell Azongo Ayliya Accounting BS
Alice Hoang To Marketing BS
Diego Alonso Barajas Finance BS
Rosa Maria Zavala Accounting BS
Justin Michael Bennett Marketing BS
Shakira Judith Zavala Finance BS
Tyler Scotty Henderson Business Administration BS
Zunayid Zishan Finance BS
Gabriel David Kehr Finance HBS
Alonya Zitting Finance BS
Sierra Jean Nichols Management BS
Lihuen Zlatohlavek Entrepreneurship BS
Selicia Reyes Operations Management BS
Spring 2018
24 graduates
Erica Christine Borallo Business Administration BS
Niloufar Sobhanian Information Systems BS
Michelle Van Bui Marketing BS
Jake Hiatt Stephens Operations Management BS
Moses Butera Finance BS
Lejla Subasic Information Systems BS
Annette Cella Business Administration BS
Mia Fisher Marketing BS
Elba Mariana Galvez Business Administration BS
Grecia Gutierrez Business Administration BS
Gabriel David Kehr Finance HBS
Joshua Hernandez Operations Management HBS, Finance BS
Brianna N Larkin Finance BS
Candido William Samaniego Accounting BS
Marina Neofitos Management BS
Samuel Godwin Daniel Business Administration BS
Kevin Nhan Operations Management BS
Gabriel Troy Ruflin Information Systems BS
Elaine Mil Ong Biology HBS
Robert Franz Palma Business Administration BS
Rodrigo Silva Finance BS
Dao Anh Tran Economics BS, Minor Business
Natasha Simpson Finance BS
Austin Mika Ulugalu Marketing BS