Book of Gratitude for Richard and Susan Rogel

A Book of Gratitude for Richard & Susan Rogel

ROGEL SCHOLARS SHARE THEIR GRATITUTE & STORIES Dear Rich (BBA '70, LL.D. Hon. '09) and Susan Rogel: On behalf of the University of Michigan Ross School of Business,THANK YOU for more than two decades of extraordinary leadership and philanthropy. Since 1996, the Richard and Susan Rogel Scholarship has been making a Michigan Ross business education possible for exceptional students, regardless of their financial background. Since the fund's inception, 176 awards have been made to 95 students, totaling $1.2M, and this support has changed lives in countless ways.

But don't take our word for it.

Browse this gift book, and you'll find more than 50 messages of gratitude from some of the many Rogel Scholars who have benefited from your generosity over the years. These include thank you letters from both current students and alumni from when they were awarded the scholarship, as well as more recent comments shared with us through an online questionnaire.

Rich and Susan, we hope you enjoy this reflection on the incredible impact of the Richard and Susan Rogel Scholarship at Michigan Ross. For your leadership, your service, your dedication, and your generosity, thank you.

Dear Rich & Susan Rogel . . .

Akosa Akpom BBA 2000 Hello, my name is Akosa, and I am this year's recipient of the scholarship award in your name. I am writing to thank you for this generous award and to let you know it is very much appreciated. I recognize the high level of commitment that U of M alumni have to their university and to the individuals who follow in their footsteps. There is no doubt that I will continue this tradition of support when I leave the University of Michigan.

Once again, thank you for selecting me as this year's recipient of the Richard and Susan Rogel Scholarship award.

Heba Ansari BBA 2014 Thank you for your generous donation that has allowed me to continue my education at Ross. My parents have been very supportive and set great examples about the importance of hard work. As an immigrant to this country, my dad worked in order to fund his college education. This dedication has become my own motto: to work hard and take advantage of the opportunities and resources that I have at Ross. But with the rise in university tuition, it has become increasingly difficult to cover all the costs that come with obtaining a higher education.

Your scholarship has allowed me to continue my journey to obtaining my BBA degree. I currently have an emphasis in strategy and am pursuing a career in consulting with offers from both IBM and The Boston Consulting Group. I also have an independent study with Professor William Lovejoy in which I work with nonprofit Focus: HOPE to create job opportunities in Detroit. It could not be a more gratifying experience because I get to give back the advice and assistance I received from the BBA program to benefit others.

With Thanksgiving around the corner, your donation has added one more item on my list of things to be thankful for this holiday season. I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to continue my education, ease the financial burden on my parents, and pursue an impact-driven career.

Ricardo Arias BBA 2007 I would like to thank you for selecting me to be a recipient of the Richard and Susan Rogel Scholarship fund. The $10,000 will be very helpful, for both me and my family, in funding my first year at the Ross School of Business.

Attending Ross is a great opportunity. The school is considered one of the best in the country, and I am reminded of this every time I walk into a classroom and begin to learn the skills and knowledge that I know will be necessary once I graduate. In addition, the school provides many alumni connections, which, in and of itself, will prove very beneficial in the years to come.

Like most schools, though, it is expensive to attend, especially for an out-of-state student like myself. So, again, I thank you for your generosity, as it has softened the blow to my family's finances that comes with attending this fine institution.

I just hope that one day I too will be able to make as generous a financial contribution as you two have to help another student receive the same quality of education that I will be receiving at Ross.

Jessica Bashara BBA 2015 I cannot begin to thank you enough for your contribution in the form of a scholarship to the Ross School of Business that allows students to pursue their dreams of having a successful career in business.

I am a unique case as far as scholarship recipients go because entering college I had no need for financial aid.

However, almost two years ago, I lost both of my parents very suddenly and in different but equally difficult ways. My world was turned completely upside down. In addition to the loss of both of my parents, I had to come to the realization that I no longer had the money to attend the University of Michigan.

For a few weeks I seriously considered dropping out of college, as I wasn't sure if I was better off trying to work instead to save money. I also considered just trying to attend a community college with the recognition that I now would have to graduate with debt. However, six months after my world fell apart, a few blessings came.

The first was that I was accepted into the Ross School of Business, and the second was Ross knew my situation and wanted to offer me scholarships that would help me continue my education at U of M and graduate debt free.

While a lot of bad has happened in my life, it is only coupled by the amount of good things I have been fortunate enough to experience. I have an incredible support network of extended family and friends and am successfully completing my education and pursuing my dream career in finance. I truly have you to thank for this!

Anish Baweja BBA 2017 Thank you so much for the scholarship. I really appreciate the financial aid. It was great to see that my diligence and hard work in the classroom is appreciated. Before I was notified by email, I did not even know that the University of Michigan gave scholarships to out-of-state students. I thought my parents would have to pay full out-of-state tuition, which is a hefty $50,000+ a year. In addition, I have an older brother who is finishing up his last year at the Wharton School of Business. My family was glad that I received this scholarship because it definitely eased their financial burden. I also have to work less on campus to pay for my education because of this scholarship. I can focus more on my studies and recruiting for summer internships.

Outside of the classroom, I am an avid soccer player and fan. I have been playing soccer since I was five years old.

As a matter of fact, I received a Division I offer for soccer, but I opted to go to the University of Michigan because of its academic prestige.

Again, I truly appreciate the scholarship; it means a lot.

Andrew Berriz BBA 2010 Thank you very much for providing me with the Richard and Susan Rogel Scholarship. I am very blessed and inspired to have received your generous reward.

After graduation I hope to enter a challenging and stimulating career path that will continually motivate me to work hard and improve upon myself. Perhaps years from now after I've reached a stable point in my career I'll be able to give back to someone starting their career like you have done for me.

Once again, thank you very much.

Daniel Bilen BBA 2010 EMPLOYER/BUSINESS: Uber TITLE: Product Manager CAREER JOURNEY: After graduating Ross in 2010 I went to NYC to join an investment bank. It was a wild time to be there, as this was still during the economic downturn. That said it became apparent to me that this was not my passion, which lied in technology, specifically in California where my twin brother was (also a scholarship recipient thanks to your donation). Once I realized this I made the decision to quit my job and move to California to find a role that I was more passionate about. This move enabled me to land a role in a healthcare tech startup and four years later move to Uber, where I now work as a product manager. I mention all of this for one important reason. The reason I was able to pursue these opportunities, prioritize my passion and family, was 100% related to the fact that your scholarship gave me the personal flexibility to make these choices. I am incredibly grateful for your donations that have made this possible for myself and many others like me. The freedom you provided has led me to pursue opportunities that are more professionally satisfying and, I believe, create a greater net impact in the world!

FAVORITE BBA MEMORY: A favorite memory of mine was being selected to participate in a case competition against other Big Ten schools in Madison at the University of Wisconsin. This was an amazing opportunity to build a close connection with a group of Ross BBAs I had not previously met, learn how to develop a narrative, present to a public of execs, and have a fun time!

HOW I GIVE BACK: Your scholarship has taught me the value of giving back, which I do in various ways: (1) Volunteering at an animal shelter (SFSPCA) was a great way to give back and disconnect from work and ultimately led me to finding my dog--a blind pit-shar-pei mix. (2) Developing a PM training program internally at Uber called the PM Academy, which gives employees the opportunity to pursue a PM career with no prior experience.

DEAR MR. AND MRS. ROGEL: Your scholarship gave me the freedom to prioritize my passion and family, rather than working in a career that I was not motivated by. This has shaped me into the adult I am today.

READ MORE FROM DANIEL ON THE NEXT PAGE, AND SEE COMMENTS FROM HIS BROTHER, ANOTHER GRATEFUL ROGEL SCHOLAR, ON THE TWO PAGES THAT FOLLOW.

I want to express my deep gratitude for the gift you have blessed me with in granting me this scholarship.

At this point in my college career I am an anxious junior trying to get through this challenging year as I move forward with my search for a competitive internship. Given the stressful nature of the school year, I am proud to say that I have managed to keep my GPA strong and continue to stay involved in worthwhile experiences on and off campus. This past summer I went abroad, working at Akbank, a commercial bank in Istanbul, Turkey, and then flew to Thailand for a one-month volunteer project. I am happy to say that with your financial assistance I have been able to take my learning experience global.

At this point, I have found it is most important to enjoy my time in college by pursuing academic excellence.

With your aid I find myself pushing to stay atop of my academic duties and go beyond by utilizing my education to further learn about the business world around me. With all the events occurring in business, politics, and globally, it has never been more exciting to learn, and that passion has been eternally ignited within me from my time at the University of Michigan.

Once again a thousand thank-yous for all your genuine kindness, and I hope to have an opportunity to meet you in the future.

Gabriel Bilen BBA 2010 Firstly, I wanted to thank you for your scholarship; it allowed me to start this year with a lot less to worry about. I was able to spend the summer abroad in Turkey, and after returning, I started thinking of all these things I wanted to do: go to Spain to be able to finish my Spanish studies, go to Nepal to learn about the culture, go to South America to help out where I can, but all these things require a lot of money, and your scholarship has given me a way to achieve those goals.

Secondly, since you don't know me, I want to tell you about myself. I am really interested in global cultures, economy, and the business that links it all together, Currently I'm thinking of getting into the field of consulting, focusing on helping global companies find ways to work with the local culture as well as be more environmentally effective. I'm currently working on getting permission to do an independent study program that will allow me to get a core education in industrial operations engineering along with a BBA. Unfortunately, both these programs are quite demanding, and if I am successful in getting permission to continue on the track I want to take, it will take a lot of schooling, and with this scholarship money I will be able to take some summer courses to help me finish on time.

So, for helping me in reaching my goals, I wanted to say thank you again. I really appreciate it and look forward to putting this money to good use in my time here at school. And hopefully in the future I will be able to give back as much as you have given to me.

READ MORE FROM GABRIEL ON THE FOLLOWING PAGE.

I wanted to let you know how grateful I am for the scholarship that you have given me, as well as for what it has allowed me to do.

Above being able to cover most of my yearly academic expenses, I was able to set some aside to give me the chance to study abroad this past summer. With the scholarship I was able to pay for a study and intern abroad program in Madrid, Spain, as well as a volunteer and language program in Peru.

These experiences taught me things and prepared me in ways that Ross, as great as it is, never could. I want to tell you that this scholarship is directly responsible for giving me this opportunity.

Today international experience and exposure to many different cultures is necessary to be successful, and I know that having had these experiences will benefit my future. Furthermore I look forward to getting to a place in my future where I can give a student the same opportunity that you have given me.

Emma Brooks BBA 1999 I would like to take this time to say thank you for awarding me the Richard and Susan Rogel Scholarship.

It is a great honor and privilege to be a recipient of this award. Throughout my years at the University of Michigan, I have traveled many milestones trying to find funding for school. The journey was not easy; however, your contribution has helped pave the way.

Chaneice Wilks Brown BBA 2000 I would like to begin by thanking you for leaving this legacy at the university, so that I may have the opportunity to complete my undergraduate studies.

I enjoyed reading about the paths that the two of you have chosen and was impressed by the contributions that you have made not only to the University of Michigan but also to the communities in which you have lived. I share the same commitment to the community and philosophy for sharing.

While I am currently unable to give a lot financially, I do believe that giving should be our mission. I am a reading tutor with local Ann Arbor youth, and I am a "big sister" to children in the area as well. I am giving by being a role model and opening the minds of children to the options that exist for them.

I plan to continue my service in the community that I choose to reside in, and I have hopes for leaving a similar legacy (in the form of a scholarship) to the University of Michigan Business School. I graciously accept this scholarship and thank you so much for the contribution that it has made toward my education.

Moreover, I would like to thank you for the indelible legacy that you have left.

READ MORE FROM CHANEICE ON THE FOLLOWING PAGE.

EMPLOYER/BUSINESS: Egon Zehnder TITLE: Executive Search Consultant CAREER JOURNEY: Thank you for your assistance in my education. Following graduation from what was UMBS and is now Ross, I started as an analyst with McKinsey & Company. At McKinsey, I was exposed to high-paced projects and fantastic business leaders who would help shape my career and become mentors. I then went on to Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern where I received my MBA and rejoined McKinsey as an associate and then engagement manager. After having children, I decided to leave my beloved McKinsey for Sears Holdings where I worked in strategy and eventually led the creation, staffing, and management of new store formats, including emerging online channels. This coupled with a strategic stint at a large data provider to consumer packaged goods and retail led me to my current role as an executive recruiter in the consumer sector. I now place board members, CEOs, and other C-suite individuals in their roles at Fortune 100 organizations. Consistently, my favorite part of each role has been assessing and/or activating potential.

I thank you for seeing mine and helping me to succeed in my chosen career.

FAVORITE BBA MEMORY: During one of the operations groups, we looked for process improvements at a brewery.

I am not a drinker but my senior-year colleagues absolutely loved the project, and I took away an uncanny knowledge for fermentation, lagers, and ales. I am a hit at dinner parties! On the other side, I had my fair share of wanna-be ale spilled on me at Rick's. Again, I'm not a drinker but a dancer, so perhaps a tight spot like Rick's isn't the safest!

HOW I GIVE BACK: I serve on the Booster board of my children's high school as the president-elect, I am on the advisory board of the Gus Giordano Jazz Legacy Foundation related to their dance school, I am an advisory board member for the BBA program at Ross, and I volunteer in numerous ways including as a team manager for my son's sports, a classroom/PTA volunteer, and community service with my church. Throughout my career, I have also participated with the chosen non-profits of our firms.

DEAR MR. AND MRS. ROGEL: Thank you for your support and role in getting me on the right path for success.

Especially, as I now see with my older daughters, it is so important to have supporters--vocal and silent--to provide the knowledge and resources that one wouldn't otherwise have to be successful. You are a part of my village of support and I thank you. I thank you for believing in my potential, and in addition to pushing for success, the best thing that I believe I can do now is pay it forward with my mentorship, time, and eventually, financial resources.

Anthony Cerrato BBA 2011 I am writing this letter in regards to the scholarship money that I have received for the 2009-2010 school year. I am very grateful that you have taken the opportunity to give back to the community by helping individuals with college tuition. Your philosophy of giving is quite inspirational, and you have inspired me to be more active in my community at home and at the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan.

As I am getting closer to graduation, I wish to one day reach the level of success that you have achieved, with the degree that you are helping me to achieve. I also hope to be granted the opportunity to be able to commit the same acts of generosity you have.

Thank you very much for your continued support.

Fabio Cesar, Jr. BBA 2020 I'd like to thank both of you for supporting me financially through college. I wish I could personally thank you because the commitment you have made to both me and the university is something that I look up to. I also noticed Mr. Rogel has an entrepreneurial mindset, founding your own company and ultimately selling it to Blue Cross Blue Shield. I myself am heavily involved in the startup scene both on and off campus. I've co-founded an app, Pakochi, that allows members of a student organization to instantaneously exchange contact information and social media accounts with one another. Currently seven student organizations at U of M have committed to using the app this semester and a waitlist has been created for organizations to use the app starting second semester. Seeing your success motivates me to keep grinding.

In the future I'd like to be in the position your family is in and support younger generations working their way through college. With people like yourselves backing me throughout my journey my future looks bright.

READ A SECOND LETTER FROM FABIO BELOW. I am honored to have received a scholarship on your behalf for a second year in a row. The opportunity to attend the Ross School of Business would not have been possible without your continuous support. Not only are you helping me financially but mentally as well.

As you know, junior year is incredibly stressful with recruiting, intense classes, and maintaining a social life. There was more added pressure on me when I always thought about not having enough money to finish my degree. That would set back my goals to give back to my community and support my family.

This upcoming summer, I want to take the skills and creativity I have learned through my entrepreneurship experiences and see if I can make a splash at the corporate level. I'm sure you have had multiple times in your career where entrepreneurial grit made you stand apart. I intend to do the same.

"You should give until it feels good. If you only give 'til it hurts, you haven't given enough." Your special philosophy of giving is truly unique. I want you to know your support has and will keep motivating me to be the best that I can be.

Iheb Chalouat BBA 2015 My name is Iheb S. Chalouat and I am a Tunisian-American sophomore at the University of Michigan currently pursuing a dual degree in finance from the Ross School of Business and in philosophy, politics & economics from the School of Literature, Science, and the Arts. I am writing you this letter to express my sincere appreciation for the $2,950 scholarship you have awarded me.

My family is going through some tough times these days because of the impact the Tunisian Revolution and the American recession are having on my father's business practice, and the financial aid you have provided us helped us significantly. It made all of us less worried at night and more focused on work performance during the day. Thanks to your help, we have been able to allocate the money that was supposed to go to my out-of-state tuition here at Michigan to my sister's full tuition payment. This allowed us to provide her with the means to pursue her Master's degree at the Louvain School of Management in Belgium, something she wouldn't have done if it weren't for this scholarship.

Since I was raised in a culture and environment that puts family as the first priority in life, I was very disturbed with the idea of blocking my sister from pursuing her Master's in Management at one of the best universities in Europe. The guilt that I felt made me unable to focus on my studies and had a negative impact on my handling of the affairs of my company. More and more of my time was spent thinking about what I could do to help her, and less and less of my efforts were spent feeding the appetite of my intellect. I even considered transferring to a less expensive school, perhaps outside the United States. This scholarship therefore allowed me to refocus my attention on my studies, my company, my extracurricular activities, and internship recruitment for next summer. If it weren't for it, my grades wouldn't be as good as they are today, my company would be in trouble, and I wouldn't be able to get the summer internship that I need to keep myself on the right path towards a career in private equity and hedge funds.

I therefore want to thank you for the opportunities you have provided me and my family.

Mina Choi BBA 2015 I would like to wholeheartedly thank you for your generous scholarship. I was thrilled to learn of my selection for this honor, and I am deeply appreciative of your support.

I am a BBA student with an emphasis in accounting, and I plan to pursue a career in public accounting upon graduating from the University of Michigan's Stephen M. Ross School of Business. The financial assistance you provided will be of great help to me in paying my educational expenses, and it will allow me to concentrate more of my time on studying.

Thanks to you, I am one step closer to my goal.

Thank you again for your generosity and support. Your generosity has inspired me to help others and give back to the community. I hope one day I will be able to help students achieve their goals just as you helped me.

Andre Clejan BBA 2018 I am tremendously thankful and proud to be a recipient of the scholarship made possible by your generous donations. It is extremely satisfying to see my hard work and insatiable desire to have a high-impact career be recognized and rewarded in this fashion.

In addition to my Bachelor's of Business Administration, I intend to pursue a minor in either environmental studies or sustainability; my ultimate professional aspiration is to use my business savvy to make strides to counteract the effects of global climate change and leave the environment in a better condition for future generations. To that end, I hope to eventually start a company centered upon a product or service that brings value to the environment, consumers, and the company alike. Because I am only in the beginning stages of developing ideas that will hit on all three of these cylinders, my current focus is refining my creative and entrepreneurial skills. I am currently pursuing consulting and entrepreneurship-related student organizations on campus that will give me real-world experience.

This scholarship has made my study at Ross and pursuit of success much more affordable, and I cannot thank you enough for that.

READ TWO MORE LETTERS FROM ANDRE ON THE FOLLOWING PAGE.

I would like to extend my most sincere appreciation for your donation that made my scholarship possible. With the rising cost of out-of-state tuition and my brother beginning college this fall, your gift has taken a significant load off my family. It has also eliminated the need for me to get an on-campus job, leaving ample time to focus on my academics and making a positive impact on the community.

To give you an update on what I'm doing, I am currently a Ross BBA junior focusing on corporate strategy and operations coupled with a Program in the Environment minor. This course has exposed me to a wealth of interesting topics, most notably operations management, corporate decision making, data analysis, and environmental science. It has allowed me to continue developing my interest in sustainable business and hopefully set me on a career path that finds economically feasible solutions to our world's environmental issues.

Thank you again for the donation that helped make my college experience as rich as can be. _____________________________ Thank you so much for your donation that made my scholarship possible. Now that out-of-state tuition is as high as it has ever been and my younger brother is also in college, every little bit helps take the burden off me and my family. It has also made it possible for me to not have an on-campus job, allowing me to focus on my career search and thoroughly enjoying senior year.

Since I wrote to you last year, I have added a second minor in entrepreneurship to couple my major in business and other minor in environmental studies. This unique track has allowed me to interact with a wide array of students and faculty as well as develop the knowledge to be an innovative leader in implementing sustainability into the business world. As I wrap up my time at the University of Michigan, I am becoming increasingly confident that this educational path is providing an excellent foundation to achieve all my professional and personal goals.

Thank you again for the donation that helped make my college experience so enriching.

Brionna Coleman BBA 2020 I would like to take the time to greatly thank you for the wonderful gift of offering me the Richard and Susan Rogel Scholarship through the Ross School of Business. I cannot explain how grateful I was when I received an email telling me that I was awarded this scholarship; it was completely unexpected. Coming from a family who does not have the money to provide for my college education, I rely heavily and solely on my academic scholarships. If it was not for the scholarships that I was granted through my high school and while at college, I would not have been able to live out my dream of attending this amazing university.

READ MORE OF BRIONNA'S LETTER ON THE FOLLOWING PAGE.

I chose to become a business major because I desire to establish my own business, and I felt that the Ross School of Business would help me do just that. During my freshman year of college, I became a student leader through the Center for Educational Outreach, which does outreach to local middle schoolers. As a student leader, I teach students about the fundamentals of college, and I also get them geared towards pursuing a higher education. One of the things in life that I value the most is education. I am glad that I can spread my knowledge of what to do and how to plan for college to these bright middle schoolers because it is something that I did not have the opportunity to have as a middle schooler. Being a student leader has sparked my dream of starting my own outreach program.

During my time at Ross, I am focusing on what course will be the most beneficial towards helping me start my own business. I have so much to learn about how to run a successful business that I need to devote all of my efforts to this. I am grateful that with the help of this scholarship, I can dedicate all of my time to succeeding academically. I have always worked a parttime job while in college to support my outstanding financial needs, and I am glad that I have the option to not work if I choose. My family has always wanted me to focus mainly on my education, and now I can do just that.

Again, I want to personally send a great thank you, as well as on behalf of my family, to my amazing donors for giving me the opportunity to live out my dreams. My parents have always told me to go off to college and be the person that I want to be in life because they did not get the chance to. I am living out my dreams for myself and for my family. Your help has provided for me in ways that I cannot even explain--I will forever be thankful for that!

Adam Dalm BBA 2013 Earlier this year, I became the recipient of the scholarship in your name through the Ross School of Business. This scholarship was the most generous donation I have ever received, and I am extremely grateful for your boundless generosity. With this donation, I was able to pay off student loans that I had accumulated over my educational career. I wanted to personally thank you for your support of aspiring business leaders at the Ross School of Business.

As a sophomore, I am currently in the process of deciding where I want to focus my studies. Although I am unsure of where I would like to place my efforts, I am absolutely certain I have chosen to attend a great school. I love studying at the Ross School of Business, and I am confident that I will take what I learn and apply it to something personally rewarding.

Thank you again for your kind donation.

Emmanuel Enechukwu BBA 2019 Being a Rogel Scholar means having the freedom to not worry as much about funding my education here at the Ross School of Business. It allows me to freely pursue my various interests inside and outside of the classroom and prepare for my endeavors postgraduation. I'm grateful for having this opportunity and aspire to be in a position where I can do the same for others.

READ MORE FROM EMMANUEL ON THE FOLLOWING PAGE.

Thank you so much for your generous contribution to the Ross School of Business and personally to the underrepresented minority BBA students with financial need at the business school. This scholarship and the financial support that it has provided for me this school year has taken some burdens off me, which has allowed me to continue to focus on my academics during my final year.

The past four years here at the University of Michigan have been transformative and have played a major role in crafting me into the young man that I am today. The Ross School of Business has provided me with a plethora of resources and opportunities that have allowed me to pursue my interests and a career that I am truly passionate about. After graduation I will be joining Citigroup in their Sales and Trading Division, and I'm excited for what my future career has in store for me.

Looking ahead into the future I'm not sure what I want to do in the long term, but I know I want to stay within the finance industry and mainly along the lines of helping underrepresented minorities (URM) like myself break into the industry. Without the help of non-profit organizations like Sponsors for Educational Opportunity, of which I am a member, and Management Leadership of Tomorrow, I would not be where I am today. Both of these organizations have centered their core mission around providing URM resources, coaching, and exposure through corporate partnerships in order to break into Wall Street and other fields in which they are not truly represented. I would like to do the same in the future in whatever capacity I can provide.

Thank you once again for the generous contribution to my education and overall future. It truly means a lot to me and my family to be able to lift the financial burdens of pursuing a college education. As a Nigerian immigrant who came to the United States with my family at the age of five with little of our own, graduating from the Ross School of Business this year is my American dream come to life.

Evan Fisher BBA 2017 EMPLOYER/BUSINESS: Insight Venture Partners TITLE: Investment Associate CAREER JOURNEY: Following graduation in 2017, I spent two years working in the investment banking division of Goldman Sachs. The experience was incredibly rewarding and was an opportunity I could not have attained without my Ross education. In addition to the finance skillset I built, I was able to personally present to a public company CFO and join my team on the NYSE podium as we rang the opening bell. I am now in the process of transitioning to a software investing role at Insight Venture Partners. I am excited for the opportunity to begin this new stage of my career in investing.

FAVORITE BBA MEMORY: My senior year I worked with the CEO of a Detroit-based economic empowerment social enterprise through a Ross capstone course. Over six months, a fellow Ross student and I applied the concepts and skills we had learned over the prior two years to help solve the company's challenges.

It was incredible seeing the positive impact our work had on her company and its mission for social change. This was my "aha moment" and I realized the great opportunity for positive impact through business.

HOW I GIVE BACK: During my final year at Goldman Sachs, I participated in a firmsponsored volunteer opportunity. Myself and a team of GS bankers worked with a mental health non-profit in NYC. We used our finance skills and the firm's resources to advise them on their financial position and opportunities for growth. I look forward to continuing to find opportunities to volunteer my finance skills and help organizations thrive.

DEAR MR. AND MRS. ROGEL: Thank you.

When choosing to attend the University of Michigan, I knew I would need to take on student debt to make ends meet. The scholarship you provided made a material difference to my experience. It allowed me to worry less about my finances and focus more on maximizing my learning. I was able to take on additional learning experiences, take incremental risks, and ultimately create an incredible undergraduate experience that opened a myriad of opportunities. I hope one day I too will be able to provide students with the support you have provided me.

READ TWO LETTERS FROM EVAN BELOW. I am humbled and truly grateful for the scholarship you have generously awarded me. As an out-of-state student from Maryland, I have always known that attending the University of Michigan would place a financial burden on my family and myself.

Growing up, my parents saved diligently to fund the premier college education I am now receiving. We had always believed these savings and assistance from my mom's previous employer would be able to foot the tuition bill. However, my freshman year of high school life threw a curveball at our family, and our financial situation changed drastically. My mom was diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent a multitude of medical procedures over the following years. The ongoing cycle of surgeries and recoveries prevented her from working. She unjustly lost her job as a homecare nurse, and medical bills continued to accumulate. After two years of sickness, she felt well enough to search for work and found an opening as a substitute school nurse. Her current job is only part time and pays about 80% less than her previous nursing job. As we repay my mom's medical bills, we have also adopted the extreme financial burden of a college education.

I decided to go out of state and come to U of M because I was willing to make financial sacrifices to obtain a world-class education. However, the future is daunting at times, knowing five-digit student loans will await me upon graduation. This scholarship brings me a step closer to paying off my studies and ultimately reaching my aspirations. It's an indescribable feeling of encouragement; I hope to one day have the financial means to give back to students at Michigan and share this feeling.

Once again, thank you for the scholarship and aiding my educational journey. _____________________________ Thank you again for awarding me this scholarship during my time at Ross. Despite Michigan's price tag, I have no regrets in attending such a premier school. Currently, I am a junior studying business with a concentration in finance and strategy. Inside the classroom, I have already had the opportunity to immerse myself in the world of accounting, finance, ethics, and other fields.

Outside the classroom, I have actively participated in extracurricular activities within the Ross community. I joined the Alpha Kappa Psi Business Fraternity (AKPsi) freshman year to develop my business skills and create lifelong friends. This past year, I worked on a global action project through the Emerging Markets Club to obtain cross-cultural learning experience. Now, I am using my efforts to give back to the Ross community. In AKPsi I serve as the Alumni & Communications Chair and am working on projects that better connect current brothers with past alumni. Through an on-campus tutoring group, I help students understand challenging concepts in their economics courses. Finally, as a Global Ambassador, I have helped exchange students at Michigan better adjust to our campus lifestyle. My two years at Michigan have been a transformational experience, and I hope to continue giving back to my community to provide younger students the same opportunities I have been fortunate enough to have.

Once again, thank you for this scholarship--your generosity has been crucial for helping me make this experience more affordable and rewarding.

Chase Frankel BBA 2014 I wanted to thank you for your generous scholarship offered to University of Michigan students in the Ross School of Business. This is my last year receiving the scholarship, and I cannot express to you how much it has helped. As I'm sure you are already well aware, tuition for out-of-state students is extremely expensive. My family is not extremely wealthy, and I do currently take out some loans. It is because of your generosity that I am in such a good position today. I cannot explain it enough in words how thankful I am.

Due to all that has been given to me from your scholarship, I can only hope to be able to be in a position later in life to give back just like you have. Year after year your generous donation has allowed students like me to attend this amazing school. A lot of us would have trouble being able to afford tuition without scholarships like yours. I hope to have the chance to thank you in person some day for all the doors you have opened for me. Your quote relating to your philosophy on giving has really inspired me to do great things in my life so that I too can give back. I know that in the future I will do all that I can to help students like me.

Thank you again.

READ MORE FROM CHASE BELOW. EMPLOYER/BUSINESS: Deloitte TITLE: Senior Consultant CAREER JOURNEY: Since graduating from Ross, I've been working at Deloitte in our Advisory practice. I was able to secure this job through on-campus recruiting at the business school. I have been at Deloitte for five years and see a future here. The practice says I am doing great work and I am up for manager promotion in the summer. During my time at Deloitte, I have been working with some of the world's largest companies helping them modernize their finance departments. I've had the chance to travel globally for the firm including India and Malaysia!

FAVORITE BBA MEMORY: The first day I stepped into the business school as a sophomore I was at home.

HOW I GIVE BACK: I help a lot of current BBAs with consulting recruiting. I offer time for mock interviews and connect them with my colleagues in different teams.

DEAR MR. AND MRS. ROGEL: I wanted to just say thank you so much for your generous donation. Because of you, I graduated with very little student debt. Since I am not repaying a lot of student loans right now, I am able to save for my future. I just recently got engaged and we are looking to buy a house soon. This is so much more achievable without a monthly student loan payment!

Thank you so, so much for your generosity.

Maximillian Garcia, III BBA 2020 My journey to the University of Michigan has been an interesting one. Truthfully, I had no idea that I would be going out of state, let alone to the University of Michigan.

However, I felt that the University of Michigan would be my best opportunity to take care of my family. I am currently majoring in business administration with a specialty in finance and a minor in sustainability. Although I'm not exactly sure what I'd like to "be when I grow up," I'm sure it will be along the lines of either investment and finance, a sports agent, or a corporate lawyer.

I want to thank you for your contribution to my education. I could not be here without you. You make my life easier, but even more, you have given me the ability to study at the University of Michigan. I come from a poorer socioeconomic background, and I know how it feels to be hopeless. I don't have to feel that way here because of your contribution.

Every day I get to wake up and head to the business school knowing that I can seize my goals. I came here to one day take care of my dad and little sister. It is your contribution that allows me to continue to pursue this goal. I will not waste this opportunity.

READ A SECOND LETTER FROM MAXIMILLIAN BELOW. Over the past two years, I have been a part of the Michigan Research Community (MRC), a livinglearning community based within the Mosher-Jordan Residence. I wanted a community that would welcome me for who I am, and through the MRC I felt accepted. I came to Michigan from California to one day take care of my dad and little sister. By leaving to get an education at the University of Michigan, I knew I would no longer have my family with me. However, the MRC became my family.

As I entered into my sophomore year, I transitioned into being a peer mentor for the MRC. I was able to help kids transition into the community and establish a footing in college. I worked quite extensively with five freshmen by making their transition feel comfortable and safe. My mentee wrote that I was why he wanted to come back to MRC. I was touched by that because I actually made an impact, and I actually cried when I thought about leaving my community. Even at this moment, I am welling up with tears. I try being a positive influence on every one of my mentees. Next year my MRC experience will come to a conclusion; however, I would like to continue my pursuit of helping others but also take it a step further by joining the Global Scholars Program and being the same positive force.

It is thanks to your contributions that every day I get to be in this amazing place. I wholeheartedly say that you have been a life-changing family for me and I don't even know you. Thank you for being there for me in a way that no one else has been.

Gabriel Gerenstein BBA 2002 I would like to thank you for providing me with your generous scholarship. This will give me the opportunity to continue my education at the University of Michigan Business School.

I understand that for both of you giving back to the community takes on a whole new meaning. This is a very commendable and exemplary behavior. My only wish is to someday follow your philosophy of giving to help the community and, at the same time, inspire other students that will be in the position I am this day to continue the same tradition. Once again, thank you.

READ MORE FROM GABRIEL ON THE FOLLOWING PAGE.

EMPLOYER/BUSINESS: Ernst & Young - EY TITLE: Managing Director CAREER JOURNEY: Since graduating I went on to a career in M&A and capital markets in Chicago, South Florida, New York, and now Latin America, where I am based. I also went on to get my MBA at Wharton and my CFA designation.

FAVORITE BBA MEMORY: I was elected president of my class at Ross and was invited to speak on behalf of my graduating class at commencement ceremonies.

HOW I GIVE BACK: I just moved to a new location, but I am looking to get involved in the local Jewish community in Bogota, Colombia.

DEAR MR. AND MRS. ROGEL: With your help I was able to gain a top-notch education. As I paid on my own for my university education, your donation made a huge difference for me. I looked to give back even while in school by creating BBA events, like the BBA Games, that lasted years after I left and representing my class as their president. Thank you again for your help as it allowed me to reach my career goals.

Gabriella Gessner BBA 2021 Your assistance has been a life saver for me. I have studied hard all my life and hoped that I could realize my dream of becoming a financial consultant at a major accounting firm.

It is clear that there can be no better foundation for realizing my dreams than the education you are helping to provide me at the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan.

Your helping hand is saving two lives. My mother who barely survived getting hit by a fast-moving car is being treated for a closed-head injury. The injury robbed her of her dreams. She lives to hear of my day and is cheered up by my achievements. Her crooked smile is all the reward I need for what seems like endless studying.

The classes at Ross are challenging, and I sense I am growing as a student and as a responsible adult. I realize that my classes are but one way of learning and that those who have taken the knowledge from Ross and have shaped today's business world would be an even better source. If you find the time to write a few lines to guide me in my studies I would be eternally grateful.

K. Thais Gonzalez BBA 2020 Thank you so much for the scholarship of $8,000. This will help me tremendously during my sophomore year at the University of Michigan. I'm not sure if you're aware, but I'm a student athlete at Michigan and I play varsity softball. As a result, I do not have a lot of spare time to pursue any part-time jobs during the year to help my family. Your grant is so appreciated because it relieves some of the financial pressure of attending U of M as an out-of-state student.

Since my first visit to Michigan my junior year of high school, I have never doubted that this is the school I belong at. The standard of excellence across all fields fills me with pride when I get to tell people where I study. Living in Ann Arbor has introduced me to so many new people and experiences and I really am cherishing every moment. Coming from South Florida, most of my friends thought I was crazy when I decided to go to a school so far away and so cold. But when I learned of all the great alumni who have graduated from U of M, it made me realize that I wanted to add my name to such an inspiring network of innovators.

While I'm unsure of my specific career, I'm sure I'm on the right path because I have never been so energized to attend 8:30 a.m. accounting lectures or so happy when my Excel sheet solves without errors or so excited to share my ideas with peers.

Your grant means so much to my family, especially now as we help my grandparents cope with the aftermath of Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico. All year I will remind myself of your generosity, and I hope to someday pay it forward to a Michigan undergraduate as well.

READ A SECOND LETTER FROM THAIS ON THE FOLLOWING PAGE.

I'd like to thank you so much for continuing to support me along my journey at the University of Michigan. As I begin a semester filled with internship interviews, integrated coursework, and a busy practice schedule, this grant alleviates a significant amount of stress for me and my family.

I'm so proud to be part of such an incredible community, and I'm especially proud to be connected to you in some way. I read about your donation to the Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center, and it's inspiring to witness the impact your commitment will have on so many lives.

Your grant means so much to my family. It inspires me to apply myself diligently so hopefully I will be able to reciprocate your generosity onto others someday. Thank you, and forever Go Blue!

Tomas Grigera BBA 1999 I want to thank you for selecting me as this year's recipient of the Richard and Susan Rogel Scholarship. This award will greatly assist me in covering my academic expenses. After graduation I will begin working as a consultant for the Financial Advisory Service group of Pricewaterhouse-Coopers in New York City. I look forward to thanking you both personally at the awards banquet.

Myles Hawkins BBA 2018 First and foremost, I am honored to have received the Richard and Susan Rogel Scholarship provided by you through the Stephen M. Ross School of Business.

My name is Myles Hawkins and I am now a sophomore at the University of Michigan. I grew up practically my entire life in a city outside of Dallas named Plano, Texas. During the second half of my freshman year in high school, my mother's job was transferred to the Detroit area and that is when I got my first taste of the University of Michigan's campus, its prestige and absolute beauty. Although immediately after that school year my family returned to Texas, I never forgot the school and my desire to attend it, to belong among the leaders and best. During my senior year of high school I of course applied to Michigan; however, I did not expect to be able to attend due to the increasing cost of attendance for out-of-state students. Fortunately because of a host of generous alumni such as yourselves, I have been able not only to attend the school of my dreams, but to achieve every goal I have had thus far such as getting into the College of Literature, Science & the Arts' Honors College my freshman year and being offered admission into the Ross School of Business preceding my sophomore year. I cannot fully express how thankful and blessed I have been due to the philanthropy of Michigan's alumni network, which has strived to promote the dreams of many current students like myself.

By continuing my studies at the business school, I hope to carry the torch of many former Michigan students, creating a success story of my own. An education is, in my opinion, one of the greatest things a person can obtain in life, and I will continue to relish mine as I navigate through my next three years on campus.

As I close this letter, I again wish to thank you for believing in the dreams of students and in turn believing in the dreams of the generations to come. I am privileged to have been granted this scholarship in your name and in return, I will not let it be taken for granted or in vain.

READ TWO MORE LETTERS FROM MYLES ON THE FOLLOWING PAGE.

My name is Myles Hawkins and I am now a junior at the Stephen M. Ross School of Business. Last year I received this wonderful scholarship on your behalf, helping to produce what I consider to be the greatest school year I've ever had. I had always known that education was important to a person's well-being, but during my sophomore year, I truly felt and understood what that meant. I was able to discover and define my passion for marketing by taking classes that aligned with my goals and visions for my future. I met inspiring peers, faculty, and business leaders who helped me mold and challenge my viewpoints. And by using my knowledge acquired from school, I was even able to land an amazing marketing internship last summer. I firmly believe none of what happened would have been possible without the generous gift you both granted to me. Thus, as a new year of discoveries and stories begins, I am again honored to receive the Richard and Susan Rogel Scholarship.

This scholarship has helped to remove a financial burden on my family as my mother transitions between jobs and my father is financially taking care of my siblings and I alone. Your donation serves as a reminder to me that despite difficult obstacles in the way, I should not give up on my academic goals and future aspirations. It serves to remind me that when it seems like no one cares about a person's hard work and effort that someone always does. I cannot thank you both enough for being willing to take a chance on me so that I may see my dreams and aspirations come to fruition.

Again, I want to thank you for believing in me, and I hope to continue in impressing you both. _____________________________ I hope this letter finds you well. I cannot express enough how thankful I am for the scholarships I have received from you over the last three years. Your support has enabled me to better myself academically and has granted me access to a world of opportunities and allowed me to give back and help others at the Ross School of Business. I am forever grateful.

Over the last year, I have been able to learn more about myself academically and personally. Junior year was a challenging time for me--classes often collided with recruiting commitments and my mother was going through a tough time finding a job--but knowing there wouldn't be financial difficulties to worry about made it much more manageable. I remained strong and committed and was able to land a marketing position at Intel in Santa Clara, California.

As I close, I want to thank you both for helping me to make my time here at Ross and at the University of Michigan an amazing time. I have collected a priceless amount of knowledge, relationships, and experiences in my time here in Ann Arbor and cannot leave without showing my appreciation to all those who have made it possible. As I move on into the real world, I hope that I am one day able to do the same as you both have done over the last 20 years and grant other students the ability to have more opportunities than I have.

Raul Hernandez BBA 2017 I am Raul Hernandez, a current BBA sophomore at the Ross School of Business concentrating in accounting and finance. Trust me, you have no idea what receiving this scholarship meant to me.

My dad is a CPA so ever since I was born I have been surrounded by the business world, and little by little I have fallen in love with it so I decided to pursue a career in business. I decided to go to Michigan because I knew I could get the top-quality education I want at Ross. I was born and raised in Puerto Rico so paying for out-of-state tuition has always been a tough challenge.

I started to worry about how I was going to pay for it. As soon as I started to worry, I suffered from an accident playing basketball--I had over seven fractures on my nose, and I needed to go through surgery in order for my nose to heal correctly. It just went from bad to worse! A day after my accident I looked through my emails and saw that I had received a scholarship and all of a sudden I felt extreme relief. I could not believe I was actually receiving a scholarship when I needed it the most. As soon as I realized I was not dreaming I called my dad to tell him the good news. He felt so happy that I could hear his voice breaking down as if he was about to cry!

A few days after, I received a call from Ernst & Young offering me an internship position at their Chicago office for the summer of 2015. My worries were turned upside down and had become extreme happiness. I can see how God is looking after me. This scholarship is a miracle to me.

Thank you, Mr. and Mrs. Rogel, for becoming such an important part of my academic success.

READ TWO MORE LETTERS FROM RAUL BELOW. My name is Raul Hernandez. I am the Puerto Rican with the broken nose who you financially helped last year. It makes me so happy that you decided to be part of my academic success once again and provide me with such an amazing scholarship.

Currently, I am in my junior year pursuing my BBA degree and getting admitted into the Ross Master's of Accounting program. Your scholarship is helping me achieve my goals. I have to work a work-study job to help pay for my education, and your scholarship is allowing me to ease down on the hours so I can find more time to study. Thank you, Richard and Susan, for the scholarship and inspiring me to give back. I might not be able to help others financially right now but I love to give back to the community with other efforts like my time. _____________________________

I hope your family is well! Time truly flies by. I can't believe that in just a few months I will graduate from a school I only dreamed of going to. A few years ago, when I was applying to the University of Michigan there were a lot of people who told me I would never get in. When I got accepted, they started saying that I wouldn't survive at Michigan because I wasn't smart enough. I never pay much attention to what people think or say of me, but honestly, there were some moments during my time at college that I did start believing that I wasn't good enough. It is during those moments that your involvement with my education makes its biggest contribution. Because of your support, Richard and Susan, I know that I am capable of achieving anything I set my mind to.

Thank you. Thank you for believing in me and supporting me for the past three years. Because of your help I was able to attend and graduate from one of the most prestigious business schools in the world, intern two summers at Ernst & Young, and experience moments I will never forget. Although I am graduating, I will stay an extra year in Michigan to get my Master's in Accounting. Once again, thanks for believing in me. It had a huge impact in my life.

Benjamin Hester BBA 2019 I am a recipient of the Richard and Susan Rogel Scholarship, and I am writing to thank you deeply for your contribution to my college education. My relationship with some of my immediate family, specifically my mother, is strained at best and I have no financial support outside myself and university financial aid. As a result, at the beginning of last year I worked 20-30 hour weeks as a University of Michigan intramural officer so I could buy myself books and a laptop to use for class. What your gift means to me is that I can finally stop burning my candle at both ends and stop beating up my body so much. Going through my freshman year as a student athlete who had to work four hours a night after practice then stay awake most of the night studying so I could get into the business school was very difficult. I learned a lot about myself and certainly developed some mental toughness, but I'm very grateful that that chapter of my life is over and I can stop spreading myself so thin.

It's always been a dream of mine to be on your side of our relationship. To be the accomplished, polished, and generous businessperson reaching back a hand to help someone else get to where I am. The simple fact of life is that very few people get to where they are all by themselves, and everybody needs help sometimes. I say all this to say that I'm writing this letter not just for me, but for every life, heart, and soul that I am able to impact because of your help. This letter comes from that future Ross student that I extend an internship offer to. This letter comes from the future recipients of the Benjamin Hester Scholarship. And most importantly to me, this letter comes from my future wife and children who will have everything they could ever want in the world and more. What I want to make clear is that I understand success is measured by what I accomplish for myself, but my legacy is measured by what I am able to do for others. My goals are legacy based, and the personal success I will achieve as a result of the terrific education I'm receiving is just a tool to help me get there. In conclusion, I want to thank you profusely for your gift to me and reassure you that your generosity doesn't end with me. This one gift will go farther and touch more people than you ever could have imagined. So thank you from me, and thank you from all the people you've given me the ability to help.

READ TWO MORE LETTERS FROM BENJAMIN ON THE FOLLOWING PAGE.

To start I just really want to thank you for what you have done for me. Your generosity has made a huge impact on my life and I appreciate you both so much. My mother sleeps easier at night knowing that college is for the most part not a concern, and for that I'm forever grateful.

Currently I'm pursuing my interest in government and politics by seeking an internship as a staffer in Washington, DC. I've been in contact with Senator Stabenow's team, and it looks like that is going to be my landing spot for next summer. I'm very excited about exploring my passion for public policy in a real-life setting and finding out if this career path is for me.

If you recall I'm also a member of the track and field team, which is going increasingly well and I'm very excited about it. The team really looks poised to win the Big Ten Championship and it appears that I'm going to be a big part of that.

This year has been great to me in all areas and I'm excited to continue working hard and seeing what the future holds for me. You have been a part of all of these things in a very large way, and I hope you're excited about what I'm going to be able to continue to accomplish with your help. Thank you so much for the scholarship that you've given me, and I look forward to making you proud that I have it every single day. _____________________________ The last four years of my life have been the most fun and formative of my entire life. I came to Ann Arbor as a wide-eyed 18year-old and I'm excited that I'll be leaving next spring as a proud Michigan man. Your generosity and support is a huge reason why I'll be walking across that stage at the Big House and I can't thank you enough for it. It feels surreal to even be writing my final thank-you letter to you, because it still feels like I just got here. Throughout all the long days and sleepless nights, I genuinely thought college would just go on forever. And now that I'm nearing the peak of the mountain I've never felt more happy and terrified in my entire life, but I know it's time for me to leave the nest.

I'm still not 100% sure of what my future holds, but I know that I feel a sense of obligation to live as hard as I can without fear or regrets. I'm going to take chances and try things and probably fail sometimes. However, because of the lessons I've learned and the battles that I've won during my time here I know that I'll eventually prevail. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to turn into who I was meant to be, and I only hope that someday I can give a future wide-eyed 18-year-old the same gift that you've given me. Thank you so much more than I could ever say.

Hyemin Lee BBA 2014 Greetings again! My name is Hyemin Lee and I am a student at the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan. Additionally, I am a third-year recipient of the Richard and Susan Rogel Scholarship.

I want to express my gratitude again as I once again have the opportunity to attend the university, furthermore, the renowned business school. With your support and contribution, I am able to study to the fullest without worrying about my family's well-being in Chicago. They have a strong belief that I would be doing well academically, and I am so glad that I could lessen their concerns a little. I have always felt guilty and uncomfortable coming to the University of Michigan because of its out-of-state tuition; however, because of your thoughtful involvement in students' lives like mine, I know I made a decision I will not regret and can move forward with my goals and dreams. On behalf of the rest of my family members, I would like to thank you for your miraculous support that determined the direction of my life and academic career at Michigan and in the future.

Your encouragement and also the expectation through the scholarship will push me to continue to work my best. I know in the future that I will work towards providing support to students and others in a similar situation just like you have done. Thank you once again!

Taylor Major BBA 2012

Jonathan Mattos BBA 2020

I am honored to be one of the recipients of the Richard and Susan Rogel Scholarship. Because of your generous support, I am able to better afford the expenses that my college education has presented.

I am sincerely honored to have been selected as a recipient of the Richard and Susan Rogel Scholarship.

Thank you so much for your generosity, which has allowed me to take full advantage of my education here at the University of Michigan. I am from Roswell, Georgia, and am exceptionally proud to call myself a Wolverine!

With only my mother supporting me financially, this scholarship has tremendously helped out my financial condition. I am glad to have the opportunity to thank you personally for your generosity. Without scholarship patrons like you, it would be nearly impossible for students like me to attend the University of Michigan.

Once again, I want to express my sincerest thanks for your continued generosity.

This scholarship truly means a lot to me and will enable me to study abroad my junior year if I choose to do so. I am most interested in South American and European countries, namely Spain, Italy, Chile, and Argentina, but I am also considering Southeastern Asia due to the great feedback I have heard from Ross students who participated in that particular trip.

As I continue my education at the University of Michigan, I will reflect on this incredible gift. I hope that I can one day provide resources to students so that they too are able to fulfill their collegiate and long-term goals.

Patrick Merfert BBA 2006 I am a senior at the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan. As a recent recipient of the Richard and Susan Rogel Scholarship, I would like to express my utmost gratitude for your generosity.

I am extremely grateful to be a recipient of this award. By alleviating the financial stress that both my family and I have endured, the award will effectively allow me to have a greater focus on my studies, which in turn will promote future successes.

I assure you that I am an appropriate recipient in all aspects. While maintaining a strong academic record at the University of Michigan, I too have a passion for serving the community.

Your acts of kindness are truly extraordinary, and this scholarship is not an exception. I am moved to see your vast dedication to education and the community. You should feel proud to know that your actions positively impact the lives of many people.

I feel honored both to be awarded the Richard and Susan Rogel Scholarship and to recognize your exemplary support and commitment to the Ross School of Business. Once again, I thank you for your generosity.

Nicholas Moeller BBA 2015 EMPLOYER/BUSINESS: Amazon TITLE: Financial Analyst CAREER JOURNEY: I started my professional career in sales and trading with RBS. I completed an internship with RBS during the summer before my senior year and joined full time after graduation. After a year at RBS, I changed industries and began working at Amazon. I still work in finance using many of the skills I learned at Ross, and I'm very happy in my current role in Seattle, WA. FAVORITE BBA MEMORY: I took part in a competition senior year, sponsored by Ross, which involved a simulation of running an airline company. Our team was responsible for controlling all of the inputs such as fare pricing, route selection, levels of service, etc. The simulation translated our decisions into financial results, and at the end of the competition our team finished tied for first place. I enjoyed working on a project with my friends using a comprehensive set of skills from our BBA curriculum.

HOW I GIVE BACK: I volunteer with a non-profit called Be2Live as a leader on a service trip every year. We travel to La Mision, Mexico, where we spend a week working in the community in areas like construction and community service. I've been on nine trips so far and plan to continue serving for the foreseeable future. My favorite part of the trip is that we return to the same town each year, where we can continue to foster relationships with members of the community and see the direct results of our partnerships with different local organizations throughout the years.

DEAR MR. AND MRS. ROGEL: I am extremely thankful to the Rogels for the scholarship I received during my time on campus. Their support was a direct investment in my education and career, and I'm deeply appreciative of their support. I was fortunate enough to meet the Rogels during one of their visits to Ross, and I really enjoyed getting to know them more personally.

READ A SECOND LETTER FROM NICHOLAS ON THE FOLLOWING TWO PAGES.

I am writing to express my sincerest gratitude for the scholarship I have been awarded in your honor. It was amazing to receive an award such as this. I know that personally, you have accomplished your ultimate goal of "giving until it feels good," and I hope you both "feel good" as well. Your generosity has made a serious impact on both my family and me, and I cannot thank you enough.

This scholarship has eased a burden in my life as well as my family's. My father recently passed away, and as a result my mother has taken on many responsibilities. Because of this scholarship, I can confidently say that one of these responsibilities has been alleviated. Peace of mind "feels good" as well. Not only does the scholarship offer peace of mind, but it offers inspiration. It is this kind of philanthropy that fuels my drive for success in both my studies and my extracurricular activities.

The implications of this award in my life are far-reaching. The money I received from the scholarship will allow me to focus more on other important financial issues such as saving money for the community service trip I participate in every summer. The service trip is one of the most valuable and rewarding experiences I have had the opportunity to be a part of. It is costly to volunteer, and it will be great to be able to start saving money now. I am glad that this financial requirement is now also less of a concern.

In these many facets of life, I am grateful to focus on the things I am paying for instead of the financial obligations. Although they are valid concerns, at times they can consume too much focus and worry within my family and my own everyday life. I can't stress enough the good feeling you have brought to us, especially at such a turbulent time. Thank you both, once again, for all that you have done and continue to do.

Alais Murillo BBA 2021 Being a Rogel Scholar is an immense honor; it has given me the opportunity to pursue my passions for business and entrepreneurship while alleviating a financial burden. Susan and Richard Rogel have left their mark of generosity and devotion on this university, and I strive to do the same in my future.

READ MORE FROM ALAIS ON THE FOLLOWING PAGE.

First off, I would like to express my extreme gratitude to the both of you for providing me the opportunity to receive the Richard and Susan Rogel Scholarship. I would like to assure you that this generous scholarship is going to good use. My name is Alais Murillo, and I am a sophomore BBA pre-admit from Pinckney, Michigan. I am the first in my family to go to college, but I have been a Wolverine from birth.

This scholarship means so much not just to me, but to my family as well. It will give me the opportunity to focus on my studies and my career aspirations throughout my second year at the University of Michigan. Once again, I cannot thank you both enough for your generosity. Go Blue!

FAVORITE BBA MEMORY: So far my favorite experience has been joining the team of students and faculty who are beginning to build out the Center for Value Chain Innovation.

HOW I GIVE BACK: This past summer I interned at Livingston County United Way on their Day of Caring team. Through this position, I was able to help secure and match over 1,000 volunteers with 130 worksites in need of community members.

DEAR MR. AND MRS. ROGEL: I cannot thank you enough for your generous contribution to my education. Because of the financial funding you have provided me, I've been able to pursue my BBA and extracurriculars without having to worry about how I was going to pay for my next semester at Michigan. My time here so far at Ross has been unbelievable, and I'm so excited for what the next two years have in store for me. I would love to be able to thank you both and express my gratitude in person if you are ever back in the Ann Arbor area.

Anoosh Nisar BBA 2014 I am one of those fortunate students who have received your help during my three years at the Stephen M. Ross School of Business. I would like to take this opportunity to thank you from the bottom of my heart for providing me with the means to be educated at one of the most prestigious universities in the world.

I would like to tell you a little bit about my background. My family moved to Pakistan from New Jersey when I was a child because my grandmother had a brain tumor, and two years before I was to come to college, my father lost his job. As you can imagine, it was very hard for my father to save for a college education in the United States working in an economy where one dollar was about a hundred rupees. However, with the aid of the U.S. government, the University of Michigan, and the Richard and Susan Rogel Scholarship, I was able to attend this great institution.

I cannot thank you enough for helping my family and me through these years and allowing me to be where I am today. Being a scholarship recipient, I aspire to work as hard as possible to be able to provide, like you have, to another student like me.

I would also like you to know that I have great aspirations to make a positive difference in this world, and it is because of the help I have received that I am so determined to make this change. Once again, I truly appreciate the help you have provided to students like me.

Luis Orozco BBA 2020 EMPLOYER/BUSINESS: PricewaterhouseCoopers TITLE: Advance Management Consulting Intern HOW I GIVE BACK: I have been affiliated with Rotary International since I joined Interact Club over five years ago.

Interact provided me with a way to serve the local area while making meaningful connections with peers, adults, and locals. This continued on with my acceptance to the University of Michigan as I joined the university's Rotaract Club, the college level of Rotary. With Rotaract, I have logged over 100 hours of community service throughout my two years of involvement (ongoing to a third year). The type of service varied from volunteering at a Detroit urban farm to volunteering at a local children's science center in Ann Arbor, but two standout service opportunities are my 2017 and 2018 alternative spring breaks.

DEAR MR. AND MRS. ROGEL: Thank you for enabling my journey. I have met so many amazing people, learned so much, and been/worked in places I would have never imagined being in. I cannot be more grateful that I will soon be able to call myself an alum of this great university.

READ TWO LETTERS FROM LUIS BELOW. I am at a loss for words as how to begin thanking you both for providing me with this scholarship. My road to Michigan and Ross was one with many bumps, the majority of which stemmed from the fact that I grew up in a single-parent household. I lived with only mother growing up and she did not receive a college education, which made the college application process and transition more difficult. At the heart of the majority of these bumps were financial concerns. My mom always loved and supported me in continuing my education but we both knew her wallet could not match her heart. We managed to complete my freshman year without taking out any loans due to the fact that my mother had some money saved up, but that account was shrinking fast and paying for my next three years became more doubtful.

Part of my financial aid package my freshman year here at Michigan included work study. As I began to look for a job this semester, I realized I was not granted a work-study award for this academic year. Confused, I went to the Office of Financial Aid to have them explain. There, I was told that I no longer qualified or needed the work study because of the generous scholarship you both awarded me.

Without having the worry of needing a job to finance my education, I have been able to return my focus to my studies, which is incredibly helpful as I am pursuing two minors, one in German and one in social work. I hope to go into consulting, but particularly for non-profits or other social-impact-focused organizations. I have just recently been admitted to a group here on campus called "Detroit Revitalization & Business Initiative," where student groups of BBAs and MBAs are tasked with consulting with a Detroit organization. Being a sophomore, I will have much to learn and experience but I am excited to see what the future holds in store for me. Thank you both for enabling me on my journey, and I hope I too will one day be able to serve the community just as you both have done.

_____________________________ I cannot thank you enough for providing me with continual support in the form of this scholarship. What I have been able to achieve at Ross would have seemed like a fairy tale to myself and my family a couple of years ago. My family always taught me that if I constantly gave it my all that everything would work out for me. Thank you, thank you, thank you for being part of what has enabled me to continue to give my all to my academics and my career.

As I am now entering my junior year, I have so many plans for my remaining time here at Michigan. It is unbelievable to me that I only have two years left at this university. Halfway there. I have grown so much in the two years here, and I cannot wait to see the kind of person I am upon graduation. All the people I will meet, all the things I will learn, and all the places I will see in the coming future excites me. None of this would be possible without your generous aid. It has been a sincere honor to receive your aid, and I can only hope that I will be able to pay it forward after graduation.

Once again, thank you so much. Cannot imagine where I would be if it was not for your help.

Gerard Palacios BBA 2004 EMPLOYER/BUSINESS: Numerator TITLE: Account Director CAREER JOURNEY: After graduating, I spent eight years at Nestle in a variety of sales and brand roles selling everything from candy to pizza; it was a great experience!

From there, I worked at Google for six years and had an amazing time growing our YouTube business. Now, I'm at a new small startup company called Numerator where we're disrupting the market research industry with the most complete, accurate view of all omnichannel shopping!

FAVORITE BBA MEMORY: Presenting my senior thesis in the second semester of senior year (Prof. Siedel's class).

HOW I GIVE BACK: I am a guest lecturer at Loyola (Chicago) undergrad business school where I share my experiences in the marketing industry.

DEAR MR. AND MRS. ROGEL: THANK YOU SO MUCH! Your generosity allowed me to attend one of the best business schools around. My BBA years were some of the best of my life and I am so thankful for your generous gifts.

Ari Papir BBA 2011 I want to take this opportunity to express my sincere appreciation and gratitude for the generous scholarship you have bestowed on me. Thus far, my educational experience has been extraordinary and enlightening, and I am continuously grateful for the opportunity I have been given to study and grow here. As a result of your largesse, I am now able to commit the majority of my time to my studies. During this precarious economic environment, I consider it a unique privilege.

Thank you once again for recognizing the tremendous value of a Ross education and for allowing me to be the beneficiary of your kindness.

Melissa Rutzen BBA 2014 I am writing to express my deepest thanks for your scholarship gift. As part of a family struggling to provide two children with a quality education in the wake of an unemployment challenge, I simply cannot tell you how much of a positive impact this gift has had on my family. Your gift has relieved part of the burden of the cost of my education on my family, and I am confident that the Ross School of Business will prepare me to pursue meaningful career opportunities that will, in the future, allow me to give back to a community that has given so much to me. Thank you again, and Go Blue!

READ MORE FROM MELISSA ON THE FOLLOWING TWO PAGES.

I'm writing to extend a sincere thank you for your continued generosity demonstrated through the Rogel Scholarship fund. As a senior and third-year recipient of this award, I simply cannot convey how grateful I am for your continued commitment to supporting my education.

As the youngest of three daughters, I was left in a tough spot when deciding where to attend college. My father worked in the home building products industry when the economic crisis of 2008 erupted, and he lost his job and the opportunity to excel in the only industry he had ever known. My older sister was already attending a Big Ten school, and it just didn't seem fair to commit to a school such as Michigan; it didn't seem fair to put my family further in debt. Despite this, my father never stopped encouraging me to attend the best university that I possibly could. When I was accepted to the University of Michigan, I had a real conversation with my parents about the financial implications. It would be tough and my parents knew it, but they always told me to "have faith" that everything would work out for the best. We would get through it.

We simply could not have gotten through it without the extreme generosity of donors like you. You relieve a portion of the burden that my educational costs leave on my family and enable me to pursue my education without reserve both inside and outside of the classroom.

Overall, I cannot thank you enough for your generosity. You have truly made a substantial difference in my college experience, and you inspire me more than you'll ever know. I look forward to the day when I can give back all I've been given and more in scholarships to Wolverines of the future.

Thank you again, and Go Blue!

EMPLOYER/BUSINESS: Analysis Group TITLE: Associate CAREER JOURNEY: I continued on at Michigan after the BBA and obtained my Master's of Accounting degree, became a licensed CPA, and was nominated and selected to participate in the one-year Postgraduate Technical Assistant program at the Financial Accounting Standards Board. The FASB program was an incredible opportunity that opened SO many doors for me. Following that one-year program at the FASB I joined Analysis Group, which is an economic consulting and litigation support firm. I have been with Analysis Group for two years now and am learning more than I thought possible. Also, notably, my parents and I paid off ALL of my remaining student loans by 2017, which was an incredible relief, and something that couldn't have happened without the generosity of the Rogels.

FAVORITE BBA MEMORY: I will never forget my very last class of my BBA career. I sat in the classroom for another few minutes after class ended with the friends and classmates with whom I had taken all of my core business classes over the previous three years. We laughed and cried about all that we had experienced in those three years and took one last photo before heading off to graduate and start our careers. It was so surreal to take in that moment and realize how much we had grown as a group in that time. Many of us are still good friends, and they are all doing amazing things.

HOW I GIVE BACK: I've been volunteering through the Chicago Cares organization and am a volunteer at a humane society in downtown Chicago. My firm also does a significant amount of pro bono work for various local non-profit organizations.

DEAR MR. AND MRS. ROGEL: No number of thank-you letters will adequately convey the depth of the extent to which you've changed the lives of so many students. Your generosity truly moved me as a student and inspires me as a future donor to the University of Michigan. Thank you for helping to provide me with the best gift I'll ever receive--a world-class education.

Komal Sankla BBA 2017 EMPLOYER/BUSINESS: The Blackstone Group TITLE: Analyst CAREER JOURNEY: I graduated from Michigan in May 2017. I took a three-week trip to Thailand and Vietnam that summer before moving into my first apartment in New York City. Since June '17 I have been in the Real Estate group at Blackstone. My role is on the investment team for the Real Estate Debt Strategies group. We finance real estate assets and companies as well as invest in securities through various investment strategies. It has been a great experience to date, and I have had a lot of personal and professional growth since graduating.

FAVORITE BBA MEMORY: The Big House. New York City is home to millions of people but nothing is quite like being surrounded by 107,000 people and cheering along with those who have now become my lifelong friends.

HOW I GIVE BACK: I am a mentor for SEO Scholars. SEO Scholars is a free, eight-year program that successfully educates and mentors underserved public high school students to and through college. SEO Scholars creates a more equitable society by closing the academic and opportunity gap for motivated young people. As a mentor I guide an SEO scholar through this journey as we meet on SEO Saturdays for several hours twice a month.

DEAR MR. AND MRS. ROGEL: Richard and Susan, hopefully you remember receiving my letters when I was a student at Michigan.

Thank you again for your generous donation. Being a student at Michigan was an incredible experience, and I have been able to apply so much of what I learned on campus to my professional career. Your generosity is much appreciated, and I hope you are aware of the impact you have on young motivated people.

READ MORE FROM KOMAL ON THIS AND THE FOLLOWING PAGE. I am incredibly thankful and honored to be awarded the Richard and Susan Rogel Scholarship. My family and I are so thankful for your support. I personally am strongly affected by this scholarship because I understand the great efforts my family is making so that I can attend Ross. Receiving this scholarship has eased a lot of the concern I feel daily as the costs of college start to build up.

I chose Michigan because I fell in love with the campus when I visited. Additionally, the school spirit I get to be part of as a Wolverine is unmatched by any other school I have ever visited. I am currently in my first semester at Ross and absolutely love it! The classes I am taking are preparing me to be successful beyond the walls of Ross. I am truly thankful for this scholarship because it is helping me pursue my passions as a professional and individual. Thank you for your continued support of Ross students like myself. We truly appreciate your contributions.

Thank you so much for selecting me as a Rogel Scholar! Your support throughout my time here at Ross has been incredibly impactful for me. My family and I are grateful for your support of my academic endeavors at Michigan.

Here at Ross I have taken on leadership roles to help guide the underclassmen who are in the same shoes I was in not too long ago. As vice-president of outreach I am planning a community service event for Michigan Business Women to raise awareness of the challenges women face in the workplace. As an executive board member of the BBA Finance Club I have helped plan a trip to Chicago for our members so they can meet with companies ahead of fall recruiting.

This past year has been full of meaningful learning experiences, and your support has definitely played a part! I am truly grateful for the support you have shown me since the beginning of my time at Ross. I hope my dedication to developing both academically and professionally is an indicator of how appreciative I am of the scholarship and the opportunities it has allowed me to pursue. _____________________________ Thank you so much for your generosity throughout my entire academic experience at Ross. I am incredibly humbled to be a Rogel recipient for three years now.

I spent this past summer at Goldman Sachs in their investment banking division. I learned a lot about what it's like to be a business professional, and this internship definitely cemented my interest in finance as well. Being a student at Ross has been an incredible experience, but I am also happy to share that I will be joining The Blackstone Group as an analyst in New York City upon graduating this upcoming April.

On campus I have taken on a couple of leadership roles as well. I am president of the Michigan Business Women and am so excited to lead our wonderful board as we put together mentorship, professional development, and social events for women at Ross throughout this academic year. I also sit on the boards of the Global Investment Club and Finance Club. Seeing alumni like you give back to students makes me give back to my clubs through mentorship. I am definitely eager to give back to my club members as they think about their own professional careers moving forward.

Beyond this, I am excited to see what else my senior year has in store. Your generous support has allowed me to be on track to graduate college with no student loans. I am truly thankful for your support and hope that you'll consider my hard work both in school, with clubs, and professionally as a way for me to show you my sincere thanks for being chosen as a Rogel recipient.

Daniel Savakus BBA 2017

Agustin Scriven BBA 2020

I am writing today to express my sincere gratitude for the generous financial donation you have made to me. Paying for my education is a problem that both my family and I have made a priority. I can assure you that your gift has made a tremendous difference in our personal family finances, allowing us to breathe a sigh of relief.

My name is Agustin Scriven, a second-year college student at the University of Michigan's Stephen M. Ross School of Business and a recipient of the Richard and Susan Rogel Scholarship. I would like to express my sincere gratitude for having received this generous scholarship. This scholarship to me represents an earnest recognition of and appreciation for my efforts and accomplishments as a first-year student, both inside and outside of the classroom. As I officially begin my journey at the Ross School of Business, this scholarship will grant me the confidence to attain feats that surpass those I achieved in high school and as a Preferred Admit freshman, inciting me to pursue my goals of graduating with a high GPA and receiving a BBA with a concentration in finance from the Stephen M. Ross School of Business.

In addition to pursuing a BBA through Ross, I am also minoring in Mandarin Chinese. Looking forward, I plan to move to China after graduation. I'm not exactly sure what I want to do while I'm there, but I am confident I want to live there. As one can imagine, this goal is very difficult and there are a lot of smaller goals I must accomplish on a daily basis to make this larger goal actually happen. Given this time commitment, I cannot express how much your scholarship helps. Every minute I spend worrying less about my student loan debt is another minute I can put towards achieving this goal.

I truly cannot thank you enough for your generous gift. I genuinely hope that from this letter you know that this scholarship has gone to a student who truly values an education and respects the opportunities ahead of him.

Sebastian Seromik BBA 2007 I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for the scholarship that I have received while here at the University of Michigan Stephen M. Ross School of Business. Without the scholarship, it would not be easy for me to attend this university, and I am extremely grateful that I have the chance to do so. Your generosity is much appreciated!

Thus far, I have had a great time in the Ross School of Business. I can honestly say that this has been by far the best semester I have spent here at Michigan. All of my professors are wonderful and make the material easier to learn. The other students are all focused individuals who are striving to reach similar heights as to what I strive for. I am interested in pursuing a career in real estate, and to accomplish my objective, I am putting an emphasis on finance as a part of my BBA degree. I am in the Real Estate Club and am hoping to find an internship within that field this summer.

I would like to thank you once again for the opportunity that I have been given to attend this prestigious business school!

Thank you, and God bless you.

READ MORE FROM SEBASTIAN ON THE FOLLOWING PAGE.

EMPLOYER/BUSINESS: Corporate Properties of the Americas TITLE: Head of Strategy and Financial Planning CAREER JOURNEY: Upon graduating from U-M, I joined the Peace Corps and served in Benin, West Africa, where among other projects I built a home for children in crisis situations--the only institution providing assistance for such children in the whole region. After the Peace Corps, I founded a non-profit, Dagbe, that supports the center in Benin. I continue to serve on Dagbe's board to this day. I worked in Boston for several years and completed two master's degrees--a Master's in Theological Studies from Boston College focusing on Ethics in the Professional Life and an MBA from Yale School of Management. I now work in Monterrey, Mexico, with one of the largest industrial real estate developers in the country.

FAVORITE BBA MEMORY: My BBA experience was transformational, and some of my strongest friendships today started during my time at Ross. From sitting in my first class with my section to graduation two years later, and all of the late nights at the library, interviews, group projects, and exams in between, I have great memories from my whole time there.

HOW I GIVE BACK: I continue to serve on the board of directors of Dagbe, the non-profit that I founded to support the children's home that I built in Benin, West Africa.

DEAR MR. AND MRS. ROGEL: My experience in the Peace Corps was directly related to a feeling of gratitude for the scholarships and other opportunities that I received that allowed me to complete my degree. Midway through my senior year I stopped interviewing for post-BBA jobs because I had a profound conviction that I had received so much from so many people, Richard and Susan Rogel included, that I needed to take a couple of years to give back. I am very thankful that I made that decision as it has shaped my life and career.

Saanya Sethi BBA 2017 I would like to thank both of you for this scholarship from the bottom of my heart. As soon as I found out that I had received it, I called my parents and my mom started crying because she was so happy. This scholarship means so much to me and my family right now, and it could not have come at a better time. Being an out-of-state resident, tuition is very high for my family. We are doing all we can, but every little bit, like this scholarship, definitely helps. I was supposed to transfer to an in-state school in New Jersey to lower my education costs, but then I found out I had gotten accepted into Ross and could not pass up the opportunity.

All throughout my freshman year, I dreamed of having classes in Ross and pursuing my true passion which is business. Now I am finally here and can stay here thanks to your generous donation.

I believe that business education can be used as a tool to better our global community instead of just maximize profit.

Once again, I would like to thank you both for allowing me to continue my education at the Ross School of Business. I am forever indebted to your kindness.

READ MORE FROM SAANYA BELOW. I would like to thank you for this scholarship from the bottom of my heart. This is the second time that this scholarship has eased the tuition burden for my parents. I currently hold two jobs on campus and want to help my parents with tuition because I know they stress out a lot about me taking loans for my education. We all do what we can, but when great news like this scholarship comes along, it brightens everyone's day. I would never want someone to give up their education for financial reasons, which is why I'm so grateful for your kind donation. You are truly helping me continue my education here at the University of Michigan.

Hopefully I can use my business knowledge to one day positively impact our global community and pay this kindness to someone else as you have done to me. Once again, I would like to thank you both for allowing me to continue my education at the Ross School of Business. I am forever indebted to your kindness.

Jocelyn Shields BBA 2001 EMPLOYER/BUSINESS: JPMorgan Chase TITLE: Vice President CAREER JOURNEY: On the educational front, I have two graduate degrees. I have a JD from the University of Maryland and an MBA from Cornell University. I have been working at JPMorgan for over 12 years and have held several positions within the firm's Corporate and Investment Bank in syndicated and leveraged finance, credit risk management, and finance and business management in addition to the Office of Regulatory Affairs in the corporate sector. I have also held internships and externships at the Securities & Exchange Commission, Standard & Poor's, FINRA, and Merrill Lynch & Co. I now reside in Los Angeles and I am a vice president in JPMorgan's Commercial Bank providing oversight of several key regulations to ensure their compliance. At the firm, I'm active in campus recruiting and diversity initiatives.

READ MORE FROM JOCELYN BELOW. FAVORITE BBA MEMORY: One of my favorite memories was getting into the actual program! When I was on campus, the BBA was a two-year degree and we had to apply during our sophomore year. A friend and I were terrified that we weren't going to get in and even applied to backup schools (very risk adverse!). But I had such a HUGE sigh of relief when I got the acceptance letter. We both got in! And that was the beginning of a lifelong friendship along with others that are still in my life and network today.

HOW I GIVE BACK: At JPMorgan, I serve as a mentor in the firm's "The Fellowship Initiative," which focuses on developing local high school men of color for college and career success. I also sit on the board of the Cornell Club of Los Angeles as the business breakfast programming chair and plan speaker events on a variety of business topics. In New York, I sat on the Young Leadership Board of America Needs You, a non-profit organization focused on mentorship and career development for first-generation college students.

DEAR MR. AND MRS. ROGEL: THANK YOU. My education at Michigan was instrumental in providing a solid foundation for the rest of my career. As a first-generation college student, your scholarship truly helped that dream become reality for me. I actually remember meeting both of you at the scholarship dinner. It was my first time at that type of event on campus, so I didn't know what to expect. But I remember you being very warm and open. I applaud you for all that you have given to U-M and the impact that you have made on so many lives.

Morgan Solomon BBA 2011 I would like to thank you for the wonderful gift of the monetary scholarship awarded to me to attend the Ross School of Business. I am very appreciative and thankful to have been chosen. I am currently a second-semester sophomore at the University of Michigan and a first-year BBA student. I am pursuing a minor in Native American studies. I hope to spend my upcoming summer working in New York City and exploring my interests. This scholarship has given me the opportunity to pursue my dreams. Once again, thank you for giving me this wonderful opportunity. I am truly grateful.

READ A SECOND LETTER FROM MORGAN BELOW. As I am nearing my last semester here at the University of Michigan, I have had time to reflect on the wonderful opportunity you have bestowed with your generous scholarship. It means a lot to me to have been fortunate enough to receive this scholarship over the past two years, allowing me the opportunity to study in the prestigious Ross School of Business.

Due to my experiences and education, as well as the vast alumni network and corporate recruiting available through Ross, I have been able to get my foot in the door at Bloomingdale's. After an amazing summer internship in NYC at Bloomingdale's buying offices, I was extended a full-time offer, which I happily accepted. This was all made possible because of you, and for that I am thoroughly grateful. Thank you again for your help throughout the years.

Jason Sparks BBA 2002 I am writing this letter to express my sincere gratitude for being a recipient of the Richard and Susan Rogel Scholarship for the 2000-2001 academic year. As an out-ofstate and minority student, funding for college is difficult to find. I have received a few small scholarships, but for the most part my parents are helping me attend college by taking large loans out. I already plan on paying them back for everything they've done for me, but the best I can do right now is work to receive any scholarships that will help lessen the financial burden. The Richard and Susan Rogel Scholarship is the largest scholarship I have received and it makes a huge difference, especially for this year in particular. My parents were unable to get enough funding to cover my tuition, and I was about $4,700 short. I was in the process of taking out a personal loan when I received the notification for the scholarship. I can't describe the excitement that came over me and especially my mother when I told her the news. This scholarship means a great deal to my family and myself; you have made a difference in my education. As I always have, I will continue to work hard and make the most of my education at the University of Michigan. Thank you very much.

Varun Sridhar BBA 2017 I just wanted to take the time to express my gratitude in regards to the scholarship that was given to me in your names. It means so much to me that there are former students at the University of Michigan who are looking out for the current students so long after they have graduated. Also, as an out-of-state student, the cost of attending the University of Michigan is very expensive. With the added cost of being a student at the business school, it was becoming nearly impossible for my family to carry this financial burden. Paying for college in this country has become a real struggle for many families, and the money you awarded saved me a good amount of stress. My family was elated to hear the news and glad to see that attending the business school comes with specific scholarship opportunities as well as the ability to connect with members of the business community with such experience and success.

This scholarship is more than just a monetary subsidy of my tuition. This scholarship shows me that I made enough of an impact in my academic career that I convinced a few very successful people to believe in me. As a student only beginning to enter the business world, the fact that I have the support and belief from the two of you far surpasses any monetary award. Giving me the added comfort and confidence I need to move forward in my academic and post-academic life is more than I could ever ask for. For that reason, along with countless others, I sincerely thank both of you.

Sean Stravitz BBA 2006 EMPLOYER/BUSINESS: Point72 Asset Management TITLE: Trader CAREER JOURNEY: I joined Point72 (formerly SAC Capital) straight out of Ross, starting in the back office as an operations analyst. That was in 2006. Back then, there was a pretty clear path for people trying to move to the front office, and I worked my way up to the middle office covering futures for our macro PMs. Over that time I got my CFA and taught myself how to code, which ultimately landed me a job as a trading assistant on the Internal Alpha Capture team. I've been there happily ever since and am now the head trader managing the firm's central book.

FAVORITE BBA MEMORY: Getting to meet Jim Cramer during the Mad Money Back to School Tour at the League!

DEAR MR. AND MRS. ROGEL: Thank you so much for the generosity you've shown me and many others like me. Your gift went a long way--especially during the early stages of my career--and I owe a lot of my success to you both. Best wishes, and Go Blue!

READ LETTERS FROM SEAN, AND FROM HIS MOTHER, BELOW. As a recipient of the Richard and Susan Rogel Scholarship, I would like to express my true appreciation for your contribution to the Stephen M. Ross School of Business.

Allow me to provide you with a portrait to go along with my name. I was raised in Suffern, a city in the suburbs of New York. My interest in business was fostered at a young age by my parents, each of whom owned their own business. As I entered high school, I joined DECA, a national association of marketing students. In two consecutive years, I qualified at the state-level competitions and attended national conferences in Orlando, FL, and Louisville, KY. I have always known that I wanted to pursue business and worked hard to gain admission to the Stephen M. Ross School of Business. Through hard work and dedication, I graduated in the top 1% of my high school and achieved acceptance to the University of Michigan, the first step towards reaching my goals.

As a result of the huge legal fees associated with my parents' divorce, I found my college fund depleted and was forced to take out large student loans. With your generous scholarship support, you have relieved a huge financial burden on my parents and me.

Personally, words alone cannot express my deepest gratitude for your contribution but I hope that my future actions will. _____________________________ It is difficult to put into words the joy I felt when I learned last Tuesday that my son, Sean Stravitz, was awarded the Richard and Susan Rogel Scholarship in the amount of $10,000 for the 2004-2005 academic year. On that day I was a frazzled, stressed accountant going through the last days of tax season who was suddenly energized by a phone call from my son giving me the good news. Your generosity has touched us deeply. Being a divorced mother saddled with rheumatoid arthritis, the scholarship will be a tremendous help to both of us in financing his college education this year.

My son's education is my priority as a parent as it was for mine. I come from a country where education was funded by parents and families. Despite my limited resources, my objective has always been for Sean to acquire the best possible college education to back him up in the business world. Your generosity and the Stephen M. Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan will make this goal come true.

Someday as Sean finds his niche in the business world, I am hopeful that the support he received from you in his time of need will infuse in him the same desire to assist other students in need of financial help.

Sincerely yours, Lourdes A. Sy

Irwin Tejeda BBA 2015 EMPLOYER/BUSINESS: Goldman Sachs/Investment Banking Division TITLE: Associate CAREER JOURNEY: (1) Summered at The Carlyle Group (emerging markets) after freshman year. (2) Summered at Morgan Stanley (fixed income sales and trading) after sophomore year. (3) Summered at Goldman Sachs (investment banking) after junior year.

(4) Accepted a full-time position at Goldman Sachs after graduating.

FAVORITE BBA MEMORY: Being in a highly competitive and highly intensive environment where students had a vision for what they wanted and broke through walls every single day. It definitely prepared me for the real world where I interact with young professionals who operate at their highest levels!

HOW I GIVE BACK: I make myself available to Michigan students who wish to learn about the industry and/or my academic and professional progression. I have visited campus two to three times with Goldman Sachs and have talked to or mentored dozens of students. As it relates to community service, I aspire to be more active by joining a board where I could be more impactful on a larger level.

DEAR MR. AND MRS. ROGEL: I am extremely grateful for the boundless opportunities that my Michigan Ross degree has unlocked for me. On a daily basis, I am reminded that in some ways I was and am an outlier, given my family's socioeconomic background. There are very few students from my high school and my community who had the privilege of attending a college/university of Michigan's caliber. Your financial support gave me the ability to focus on my education and my career. It was one less thing to worry about.

READ TWO LETTERS FROM IRWIN BELOW.

I hope that this letter finds you well. I am finally in my junior year at the Stephen M. Ross School of Business and I am enjoying my coursework. Finance is by far my favorite class, which is great because it is self-assuring of what it is I want to pursue.

Like last year, my parents are ecstatic to hear that I was given the same scholarship again. It is truly a relief to know that I have less debt to pay off at the end of my undergraduate career and of course to not have to worry about negative financial surprises.

In closing, I want to thank you again (and again) for realizing my potential, positively influencing me, and actively sponsoring me. _____________________________ As a senior at the Stephen M. Ross School of Business, it is mind-blowing to look back and reflect on how far I have come throughout my time here at the university.

For the past few years, my parents have been more than enthusiastic to hear that I was given the same scholarship again. It really displays your commitment to the Ross community, and it is a trait I will embody when I am older and in the right position to do so.

Truthfully, it is a relief to know that I will owe less in loans at the end of my undergraduate career. It is really easy to say that, but to actually compare the figures side-by-side, of what they could have been versus what they are--there is a noticeable difference.

Additionally, as someone who took on three time-consuming leadership roles earlier this year, I questioned how other students are able to perform and work to pay off school. I felt overwhelmed and realized how I took not having to work for granted. That said, thank you both times infinity--both of you have provided me the flexibility to focus on my academics and my career.

In closing, I want to thank you yet again for sponsoring a first-generation college student whose goal is to give back to the community. Like sponsor, like sponsee.

Rosiris Tejeda BBA 2016 First and foremost, I would like to immensely thank you for your continuous support of the Ross School of Business community. Upon hearing of my selection for the Richard and Susan Rogel Scholarship, I was both surprised and relieved. The scholarship has helped me in so many ways and came as a blessing for me and my family.

This scholarship has not only helped me finance my time here at the University of Michigan overall, but also allowed me to be fortunate in other ways. Receiving this scholarship has allowed me to decrease the number and amount of student loans I have to take out. Upon hearing of my acceptance to Ross, I was worried about the increase in tuition and thought I was going to have to use up my maximum loan allowance and have to find a work-study job. However, to my amazement, I have taken out fewer loans this year than I had to my first year as an LS&A student. This is a huge relief because as a conscientious student, accumulating as little debt as possible is one of my goals.

Overall, being a recipient of this scholarship leaves nothing but great things to say. I am truly grateful and appreciative, and being one of the scholarship recipients has made my life even more blessed.

It not only has made my Ross experience less stressful to worry about but also has affected me positively in encompassing ways, and I sincerely thank you for that.

Mariah Thompson BBA 2021 I am writing to express my gratitude for being awarded the Richard and Susan Rogel Scholarship. I appreciate donors like you who are gracious enough to give back to those in need. I know this scholarship is meant for underrepresented minority BBA students, and I am grateful that you see the importance in giving an opportunity to minorities so that they can continue their higher education. I was working at my summer waitressing job when my parents shared the news that I had received the scholarship. I could immediately tell how appreciative they were for the scholarship, and it was definitely a "proud parent" moment. It made me even more excited to start my second year at Ross, and it further motivated me to do well again both academically and professionally.

Currently I am a BBA sophomore with a concentration in finance. I am part of an investing group on campus as well as a leadership club. I also love to give back to the community so I work with America Reads Tutoring Corps to help develop the literacy skills of elementary students in Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti, and Detroit. I was fortunate enough to go to a public school that had a plethora of resources, but many of the schools I tutor at do not.

Therefore, I feel it is necessary that I give back and make small steps to level the playing field.

Thank you again for this scholarship. It has really taken a financial burden off of me and will allow me to focus more on my studies. I hope one day after I graduate from Michigan to become a donor as well and provide scholarships for those in need.

Cassandra Pringle Turner BBA 2005 EMPLOYER/BUSINESS: University of Michigan Medical School TITLE: Research Area Specialist Intermediate FAVORITE BBA MEMORY: I was a chairperson for the BBA Formal committee, and being able to plan that event and then experience it with my fellow b-schoolers was amazing!

READ MORE FROM CASSANDRA ON THE FOLLOWING PAGE.

CAREER JOURNEY: After Ross, I worked at a strategic brand innovation consulting firm. Because it was a startup, I learned a great deal in a short period of time. After working there for a few years, I realized that I wanted to use my skills in the non-profit industry, so I returned to school for an MSW. After that, I worked at a community mental health clinic and was promoted to a mental health administration position. Then, I transitioned to a member of the executive leadership team for a county-wide Head Start/Early Head Start program. After a few years in that role, I transitioned to part-time work after having my son (3 years old) and daughter (1 year old). Last year, I returned to full-time work and am employed at U-M Medical School, which is a great fusion of my business and MSW interests. We are testing the effectiveness of a behavioral health improvement intervention and also assessing the optimal way to implement this in a real-world outpatient health clinic setting. I know that my experience at Ross helped me to add tremendous value to the places I have been employed. Since most of my work has been with economically disadvantaged populations and/or people at risk for chronic health conditions, I am grateful to say I have been able to use my skills to help make people's lives better.

HOW I GIVE BACK: I have been a Meals on Wheels volunteer since 2005. Before having my daughter, I was on the Southeast Michigan Human Trafficking Task Force and the Michigan Perinatal Mood Disorders Coalition. Since I have two young children at home, it has been hard to serve the community as much as I would like. However, as they get older, I would love to serve on a local board and do some service activities together as a family!

DEAR MR. AND MRS. ROGEL: Words cannot express the gratitude I have for receiving this scholarship. I don't know if I would have been able to attend Ross without the scholarship since I had to put myself through school. While at Ross, I worked a couple of jobs while going to school full-time. Needless to say, this was a challenge given the rigor of the program. The scholarship meant not only the opportunity to attend a world-class business program, but also pragmatically meant I could spend more time studying instead of working to pay for books, interview clothes, my apartment, or any of the countless other expenses we have as college students. So thank you, thank you, thank you!!

Sabiyah Turner BBA 2018 My name is Sabiyah Turner and I am a sophomore in the BBA program at Ross. I am a first-generation college student from Detroit, MI, and I cannot stress enough how much your scholarship has helped me and my family. I have worked extremely hard to get into Ross and maintain the grades to keep all of my scholarships. Receiving the Rogel Scholarship was unexpected, but very much needed and appreciated. I think that it is wonderful how you both are giving back to students at Ross, and I would like to thank you for being such a beneficial part of my academic career.

READ ON FOR TWO MORE LETTERS FROM SABIYAH. On behalf of myself and my family, I would like to thank you for your contribution to my education. I am currently studying business with a concentration in finance, hoping to work in sales and trading. This summer, I had the wonderful opportunity to work at Morgan Stanley in human resources where I learned so much, figured out exactly what I want for my career, and fell in love with New York City. The Rogel Scholarship has been instrumental to my college experience, and none of my summer opportunities would have been possible without your help.

Again, I would like to thank you for your contribution, and I really do admire your family's passion for giving back. I only hope that one day I am able to give back to Michigan students and make a difference in students' lives as you have in mine.

_____________________________ I want to start by saying thank you. I can't express what this scholarship has done for me and my family. As I look back on my journey through Michigan and Ross, I realize that none of this would have been possible without donors like yourself. Last year I had the wonderful opportunity to travel to Iceland and South Africa with Ross, where I studied sustainable business and business law. That experience for me was incredible and one that I would have never imagined I would be able to have. This past summer, I interned at Citigroup in New York City doing sales and trading, where I will be going back full time after graduation. This year, I am finishing up my role as president of the Black Business Undergraduate Society. We recently held our Annual Diversity Conference Career Fair where we hosted the most companies and students in BBUS history. I am extremely proud of all the accomplishments I've made in my four years at Michigan, and while excited, I am extremely sad to have to leave this place that I call home.

Thank you again for all of your generous support. I hope that your contributions will continue to positively impact students like myself for many years to come.

Ayako Ushiku BBA 2011 I was recently awarded your scholarship, and I wanted to personally thank you for your kind gift. Receiving the scholarship has motivated me to further excel in my classes and set positive examples for my peers. It has also allowed me to realize the true benefits of obtaining a high-quality education. My career goals include becoming a CPA and therefore I plan to enroll in a oneyear Master's of Accounting program after graduation. I will also intern at PricewaterhouseCoopers in New York over the summer. I will continue to work hard in the business school and in my future career. Thank you again!

Lauryn Walker BBA 2019 Being a Rogel Scholar has really been a blessing in my life. It has helped me afford my higher education, and as I approach graduation in a few months I feel so appreciative of the Rogel family.

READ TWO LETTERS FROM LAURYN ON THE FOLLOWING PAGE.

Thank you for choosing to gift me with your scholarship. I was not expecting this, and it actually made me tear up. I am a young woman born and raised in Chicago, Illinois. I come from a tight-knit family of six, including my parents and three younger sisters (all four years apart and very close), and love them more than feels capable. I take community very seriously and commit myself wholeheartedly to everything I get involved in. Lastly, I take nothing for granted because I understand the value of a dollar and know what financial burden feels like.

I am more than appreciative of your donation to me for my academic studies. I currently work three jobs on campus to make sure that my family can focus on my three younger sisters and not have to worry about me. I constantly think about how after graduation I need to be able to support myself and give back to my parents, who made countless sacrifices to put me through private school. This scholarship quite literally took a loan off my shoulders. You have helped save me a long-term debt and cannot fully fathom through this letter how grateful I am. From now on, you will be a crucial part of my collegiate experience.

The Ross School of Business has connected me with so many eye-opening resources that without scholarships and financial aid I would not have access to. Thank you for making this possible for me. _____________________________ Thank you for again gifting me with your scholarship. I truly appreciate it. I am now a senior in the Ross School of Business specializing in management & organizations and business law. I currently plan to sign a full-time contract with Accenture's Chicago office and return to my hometown. My family still lives in Chicago, and I can't imagine being away from them for another four years. I am very involved on campus and have many jobs, all of which consist of mentoring younger students in some capacity or another. I've had so many opportunities that I couldn't have predicted that I want to give back to anyone I can. I appreciate and value all that is given to me, and I want to be a light for whoever I can.

I am more than appreciative of your donation to me for my academic studies. As I get older, my understanding of financial burden deepens. I have watched my parents do everything they can to give my sisters and I the best life possible. Soon enough I will be working full time and will be able to help my family and send my parents on vacation. I look forward to being able to contribute to my household and family. I wouldn't have the opportunity to do that without the many blessings the University of Michigan has given me. You both are two of those blessings. I can't find the words to say how thankful I am. Just know I don't take this for granted at all. Not in the slightest.

John Wallick, II BBA 2001 EMPLOYER/BUSINESS: T. Rowe Price TITLE: Regional Investment Consultant CAREER JOURNEY: Upon completing undergrad, I was hired as a marketing analyst with American Express and was promoted to marketing manager. I worked in insurance sales with The MONY Group. I also held various roles with Rehmann Financial and completed CFP(R) and CFA programs. I was hired as investment leader at Genworth Financial and later as regional investment consultant at T. Rowe Price. I have attained VP of group at T. Rowe Price.

FAVORITE BBA MEMORY: The mail carrier calling me to say "come on down" when he was delivering my acceptance letter into the program.

HOW I GIVE BACK: I am in the process of pursuing a partnership with Midnight Golf of Detroit and Jalen Rose Leadership Academy.

DEAR MR. AND MRS. ROGEL: THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!

READ MORE FROM JOHN ON THE FOLLOWING PAGE.

As a recipient of the Richard and Susan Rogel Scholarship, I want to thank both of you for your generosity and commitment to aiding the educational pursuits of students at the University of Michigan Business School. It is your giving that enables a number of students to pursue a premium education that will lead them to becoming leaders in the business community and positive influences on all of society. In aiding students to achieve their educational goals, you both are also encouraging today's recipients to be tomorrow's givers. It is for this reason that I regard your generosity as representing much more than simply a financial prize.

While great emphasis has always been placed on academic achievement and post-graduation success, little is mentioned concerning one's responsibility to use his/her fortune to help others. As much as I am grateful for receiving the financial portion of this award, I gain greater satisfaction from being associated with the reputation that you two possess in the business school community. Rather than being a reputation built on professional achievements that have led to an accumulation of wealth, it rests upon the standard that the two of you have set in supporting talented undergraduates and being active with foundations such as the Detroit Institute of Arts and the Michigan Cancer Society. I hope that I will never forget the same philosophy of giving that both of you take in charitable endeavors and that I apply the same philosophy to my giving in the future.

Once again, thank you for your support in the business school community and commitment to not only academic achievement but also social responsibility. In the end, it is the latter where scholarship recipients should learn the greatest lesson. While academic achievement catapults one to a phenomenal career and financial bliss, social responsibility is where the true treasure lies in helping others achieve their potential and build a better tomorrow.

Tyler Whitaker BBA 2012 EMPLOYER/BUSINESS: Microsoft Corporation TITLE: Corporate Strategy & Development Manager CAREER JOURNEY: Since graduating U-M, I've had a rewarding career in tech with multiple promotions and growth opportunities. I began my career supporting Microsoft's federal government sales team in an operations role in addition to having a successful, albeit short, career in sales. In sales, I supported the Department of Homeland Security (FEMA, US Secret Service) as an account executive. More recently, I've transitioned to a role in corporate strategy that has opened a tremendous amount of doors for me. I wouldn't be in this position without the kindness and support of the Rogels.

Thank you so much!

FAVORITE BBA MEMORY: BBA Games!

HOW I GIVE BACK: I support multiple organizations that serve underserved youth in the DC metro area. Most recently, I've volunteered with Athletech, which aims to generate interest in STEM through athletics & technology.

DEAR MR. AND MRS. ROGEL: Thank you so much for your generous support. Your generosity has compelled me to also give back to ensure I am "lifting as I climb." Your continued selflessness is inspiring.

Joseph Young, III BBA 2001 I would like to take this time to tell you how much I truly appreciate the Richard and Susan Rogel Scholarship that you have bestowed on me. It will be very beneficial to me as I finance my final year of college at the University of Michigan Business School. As a student-athlete balancing my time between school and baseball, I have not had the option of working during the school year to pay for my college expenses; therefore, the impact of this scholarship and the degree of my appreciation are truly magnified. Once again, thank you very much for your support.

Pedro Zamora BBA 2009 As graduation approaches, I wanted to express my gratitude for the scholarship you have provided me.

Over the last three years, with your help, I have been fortunate to experience a more leisurely college career. As a non-resident, if it had not been for your scholarship, I would have had to spend more time outside of school working in order to pay for books, gas, and other expenses. I know some of my classmates at Ross have had to work multiple jobs in order to continue their education at the University of Michigan.

In addition to relieving the stress of paying for college, your donation has allowed me to spend more time with my family, which is very important to me. My younger brother, who is eight years old, would be especially grateful to you because now I am able to spend more time with him.

Receiving this scholarship has helped me see what a great advantage I was given by being able to afford all of the expenses related to obtaining my BBA. Because of your scholarship, I am motivated to help other University of Michigan students once I establish myself. You are truly a role model for me as a Ross graduate. Thank you again for your continual support of Ross students.

Qiao Zhang BBA 2014 Thank you so much for your support, as always. Your scholarship has allowed me to continue my studies without being nearly as concerned about finances. When I first read through the notification email, it felt like a huge burden had been lifted off my shoulders. My parents send their regards and thank you graciously for your aid as well.

Last year, I went through some difficult times. There were conflicts within my family and myself that preoccupied my time and attention. As a result, I decided, with the agreement of my parents, to take a semester off school and return to Beijing for a few months. While there, I spent time resolving those issues while also interning at a local company.

Fortunately, I have returned this semester to finish school. I will graduate in either spring or fall of 2014, depending on how many credits I am able to take each semester.

Once again, I truly appreciate your assistance. Your generosity both inspires and motivates me to work harder so that I can give back to my alma mater in the future as well.

Rich and Susan, On behalf of all the Rogel Scholars whose lives have been forever changed by your generosity,

THANK YOU!

Michigan Ross Development & Alumni Relations 700 East University Ave., Suite K4530 Ann Arbor, MI 48109