7 minute read
The Boeing Scholarship
The Boeing Scholarship is focused on removing financial barriers for students with demonstrated financial need in relevant disciplines. Typically offered to undergraduates, this scholarship may include a graduate level student in a discipline of interest to Boeing. These students select either a major in Business Administration or Business Information Management and are considering working in the aerospace industry.
During the 2019-2020 academic year, The Boeing Scholarship was awarded to Hrag Harboyan and Ankit Tondon, BA ‘20. Hrag is a fourth-year undergraduate student, majoring in Business Administration, with a concentration in finance. Ankit received his degree in spring 2020 in Business Administration, with an emphasis in business information systems and finance.
For the 2020-2021 academic year, The Boeing Scholarship was given to Paula Chen and Haining Zhou, a fourth-year and third-year undergraduate student, respectively. Both Paula and Haining are majoring in Business Administration and Paula plans to graduate in spring 2021.
How did The Boeing Scholarship change your career path?
The Boeing Scholarship allowed me the opportunity to research the aerospace industry as a potential career path. Before receiving this scholarship, I knew I wanted to pursue a career in corporate finance but was not sure of the industry.
How did the Merage School help you achieve your goals?
The Merage School helped me achieve my goals in many ways. UCI has some of the best professors and by taking their classes, I am able to prepare myself for a career upon graduation. The network I built at the Merage school has been a great resource and the career and academic advising benefits are very helpful for undergraduate students.
HRAG HARBOYAN
The 2019-2020 Boeing Scholarship Recipient
Tell us about your background before you became a student at the Merage School.
Prior to attending the Merage School, I went to a very small private high school in Los Angeles. As a freshman, I was unsure of what my career path would be and was very anxious about my future. Shortly after beginning my first quarter, I decided to learn more about finance. The amazing professors and career advisors assisted me in finding what my interests were and what I wanted to purse after receiving my degree.
How has this award impacted your experience at the Merage School?
Receiving this award gave me the confidence to apply for jobs that I would not have otherwise. I am truly grateful to be one of the recipients of The Boeing Scholarship.
What opportunities are you most grateful for?
I am grateful for the opportunity to attend an amazing university. I have met a lot of wonderful people throughout my four years who will continue to be a part of my life. The Paul Merage School of Business has made such a great impact on my experience that I will never forget. I cannot wait to be a UCI alumnus who will give back to the Merage School.
ANKIT TONDON, BA ‘20
The 2019-2020 Boeing Scholarship Recipient
How did The Boeing Scholarship change your career path?
Receiving The Boeing Scholarship helped reinforce the idea that aerospace companies aren’t just looking for engineering majors - they value business majors just as much.
What path have you taken post-graduation?
Due to the pandemic, I have unfortunately been let go from my current employer. I’ve been focusing my time on my family and have been assisting them however I can. I am continuing to interview with a variety of companies and hope to have a new job soon.
How did the Merage School help you achieve your goals?
The Merage School assisted me in achieving my goals through a digitally-driven business education. It was very challenging, but it required me to get out of my comfort zone and explore different business strategies. Because of this, I joined many clubs and programs that provided valuable experiences.
Tell us about your background before you became a student at the Merage School?
I was a transfer student to the UCI Paul Merage School of Business. I planned to be a computer science major until I realized that I enjoyed my business classes much more. Before the Merage School, I wasn’t involved in any programs or clubs at my previous school. I made some effort, but ultimately, I just went to class. Being a student at the Merage School really changed that for me, and I am grateful for the experiences and connections I made.
How has this award impacted your experience at the Merage School?
It reaffirmed my belief that I was on the right track and that I needed to apply myself in ways that I never thought I could. There’s a saying, “90% of life is just showing up”, and I continued pushing myself to “show up” and to be present for all opportunities that became available. This was one of those opportunities.
What opportunities are you most grateful for?
I am honestly most grateful for being accepted to The Paul Merage School of Business. I absolutely appreciated how many resources were available to students and how accessible they were to all of us. The entire experience was life changing.
PAULA CHEN
The 2020-2021 Boeing Scholarship Recipient
Dear Albert and Natalie,
My name is Paula Chen and I am one of the proud recipients of the 2020-2021 Boeing Scholarship. First and foremost, thank you so much for this generous award and for choosing to support the Merage School community!
When I was seven years old, I immigrated to the United States from Brazil. I identify as a first-generation college student and I am proud of how far I have come. Because of organizations such as Boeing, I have confidently succeeded in my educational journey thus far.
As a young child, I always admired astronauts and loved learning about space in my science classes. In addition to space, I was very curious how airplanes operated and how flying was made possible throughout the many years of research and design. The aerospace industry is fascinating and today’s modern technology is exciting. I am honored to have the privilege of receiving this award, and I strive to further my knowledge of the aerospace industry and hopefully meet a NASA astronaut one day.
For now, I have one quarter left at UCI before I begin a professional career in accounting. I am excited to graduate and adjust to life outside of college. With this generous scholarship, I feel very confident in my career choice and my achievements at the Merage School.
Once again, thank you so much for your support - it means a lot! I look forward to speaking with you and sharing our stories.
Sincerely, Paula Chen
HAINING ZHOU
The 2020-2021 Boeing Scholarship Recipient
Dear Albert and Natalie:
I am grateful and honored to be the recipient of The Boeing Scholarship during the 2020-2021 academic year at The Paul Merage School of Business. Boeing’s dedication to higher education and support of college students is commendable. I am thankful for the financial assistance that you are providing to help further my studies at UCI. Your generosity has provided opportunities that wouldn’t have been available otherwise. Receiving this award has also continued to motivate me in my academics, and in other aspects of my life.
I previously worked in a public accounting firm which helped an air transport enterprise with tax strategies. I found the financial model of an air transport enterprise to be unique and interesting, and it is my goal to become a CFO of such a company.
Thank you for providing opportunities for us at The Paul Merage School of Business.
Sincerely, Haining
BOEING SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS
2011 - 2012 RECIPIENTS
ALEXIS ALLEN SEAN BURKE KEGAN HAGEROTT JOHNSON LIU
2012 - 2013 RECIPIENTS
LAUREN CHIN MALCOLM FAN ANDREW HEINE KEVIN MORI ELIZABETH YEE
2013 - 2014 RECIPIENTS
YVONNE AMABEOKU RICHARD (YUNRUI) FAN MELANY IM
2014 - 2015 RECIPIENTS
SCOTT THOMAS HENRY KAMINI MAYA JANARDAN TRACY LAM JOSUE VILLEGAS
2015 - 2016 RECIPIENTS
MICHAEL CHI HO RYUDO HIRAYAMA REBECCA TIAN JAHNING RACHEL WOO
2016 - 2017 RECIPIENTS
RYAN DAT DUONG JOLEEN REBECCA HSU PHUNG KIM HUYNH
2017 - 2018 RECIPIENTS
KATIE (YINGXIN) XIONG ALISON HUI YAN LU
2018 - 2019 RECIPIENTS
AIMEE YUKYUNG HAN SHARON NGOC HAMY MAI
2019 - 2020 RECIPIENTS
ANKIT TONDON HRAG HARBOYAN
2020 - 2021 RECIPIENTS
