BYU Marriott School Names 2004 Hawes Scholars

Back: Brent Dykes, Nathan Furr, Brian Baker Middle: Michael Hennessy, Jason Marx, John Higginson Front: Whitney Seamons, Jessica Johnson, Melissa Randall, Gretchen Olson

PROVO, Utah — Dec 22, 2003 — The Marriott School at Brigham Young University announces ten MBA candidates as its 2004 Hawes Scholars. The honor, which carries a cash award of $10,000, is the highest distinction given to MBA students at the school.

The 2004 Marriott School Hawes Scholars are Brian Baker, of Provo, Utah; Brent Dykes, of Vancouver, British Columbia; Nathan Furr, of Boston, Mass.; Michael Hennessy, of Boston, Mass.; John Higginson, of Provo, Utah; Jessica Johnson, of Lafayette, Calif.; Jason Marx, of Hyde Park, Utah; Gretchen Olson, of Paradise, Utah; Melissa Randall, of Provo, Utah and Whitney Seamons, of New Canaan, Conn.

“Each student in the class of 2004 has contributed to the success of our MBA Program,” says James Stice, MBA program director. “However, the ten individuals who were selected as Hawes Scholars stood out because of the extraordinary contributions they have made. They were selected by their peers, faculty and the administration because of their leadership skills, the service they have provided to the MBA Program and to BYU, and their commitment to the mission of Brigham Young University.”

Nominations for the Hawes Scholars are made by students and faculty and voted on by both groups. Final selection is made by the Hawes Scholar Committee. Selection is based on academic performance, leadership maturity and a commitment to high ethical standards.

Named for successful corporate executive Rodney A. Hawes, Jr. and his wife, Beverly, the award was created in 1998 to recognize the accomplishments of graduating MBA students. The Hawes Scholar award is one of many initiatives made possible by the Hawes Endowment, a gift of more than $2 million used to facilitate the growth and enhancement of the Marriott School’s nationally ranked MBA program. Mr. Hawes, a Baker Scholar from the Harvard Business School, and his wife, wanted to create a tradition at the Marriott School that recognizes and rewards excellence among students entering the business world.

Mr. Hawes served as chairman and CEO of Life Re Corporation, a leading provider of life reinsurance in the United States. In addition to being widely recognized for his expertise in financial matters, Hawes has a reputation for integrity, hard work and community service.

The Marriott School is located at Brigham Young University, the largest privately owned, church-sponsored university in the United States. The school has nationally recognized programs in accounting, business management, public management, information systems, organizational behavior and entrepreneurship. The school’s mission is to prepare men and women of faith, character and professional ability for positions of leadership throughout the world. Approximately 3,000 students are enrolled in the Marriott School’s graduate and undergraduate programs.

2004 Hawes Scholar Bios

Brian Baker, of Provo, Utah, is a second-year MBA candidate with an emphasis in finance at BYU’s Marriott School. He earned an undergraduate degree in English from BYU and has worked as an investment banker at Zions Bank Public Finance and as a financial analyst at Goldman Sachs. After graduation, Baker will work as assistant vice president at Zions Bank Public Finance in Salt Lake City. “A Marriott School MBA equips me to enter the business world and compete with the best,” Baker says. “Also, as BYU students, we have a vision and perspective in life that will allow us to contribute to our communities, families and society as a whole.”

Brent Dykes, of Vancouver, British Columbia, is a second-year MBA candidate with an emphasis in marketing at BYU’s Marriott School. He earned an undergraduate degree in business administration from Simon Fraser University in Canada. Dykes founded the Marriott School High Tech Club and currently serves as its first president. Prior to entering the MBA program, he worked at various high-tech companies including Microsoft. In summer 2003 he interned at Lands' End in their e-commerce group. "I have enjoyed broadening my business skills and meeting some incredible people whom I admire and respect," Dykes says. "The Marriott School represents something very special, and I look forward to contributing to its unique mission after I graduate."

Nathan Furr, of Boston, Mass., is a second-year MBA candidate preparing for a PhD. He earned an undergraduate degree in English and an MA from BYU. Furr worked for more than two years as a consultant for Monitor Group and plans to earn a PhD in strategy upon completing his MBA. “I am grateful for the opportunity to learn from and be mentored by fabulous professors,” Furr says. “I intend to complete a PhD and hope to come back and teach at BYU because of the unique mission of BYU and the high-caliber of students and faculty.”

Michael Hennessy, of Boston, Mass., is a second-year MBA candidate at BYU’s Marriott School. He earned an undergraduate degree in English literature at Williams College. Hennessy is the director of the BYU Business Plan Competition and is the vice president of the Venture Capital Society. Over the past five years, he has worked for Credit Suisse First Boston as an investment banker, and in account management for Direct Advice, Inc. “Students, faculty and administrators unite in the quest to not only produce excellent business leaders but also to embody the ideals of the university and the church that supports it,” Hennessy says. “I’m convinced the Marriott School MBA program’s combination of academic, conceptual, technical and ethical excellence is unique in all the world.”

John Higginson, of Provo, Utah, is a second-year MBA candidate with an emphasis in supply chain at BYU’s Marriott School. He earned a double undergraduate degree in international politics and Chinese from BYU and an associate’s degree in business management from Salt Lake Community College. Higginson is president of the Supply Chain Management Student Association and worked for seven years as a supervisor of operational activities for the U.S. Postal Service. Upon graduating, he is considering a position with the Asia region of the O.C. Tanner Company. “Nowhere else will you find the quality of people that are here and involved with the MBA program,” Higginson says. “I know that a Marriott School MBA has prepared me to succeed in my new career.”

Jessica Johnson, of Lafayette, Calif., is a second-year MBA candidate with an emphasis in marketing at BYU’s Marriott School. She earned an undergraduate degree in broadcast communications from BYU. Johnson is the MBA Student Association president and has volunteered for the Children’s Justice Center. Over the past six years, she has worked for Sports West/Bonneville International as a sports producer, and helped produce segments for the Blue and White Sports Network. “The ability to work closely with the Dean’s office and the MBA administration on initiatives for students has been an excellent real-world leadership experience,” Johnson says. “My goal is to fulfill the BYU charge, ‘Enter to learn, go forth to serve.’”

Jason Marx, of Hyde Park, Utah, is a second-year MBA candidate with an emphasis in finance at BYU’s Marriott School. He earned an undergraduate degree in finance from Utah State University and has been the president of the Graduate Finance Association, as well as the associate director for the BYU Business Plan Competition. Over the past eight years, Marx has worked as president of his own company, Financial Computer Software, and as a general manager for Sunrise Travel. Upon graduation, he plans to work in the Advance Degree Leadership Development Program for DaimlerChrysler. “At BYU, the faculty access is phenomenal, enhancing the learning experience,” Marx says. “The school’s strong focus on ethics, entrepreneurship and communication enables students to offer future employers not only analytical skills but also effective management and people skills.”

Gretchen Olson, of Paradise, Utah, is a second-year MBA candidate with an emphasis in finance at BYU’s Marriott School. She earned her undergraduate degree in history from Utah State University and was an Eccles International Business Scholar as well as an MBA Department Scholar. Olson has worked as a financial analyst for First Allied Securities and is considering an offer to work for the same company upon graduation. “The Marriott School offers a unique MBA experience,” Olson says. “It has provided me with a fabulous education in an environment where ethics and morals are the foundation for learning business principles.”

Melissa Randall, of Provo, Utah, is a second-year MBA candidate with an emphasis in organizational behavior and human resources at BYU’s Marriott School. She earned her undergraduate degree in history from BYU and served as president of the Women in Management Society and as an officer in the Organizational Behavior Student Association. For three years, Randall worked for Glenwood Intermountain Properties, Inc. as assistant director of operations. “The unique education of an MBA with an OB/HR emphasis will allow me to pursue my interests and goals of developing effective organizations and people,” Randall says. “What I am learning during my graduate program will help me be a better contributor to my community, my employer, my family and church.”

Whitney Seamons, of New Canaan, Conn., is a second-year MBA candidate with an emphasis in marketing at BYU’s Marriott School. She earned her undergraduate degree in English from BYU and is CEO of the Marriott Alumni Shop, the vice-president of the MBA Marketing Association and co-chairman of MBA Social Affairs. Over the past few years, Seamons has worked for Fonix Corporation as the marketing communications manager and for GE Medical Systems as a global marketing intern. “I have always believed that I am made better by those with whom I associate,” Seamons says. “I look forward to giving back a hundred fold to Marriott School students, faculty and staff as a dedicated and proud alumnus.”