Marriott School Announces 2014 Hawes Scholars

PROVO, Utah – Mar 06, 2014 – The Brigham Young University Marriott School of Management named ten MBA candidates as its 2014 Hawes Scholars. The honor, which carries a cash award of $10,000, is the highest distinction given to MBA students at the school.

“These students are making a profound difference in the lives of their classmates,” says John Bingham, director of the BYU MBA program. “They have been exemplary contributors to their learning experience and will be exceptional leaders in business, communities and families. They represent what we hope it means to be a BYU MBA student.”

The 2014 Hawes Scholars are second-year MBA students Reid Clark, from Austin, Texas; Frank Chou, from Arlington, Texas; Justin Copier, from Sandy, Utah; Logan Dunn, from Rexburg, Idaho; Matt Durham, from Salt Lake City; Heather Hammond, from Salt Lake City; Gustavo Maruri, from Guayaquil, Ecuador; Derek Pando, from Round Rock, Texas; Greg Tesimale, from Laie, Hawaii; and Sonal Yadav, from Delhi, India.

Students and faculty nominate and vote on each year's Hawes Scholars. Final selection is made by the Hawes Scholar Committee and 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. 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 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. 

Reid Clark received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas at Austin. After graduation he honed his management skills as an account manager at Adjacent Technologies, where he identified business opportunities and coordinated project implementations. He later interned at Amazon.com and will join their retail leadership development program after graduation. Clark, who is from Austin, Texas, enjoys woodworking, cooking and spending time with his wife, Ashley, and their two children. As a student he has made time to serve his classmates as a sherpa for five first-year MBA students and as executive vice president of the MBA Association. “The quality of instruction at BYU is phenomenal and has stretched my mind to new heights,” Clark says. “I am in awe of the caliber of my classmates and consider myself very lucky to call them my friends.”

Prior to starting his MBA, Frank Chou worked in finance as an assistant manager for American General Financial Services and as a branch account manager for OneMain Financial. His experience in managing loan accounts prepared him for his MBA with an emphasis in finance. He currently serves as a vice president of the Graduate Finance Association and in the sherpa program, where he mentors other MBA students. After graduation he will join General Motors as a senior financial analyst. Chou, who is from Arlington, Texas, is married and has two children. “Being a part of the MBA program at BYU has pushed me to be better than I thought I could be,” Chou says. “Being able to surround myself with such intelligent, gifted people has made all the difference in my education.”

After earning a bachelor’s in business marketing and economics from Utah State University, Justin Copier worked as managing director for Roof Rite, where he directed marketing and managed profit and loss. Copier is from Sandy, Utah, and he and his wife, Casey, have two children. He enjoys golfing, screenwriting and watching the Utah Jazz. His time at BYU has been filled with service through the sherpa program and as the vice president of the MBA Marketing Association. He is preparing to join Nestlé USA as a marketing associate after graduation. “The Marriott School MBA program has been instrumental in developing my leadership and interpersonal skills and in launching my career to the next level,” Copier says. “Because of the program’s collaborative approach, I have always felt the support of faculty and classmates who are rooting me on as I pursue my goals.” 

A native of Rexburg, Idaho, Logan Dunn received his bachelor’s degree in business management from BYU-Idaho. Later he worked as a product manager for Deseret Digital Media for three years, where he gained experience managing the site’s search engine optimization and new product development. Dunn now serves as a career mentor to five first-year MBA students and as part of the MBA Marketing Association leadership team. In his free time, he enjoys running triathlons and spending time with his family. He says his experience at the Marriott School has prepared him to make a difference in his future career at 3M, where he will start as a marketing strategist after graduation. “What I loved the most about the MBA program is the people I met,” Dunn says. “Never in my life have I been surrounded by so many brilliant people.”

While earning his MBA Matt Durham has made service-minded leadership a priority. As the MBA Association president he has worked to help classmates secure jobs and reached out to incoming students by inviting them to his house for dinner. With an emphasis in marketing and a minor in strategy, Durham will put his skills to use as an associate brand manager for Johnson & Johnson. Before starting his MBA, Durham worked as a senior analyst in investment management for Goldman Sachs and as a brand manager at Durham Brands. “I have learned that success is viewed differently at the Marriott School than in any other MBA program,” he says. “It has taught me how I can make a difference not only in my stated profession but also in the world.”

Heather Hammond’s many interests include flute performance, travel and using social innovation to impact the world. With an MBA emphasis in social entrepreneurship, Hammond has gained experience in her field working at Ashoka U as a human and financial development consultant. She also spent six years working as an event and project manager. At the Marriott School she left her mark by helping found the Social Impact Masters at BYU Association, paving the way for more students to become social innovators. “I came into the program with a passion for social innovation and have found a home with the resources BYU has to offer,” she says. “BYU provides so much opportunity to grow as a leader, offering clubs in many different areas as well as occasions to innovate and create change where you stand.”

Originally from Ecuador, Gustavo Maruri’s MBA emphasis is in global supply chain. After graduating from BYU with an undergraduate degree in economics, Maruri started his own interpreting company. He also recently worked for General Motors as a program purchasing analyst and will return there after graduation to work as a project purchasing planner. As a member of the sherpa program and vice president of programs for the Global Supply Management Association, he has planned activities and mentored fellow students. “One thing I’ve learned throughout my MBA education is that the synergy of teamwork should never be underemphasized,” he says. “My growth in the program can be attributed to fellow students and faculty who have helped me push myself to heights I could not reach alone.” Maruri and his wife, Jenny, have three children. He enjoys spending time with them and playing guitar.

After three years taking on several marketing roles for Salesforce.com, Derek Pando decided to expand his knowledge by joining the MBA program at BYU. He will graduate with an emphasis in marketing and has accepted an offer to work as a product marketing manager at LinkedIn. Aside from business, Derek likes to travel, run and spend time with his wife, Stephany. As a student he mentored others as head marketing sherpa and the executive director of Cougar Capital. He enjoys the chance to serve others as he prepares for his future in business. “The Marriott School MBA program has given me a solid business and spiritual foundation that I can build off of for the rest of my career,” he says. “I hope to use what I’ve learned in marketing to promote products and services that improve people’s lives.”

Prior to studying at BYU in Provo, Greg Tesimale graduated from BYU-Hawaii, located in his home state. Tesimale serves as part of the sherpa program and as a BYU MBA recruiting manager. His work experience included managing real estate and an internship at Cisco Systems, where he will work after graduation in their human resources leadership program. A father of two, he and his wife, Elizabeth, enjoy spending time together at the beach and going out to eat. “I will be leaving this program better prepared to lead and make a positive difference in my family, church, community and career,” he says. “The program and university have also integrated my family into my MBA experience, allowing us to grow and develop together.”

Sonal Yadav grew up in India, moving often because of her father’s naval career. She’s brought that global expertise to the MBA program’s organizational behavior and human resources emphasis. She graduated from The University of Delhi with a degree in mass media and communication and went on to work for Inspirational Clothing as the manager of business development. While at the Marriott School she has been involved as a career mentor with the sherpa program and as an MBA student recruiting manager, as well as a member of BYU’s Interfaith Club. After graduation she will take a position at PricewaterhouseCoopers as a senior associate for people and change. “I am graduating not only with an excellent and wholesome education but also with lifelong friendships,” she says. “I hope to positively influence, serve and represent the BYU community as a future business leader.”