Benjamin O. Austin became the youngest graduate in Marriott Schoolof Management history as he walked across the stage and received his diploma this month.
Born 21 October 1985, Austin was home schooled by his parents in Elk Ridge, Utah. Once he had completed his high school requirements, Austin enrolled at BYU when he was 13 years old for the 1999 Spring term.
“I came to BYU because it is, academically, the top institution in the state, and I wanted to be in an LDS environment,” Austin said. “I chose the Marriott School because I liked business, and I could discuss things in my classes and with my professors.”
Austin stayed in school year round for the next seven semesters—averaging 17 credit hours per semester, and graduated with a bachelor’s of science in general business management and a minor in mathematics.
Now that he has his degree, Austin plans to pursue a few Internet-related entrepreneurial ventures.
“I’ve already designed one web site, and I’ve got a few more offers to do some more,” Austin said.“I’d also like to get into e-commerce and sell software.”
The Marriott School is located at Brigham Young University, the largest privately owned, church-sponsored university in the United States. The school has nationally and internationally ranked programs inaccountancy, business management, information systems, organizational behavior and entrepreneurship. The mission of the Marriott School is to educate men and women of faith, character and professional ability whowill become outstanding managers and leaders throughout the world. Approximately 3,000 students are enrolled in the Marriott School’s graduate and undergraduate programs.
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Writer: S. Wade Hansen (801) 378-1512
