Eight MBA students within the BYU Marriott School of Business received the 2024 Hawes Scholars Award—an honor that carries the highest distinction given to BYU Marriott MBA students and a cash award of $10,000.
The 2024 Hawes Scholars are Brittany Bennion, Bette Benson, Benjamin Dowdy, Maggie Jensen, Melissa King, Adam Navar, Benjamin Nzojibwami, and Jared Sturgell.
“This year’s Hawes Scholars stand out among their peers for their academic excellence and contributions to their fellow MBA students,” says BYU Marriott MBA director Daniel Snow. “They are our top performing students academically and are multipliers and builders of the MBA program culture.”
Created in 1998, the award is named after Rodney A. Hawes Jr. and Beverly Hawes and made possible through a $2 million grant called the Hawes Endowment, which facilitates multiple initiatives that help support and grow the MBA program.
About the 2024 Hawes Scholars
A native of Bountiful, Utah, Brittany Bennion is the marketing track student lead for the MBA program, the executive vice president of the MBA Marketing Association, cochair of Growth Venture Connect, a board member of the 2024 BYU Marriott MBA Women's Conference, and a member of Cougar Capital. She is currently an associate brand manager for Freezing Point, where she will work full-time after graduation.
Bette Benson, from Madeira, Ohio, is the student vice president of fine arts in the MBA Association, the vice president of brand in the MBA Marketing Association, and a consultant in the BYU Marriott Marketing Lab. Following graduation, she is going to work full-time for Walmart in its merchandising and operations leadership development program.
From Madison, Wisconsin, Benjamin Dowdy served as a mentor and a teaching assistant for three core courses, as a graduate consultant and P&L owner in the BYU Marketing Lab, and as a research assistant for the BYU Marriott strategy program. He is an Eccles Scholar and earned a Global Business Certificate. After graduating, Dowdy will work full-time in brand management for The Hershey Company.
Maggie Jensen is the MBAA student life officer, the managing director of external relations in Cougar Capital, an MBA recruiter, a member of Kaizen—a consulting group for the MBA program, and a teaching assistant for courses in human resources, international marketing, international business, and negotiations. A native of Sandy, Utah, she is currently interviewing for a post-graduation position.
From Santa Barbara, California, Melissa King is the head mentor for the MBA program, chairperson of the 2024 BYU Marriott MBA Women's Conference, a studio partner in Blue Forge Venture Studio, and a member of Kaizen. After graduating, she will join Republic Services in the General Manager Accelerated Program.
Adam Navar is from Glendale, California, and he is the president of the Graduate Finance Association, director of growth deals in Cougar Capital, and a captain of BYU Marriott's venture capital investment competition team. After graduation, he is hoping to join an early/growth stage startup in an operational role.
Benjamin Nzojibwami was born in Burundi but spent most of his life in Alberta, Canada. He served as president of the MBA Student Association and a member of Kaizen. Following graduation, he will begin a new role as a senior associate at School Leadership Alliance—a social venture focused on leadership development among K-12 leaders.
A native of Bartlett, Tennessee, Jared Sturgell is a member of the Savage Scholars as well as an instructor in BYU’s Army ROTC program, where he mentors and trains future army officers. After graduating, he will work full-time at Corning Incorporated in its management development program.
About BYU Marriott
The BYU Marriott School of Business aspires to transform the world through Christlike leadership by developing leaders of faith, intellect, and character. Named for benefactors J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott, the school is located at Brigham Young University. BYU Marriott has four graduate and nine undergraduate programs with an enrollment of approximately 3,800 students.