The MBA program at the BYU Marriott School of Business announced the winners of the 2024 George E. Stoddard Prize, an award given to second-year MBA students studying finance who display leadership and academic excellence.
The 2024 Stoddard Prize winners are Coralee Choules, Ryan Cottrell, Chad Larson, Tanner Mask, Jesús Mata, Preston Neilson, Aaron Ranger, Nate Vance, and Christina Yadan Zhang.
The recipients of the award are selected by a committee of MBA finance faculty and are chosen based on the student's commitment to a career in finance, professional experience and pursuits, and ability to serve as a representative of BYU Marriott’s MBA program around the world.
The award is named after George E. Stoddard, who established the award in 1985 as a way to honor outstanding finance students at BYU Marriott. “The Stoddard family has supported hundreds of MBA students at BYU Marriott over the years,” says Ben Iverson, associate professor of finance at BYU Marriott. “Their generosity has allowed these students to remain focused on developing their skills and becoming leaders in our community.”
About the 2024 Stoddard Prize Recipients
Coralee Choules is the managing director of internal affairs for Cougar Capital, the vice president of communications for the Graduate Finance Association, an Eccles Scholar, a teaching assistant for core finance and accounting classes, and the committee sponsor lead for the BYU Marriott MBA Faith and Belief at Work case competition. A native of Gilbert, Arizona, Choules is still evaluating post-graduation options.
Ryan Cottrell is from McKinney, Texas, and is a vice president of the Graduate Finance Association. Following graduation, he will work full-time in the Finance Development Leadership Program at AT&T.
From Devore Heights, California, Chad Larson is a director for Cougar Capital and on the leadership team of the Graduate Finance Association. After graduation, he is going to work full-time as an investment banking associate for Rothschild & Co in New York.
Tanner Mask, from Gilbert, Arizona, is a teaching assistant for the advanced corporate finance class. He completed an exchange program at Bocconi University in Milan during the third semester of the MBA program. After graduation, Mask will join HELM Investment Group in a private equity role.
Jesús Mata is from Caracas, Venezuela, and served as the international recruiter for the BYU Marriott MBA office. He also is the portfolio manager for BYU Marriott’s Silver Fund and vice president of alumni for the MBA finance track.
Houston native Preston Neilson was a mentor and teaching assistant for various finance classes. He is currently working toward completing the CFA exams and plans to work in corporate finance or asset management after graduation.
From Saint George, Utah, Aaron Ranger is the copresident of BYU Marriott’s Silver Fund and a leader in the Graduate Finance Association. Following graduation, Ranger plans on pursuing opportunities that combine his interests in Native American communities, renewable energy, and finance.
A native of Spanish Fork, Utah, Nate Vance is the vice president of mentorship in the Graduate Finance Association. After graduation he will be working at AT&T in its Finance Leadership Development Program.
Christina Yadan Zhang is from Sichuan, China, and is the lead for the MBA finance track, an Eccles Scholar, class section president, and vice president of the Strategy Consulting Association. After graduating, she will work full-time with Athos Private Wealth as the head of investment research and operations.
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.