The Brigham Young University Marriott School of Management named 10 MBA candidates 2016 Hawes Scholars, an honor that carries the highest distinction given to MBA students at the school and a cash award of $15,000.
“Hawes recipients exemplify what it means to be a BYU MBA student,” says John Bingham, BYU MBA program director. “Each of the winners has made meaningful contributions to the MBA program and the lives of their classmates. Nominations by faculty, staff and students told stories of kindness, expertise, generosity, competence and character. We are confident they will be exemplary ambassadors of the BYU MBA program.”
The 2016 Hawes Scholars are second-year MBA students Sean Baenziger from Wellington, Fla.; Brock Burrows from Apple Valley, Minn.; Daniel Christ from Lynbrook, N.Y.; Scott Christofferson from Lehi, Utah; Maya Inoue from Honolulu; Steve Mineer from Scottsdale, Ariz.; Christie Rasmussen from San Antonio; Kirk Steele from Farmington, Utah; Dale Tolley from Kalispell, Mont.; and Meghan Whalen from Malone, N.Y.
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, entrepreneurship, finance, information systems and public management. The school’s mission is to prepare men and women of faith, character and professional ability for positions of leadership throughout the world. Approximately 3,300 students are enrolled in the Marriott School’s graduate and undergraduate programs.
Prior to his MBA experience, Sean Baenziger graduated magna cum laude in psychology from BYU in 2007 and added a master’s degree in social work in 2009. For nine years he worked for Colin Baenziger and Associates, rising through the ranks to become a senior vice president. He has also served as a student mentor, president of the Automotive Club and as the equity team captain of the BYU Silver Fund. Baenziger is preparing for a job as a financial analyst at Intel after graduation. “What I have enjoyed most about the Marriott School is the opportunity to associate with all types of amazing people,” he says. “From the faculty to the students, the people were simply outstanding.” In his down time, Baenziger enjoys weightlifting, running, listening to audiobooks and spending time with friends.
Brock Burrows earned an undergraduate degree in psychology from BYU and will finish his MBA this year with an emphasis in strategy. Burrows is president of the BYU Strategy and Consulting Club and has volunteered as a mentor for at-risk youth for more than five years. Before starting his MBA, Burrows worked for Boostability as a senior partner manager. “I have learned more about leadership here than anywhere else,” Burrows says of the Marriott School. “It is my goal to take what I have learned and become an effective leader focused on team growth and success through establishment of positive, strength-based systems.” He and his wife, Nesha, have two children. Burrows is an avid golfer and triathlete who loves backpacking and traveling.
Before coming to BYU for his MBA, Daniel Christ studied business administration at the University at Albany. He later spent five years in New York City working in various finance and marketing positions. In the Tanner Building, Christ serves as the vice president of the Graduate Finance Association and as a finance sherpa. Christ is planning to do marketing or sales for a tech company after graduation. He enjoys spending time with his wife, Jennifer, and three children. “I have really enjoyed the camaraderie within the MBA program,” Christ says. “The spirit of competition is present, but everyone is really rooting for each other to succeed.”
Scott Christofferson is a 2011 graduate of BYU with a degree in communications. After working for several public relations and advertising agencies, Christofferson decided to pursue his MBA at BYU to further develop his marketing skills and expand his business acumen. In various positions in the school, Christofferson develops marketing materials for prospective students and serves as a resource to admitted candidates. “I will always value the relationships and skills I've gained through the BYU MBA program,” Christofferson says. “I feel more confident to lead and lift others because of the knowledge and values that have been instilled in me from my interactions with my incredible peers.” Upon graduation he will join Adobe as a product marketing manager for Adobe Marketing Cloud.
Hailing from Honolulu, Maya Inoue is finishing up her MBA this year with an emphasis in OBHR after earning an undergraduate degree in psychology from BYU in 2013. Inoue serves as president of the MBA Student Association and is a member of various student organizations like the Women in Management club and Strategy and Consulting club. Before starting her MBA, Inoue spent 14 months at BrainStorm where she worked as an operations associate. Inoue will become PwC’s newest senior associate and human capital consultant after her graduation. “Through the BYU MBA program I have been able to create new friendships with amazing colleagues, faculty and staff who inspire me every day,” Inoue says. “Emulating many of my peers, I hope to always find opportunities to serve and use the things I learned to strengthen the lives of others.”
Steve Mineer has a passion for hiking, standup paddle boarding and cycling. After studying accounting at BYU, Mineer has been pursuing an MBA with an emphasis in finance and strategy. Mineer has taken advantage of the numerous clubs and organizations in the Marriott School including the Graduate Finance Association, Strategy and Consulting Club and the Graduate Entrepreneurship Association. Mineer will take the role as operations finance manager at Intel after finishing his MBA. “I really enjoyed having access to so many great students and professors during the MBA program,” Mineer says. “Although I picked up a lot of great technical skills, I value the relationships with my peers the most.” He and his wife have four children.
An MBA will be Christie Rasmussen’s third degree from BYU — the other two being undergraduate degrees in communications and acting. Rasmussen was an advertising account manager for more than two years at Penna Powers and will soon be joining PepsiCo’s Frito Lay office as an associate marketing manager. At the Marriott School, Rasmussen has shared her talents as president of the MBA Marketing Association, social media manager of the MBA program and as a sherpa for MBA Career Services. “The MBA program has completely changed my career trajectory,” Rasmussen says. “I’ve been given opportunities through the program that I would not have come remotely close to otherwise.”
Kirk Steele has marketing experience at Hewlett-Packard and Ford Motor Company under his belt, so it makes sense that he will be taking a job at another big-name company — Google — as a strategic partner manager after graduating with his MBA. Steele is from Farmington, Utah, and has three children with his wife, Angelica. He earned his undergraduate degree in business management from BYU in 2009 and enjoys politics, skiing, hiking and camping in his spare time. Of his time in the Tanner, Steele says, “My experience in the BYU MBA program has been transformational. I’ve learned how to be a leader in the business world and how to do so with integrity. The skills that I’ve gained, coupled with BYU’s amazing alumni network, have opened many career opportunities that weren’t possible before.”
Board games, Legos and British rock are just a few of Dale Tolley’s hobbies. In fact, he is the board game designer of the globally published game Cheesonomics, sold in more than 20 countries. Tolley earned a degree in business management from BYU and will soon complete his MBA with an OBHR emphasis. He spent more than four years in the financial services and tech industries as an HR generalist prior to returning for his MBA. Tolley’s main career goal is to lead and help organizations that improve the lives of their customers and employees. “The most satisfying part of the BYU MBA program has been assembling my personal board of directors with bright and trustworthy colleagues to guide the rest of my career,” Tolley says. He has accepted a position at Procter & Gamble as an associate human resource manager.
After finishing her undergraduate degree in communications at BYU, Meghan Whalen managed and coordinated accounts for companies like Sitewire and Knoodle for four years. Once she completes her MBA in marketing, Whalen will go on to work at Dell as marketing communications senior adviser. She is an active member of Daughters of the American Revolution, has traveled to 24 countries and hopes to reach 30 countries by her 30th birthday. “The last two years have given me confidence in my experience, problem-solving skills and leadership abilities that will forever change the trajectory of my life,” Whalen says. “I hope to use these skills beyond just my career to mentor others and contribute in religious and civic organizations.”
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Writer: Alex Burch