Opportunity Scholars Annual Report

ANNUAL REPORT 2017-18 Opportunity Scholars

CLIMB MOUNTAINS NOT SO THAT THE WORLD CAN SEE YOU, BUT SO THAT YOU CAN SEE THE WORLD.

OPPORTUNITYSCH Since it’s inception in 1997, the Opportunity Scholars program continues to service a growing first-generation student population in the Eccles School of Business. The program has supported almost 600 students as they earn their degrees from the David Eccles School of Business at the University of Utah

CHOLARS

21 YEARS 1 9 9 7 - 2 0 1 8

Who are the Opportunity Scholars?

Student must meet the following criteria to participate in the program: • First-Generation: Students’ whose parents have not attended or graduated from a four-year higher education institution. Students are the first in their immediate family to attend college.

Richard Kaufusi program director

• Underrepresented: Students are from a social group that is underrepresented in higher education.

• Need: Students have a demonstrated financial need as evidenced through federal student aid.

• GPA: Students’ grade point average is greater than 3.0. Continued eligibility in the program is dependent on maintaining a GPA greater than 3.0.

Latu Kinikini

program manager

OPPORTUNITY SCHOLARS

MISSION The goal of the Opportunity Scholars program is to support and enhance the educational experience of first-generation business students as they progress toward graduation.

CORE VALUES The student first and foremost A sense of community Promote diversity in the classroom and in the workplace Success by increasing retention and graduation rates Provide scholarship opportunities for low-income and/or underrepresented students

4 C O R N E R S T O N E S L AY O U R F O U N D AT I O N 1. Promote diversity in the classroom and in the workplace.

2. Create a sense of community.

3. Increase retention and graduation rates for first-generation business students.

4. Provide scholarship opportunities for low-income and/or underrepresented students.

Opportunity Scholars directly benefits the students in the program by providing retention resources such as tutors, mentors, internships, advising, career-services, service-learning projects, community outreach, networking opportunities, counseling, financial assistance and anytime access to the program director. These resources help first-generation students from diverse backgrounds overcome the hurdles that may stand in their way to a higher education.

promoting diversity in the classroom and in the workplace

The program also contributes to the educational experience of all students at the Eccles School by introducing students with diverse backgrounds and experiences into the academic setting.

28%

2017

19%

18%

108 TOTAL STUDENTS

20%

2018

5%

114 TOTAL STUDENTS

6% 32%

49%

51%

4% 9%

27%

47%

22%

53% 21%

■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■

Multi-racial Asian Black Hawaiian/Pacific Islander Hispanic White

Janet Tran “The Opportunity Scholars Program have helped me navigate my best and worst experiences throughout my college career. As a first generation student, I struggled to feel welcome and to fit in at the business school. I questioned if pursuing college was the appropriate choice for me and even considered dropping out. After expressing my struggles to Latu Kinikini, she recommended I join the Opportunity Scholars Program.

In the program, I found a cohort of diverse students who shared similar experiences and backgrounds with me. My peers and mentors inspired me to continue my education and to graduate. When I received my job offer at Goldman Sachs, I told Latu and Rich first. As a direct result of Opportunity Scholars, I have found a home and sense of belonging on this campus.�

Giovanni Nava "Opportunity scholars has provided me a chance to chase my dreams and created a home away from home. I couldn't be more thankful to be part of this family."

sense of community

creating a

The Opportunity Scholars program hosted 14 events in the 2017-18 school year to foster a sense of community among its members. Those events included:

Service Project: As part of the FOCUS Orientation, students were engaged in an off-campus service project.

First Gen Meeting: Opportunity Scholars hosts a community meeting for all first-gen students in the School of Business and invites representatives from various programs on campus that serve first-generation college students.

Etiquette Luncheon: The annual etiquette luncheon is an opportunity to learn and practice good table manners and assist students in being successful.

End of semester social – LUAU: The end of semester Luau is a highlight for our students. Graduating students get to share their journey as they pursued their studies, but they also leave words of wisdom for current students.

Eccles Career Summit: Students participated in the Eccles Career Summit. This event was hosted by the Business Career Services Department.

Leadership Retreat: A great trip to Zion National Park – camp, s’mores, dutch oven peach cobbler, hiking/biking, team activities, special guest speaker, Marriott hotel and dancing…just to name a few!

In 2017-2018, we awarded over $400,000 in scholarships to low-income and/or underrepresented students.

opportunity scholars

advisory board members SHAUNA BAMBERGER-PRISKOS

KRISTIN DITTMER EnerBank – EVP Finance and Credit

SCOTT SIMMONS

KELLY BARNETT

MARY DRAPER Guadalupe School

TRAVIS SOTO

JUSTIN HALEY

SHAWN TRUJILLO

Fidelity Investments – Community Relations Manager

Web Bank – President

ANDY BAUMAN Merrick Bank – VP Treasurer

ALENE BENTLEY Rocky Mountain Power – Customer & Community Manager

MELISSA CEBALLOS B.O.S.S Retirement Advisors – Director of Business Development

JILL CHRISTENSEN

Workers Compensations Fund – AVP Human Resources

NICOLE COTTLE

Medallion Bank – SVP Chief Operating Officer

NICHOLAS HINTZE

US Bank-Vice President – RM UT Commerical Banking

J.R. HOWA

Mountain West Commercial Real Estate – Commercial Real Estate Agent

NATHAN MORGAN Continental Bank – CEO

JEAN PERSCHON UBS – CFO

West Valley Municipal Corporation – Assistant City Manager / General Counsel

PATRICK SALAZAR

KEVIN DANSIE

BILL SHIELDS

WEX Bank – V.P. and Chief Risk Officer

mOppenheim Associates - Principal

Sallie Mae Bank - Deputy Chief Compliance Officer

Marlin Business Bank - CFO

Green Dot Corporation – VP Payment Operations, Financial Ops. & IT

Lunatic Fringe/Paul Mitchell Schools – Owner and Founder

CHRISTINE WHIPPLE Intermountain Research & Medical Foundation | AMICUS – Annual Fund Officer

MONTÉ WYLIE

Enterprise Rent-A-Car – Group Talent Acquisition Manager

MONICA YOCOM

Fidelity Investments – Community Relations Manager

MARK ZUPON

First Utah Bank – Executive Vice President

honoring

our graduates Fall 2017

13 graduates

Maxwell Azongo Ayliya Accounting BS

Alice Hoang To Marketing BS

Diego Alonso Barajas Finance BS

Rosa Maria Zavala Accounting BS

Justin Michael Bennett Marketing BS

Shakira Judith Zavala Finance BS

Tyler Scotty Henderson Business Administration BS

Zunayid Zishan Finance BS

Gabriel David Kehr Finance HBS

Alonya Zitting Finance BS

Sierra Jean Nichols Management BS

Lihuen Zlatohlavek Entrepreneurship BS

Selicia Reyes Operations Management BS

Spring 2018

24 graduates

Erica Christine Borallo Business Administration BS

Niloufar Sobhanian Information Systems BS

Michelle Van Bui Marketing BS

Jake Hiatt Stephens Operations Management BS

Moses Butera Finance BS

Lejla Subasic Information Systems BS

Annette Cella Business Administration BS

Mia Fisher Marketing BS

Elba Mariana Galvez Business Administration BS

Grecia Gutierrez Business Administration BS

Gabriel David Kehr Finance HBS

Joshua Hernandez Operations Management HBS, Finance BS

Brianna N Larkin Finance BS

Candido William Samaniego Accounting BS

Marina Neofitos Management BS

Samuel Godwin Daniel Business Administration BS

Kevin Nhan Operations Management BS

Gabriel Troy Ruflin Information Systems BS

Elaine Mil Ong Biology HBS

Robert Franz Palma Business Administration BS

Rodrigo Silva Finance BS

Dao Anh Tran Economics BS, Minor Business

Natasha Simpson Finance BS

Austin Mika Ulugalu Marketing BS