Tom Love Scholars accepted their awards at the annual Dean's Scholarship Banquet.

Spears Business students distinguished as inaugural Tom Love Scholars

Tuesday, August 27, 2024

Media Contact: Terry Tush | Director, Marketing and Communications | 405-744-2703 | terry.tush@okstate.edu

Twenty Spears School of Business students received recognition as Oklahoma State University’s inaugural Tom Love Scholars on Sunday evening during the annual Dean’s Scholarship Banquet.

Love’s Travel Stops contributed a generous $1.08 million to create the new scholarship program named for the late Tom Love, the company’s founder. This year’s Tom Love scholarships were among more than 1,360 awards totaling $2.9 million presented to Spears students.

“We are thrilled with the significant vision and investment that Love's Travel Stops is making in Spears Business students through the newly established Tom Love Scholars Program,” said Dr. Marlys Mason, associate dean of Spears Business undergraduate programs. “This scholarship initiative not only provides students with generous financial support, but also offers invaluable opportunities for professional growth through networking and mentoring with Love's esteemed leadership. The Love's Scholar Program reflects a deep commitment to Spears students and a partnership for their success.”

Here is the first cohort of Tom Love Scholars, including majors and hometowns:

Oluwanifemi Abioye — management information systems — Edmond, Oklahoma
Alexis Anderson — finance — Edmond, Oklahoma
Joshua Anderson — accounting — Tulsa
Jaden Brassfield — marketing and management — Oklahoma City
Cole Comeau — accounting — Broken Arrow, Oklahoma
Ella Fisher — accounting — Spiro, Oklahoma
Trevor Friesen — management and marketing and international business — Edmond, Oklahoma
Logan Hamby — finance — Oklahoma City
Adam Lindsey — accounting — Cordell, Oklahoma
Drew Lyon — finance and accounting — Tulsa
Sydney Martens — marketing — Fairview, Oklahoma
Madison Martin — management information systems — Tulsa
Jennifer Martinez — management information systems — Stillwater
Amanda Murillo — marketing — Broken Arrow, Oklahoma
Ana Parrett —marketing — Dewey, Oklahoma
Kyleigh Scott — marketing — Crescent, Oklahoma
Brenda Tapia — management and marketing — Del City, Oklahoma
Evan Taylor — accounting and finance — Skiatook, Oklahoma
Laci Wood — management and marketing — Talala, Oklahoma
Erin Woodward — management information systems — Sand Springs, Oklahoma

Abioye, a junior, addressed banquet attendees as a featured speaker at the Wes Watkins Center.

Femi Abioye speaks into a microphone — Femi Abioye, an MIS student from Edmond, Oklahoma, is a member of the first Tom Love Scholars cohort.

Tom Love Scholars are selected based on academic performance, campus involvement and leadership. Spears Business sophomores, juniors and seniors are eligible for the program, which will distribute 20 scholarships over each of the next four years.

The Tom Love Scholars Program provides not only monetary awards, but also multiple avenues for building professional networks. Love’s will host a networking event at its Oklahoma City headquarters, and Love’s employees will travel to OSU’s Stillwater campus for additional events. The program will link each scholarship winner with a mentor who works for Love’s, the sponsor for OSU’s 2024 Homecoming festivities.