Spears School scholarship program focuses on creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship
Friday, April 24, 2009
By Jill Banzet, Spears School communications intern
(April 22, 2009 Stillwater, OK) – Master’s of business administration students in
the Spears School of Business at Oklahoma State University are encouraged to apply
for a unique recognition program that focuses on creativity and innovation.
The Creativity, Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE) Scholars Program is designed
to recognize and involve top students in the MBA program at OSU. Each year, 10 students
will be selected for the program through an application and interview process. Those
selected will receive a $5,000 scholarship awarded over two semesters.
“I think the scholarship is a great opportunity for students to be involved in projects
that will challenge them intellectually and feed their creative nature,” said Jan
Analla, assistant director of graduate programs in the Spears School. “It will helps
student connect with companies and make an impact on the issues those companies are
facing today.”
The CIE Scholars program is funded by Dan Howard and Tiffany Sewell-Howard, who are
both alumni of the OSU MBA program. Tiffany is the CEO of the DitchWitch® Organization
in Perry, Okla., and Dan is an attorney practicing in Edmond, Okla. As alumni and
Oklahoma residents, Tiffany and Dan said they see fostering entrepreneurship and executive
leadership as key to the state’s future economic success. It was this need that was
the impetus for the initial program endowment.
CIE Scholars will be selected based on a variety of factors, including academic performance
and achievements, extracurricular and/or community activity, leadership experiences
and life accomplishments. Any current or prospective MBA student with an academic
interest in any aspect of business is welcome to apply.
CIE Scholars will enroll in a three-hour course focused on experiential learning
through engagement with creative, innovative and entrepreneurial projects; serve as
ambassadors for the Spears School, the MBA program and the entrepreneurship program;
and organize an annual CIE Scholars Forum.
“The CIE Scholars Program reflects the need in companies for people who can creatively
solve problems, design new business models, and create the markets of the future,”
said Michael Morris, N. Malone Mitchell Chair in Entrepreneurship. “We are celebrating
and reinforcing dreamers and doers.”
Applications for the CIE Scholars Program will be accepted between April and July
and are available in the MBA office in 102 Gundersen Hall. Those eligible for the
program include both full-time and part-time students accepted in the MBA program
and who are able to participate in all CIE-related activities and programs.
For more information on the CIE Scholars Program, contact 405-744-2951 or visit http://spears.okstate.edu/future/graduate.