OSU announces 2010-2011 Creativity, Innovation and Entrepreneurship Scholars

Thursday, August 26, 2010

Ten master of business administration students in the Spears School of Business at Oklahoma State University and eight other top graduate students recently were selected for a unique scholarship 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. The CIE Scholars are selected based on previous academic performance and achievements, leadership experiences, extra-curricular and community engagement activity and unique life accomplishments.

The 2010-2011 CIE Scholars include:
-       Faith Garlington, MBA candidate

-       Gerard Demancus, Ph.D. in analytical chemistry candidate

-       Kyle Eastham, master’s degree in entrepreneurship candidate

-       Trey Knight, MBA/Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine candidate

-       Ahn Hong Tran, MBA candidate

-       Gilpatrick Hornsby, master’s degree in hospitality management candidate

-       Karen Steed, MBA candidate

-       Vamishi Krishna Kolla, MBA candidate

-       Jonathan Kelly, master’s degree in agriculture candidate

-       Felicity Milton, master’s degree in entrepreneurship candidate

-       Christopher O’Connor, MBA candidate

-       Claude Kershner, MBA candidate    

-       Annie Nsafoah, master’s degree in agriculture candidate

-       Mike Kavalier, MBA candidate

-       Marina Hargrave, MBA candidate     

-       Rebecca Crain, Ph.D. in counseling psychology candidate

-       Jacob Schroeder, MBA candidate

-       Amir Bhochhibhoya, master’s degree in entrepreneurship candidate


“This is a very special group that represents some of our best and brightest,” said Michael Morris, professor and N. Malone Mitchell chair of entrepreneurship.  “We are excited about the intellectual collisions and mutual learning that will occur as they collaborate on CIE projects over the coming year.”

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 undertake creative, innovative and entrepreneurial projects; serve as ambassadors for the Spears School and OSU, and organize an annual CIE Scholars Forum. Those selected receive a $5,000 scholarship awarded over two semesters.

For more information about the CIE Scholars Program, call 405-744-3325 or visit http://entrepreneurship.okstate.edu/cie.