Scholarships in the Raj Soin College of Business Creating a Legacy for the Future

• Deloitte Scholarship Puts Student on Fast Track of Success
• Alumni Vital Component of Paperman Scholarship Program
• Stickney Charitable Annuities Give Student Emotional and Financial Boost
• Scholarship Continues Values of Popular Marketing Professor
• Flagel, Huber, Flagel & Co. Scholarship: Reaping Rewards for the Community
• Magner Scholarship Continues Legacy of Community Leader

Deloitte Scholarship Puts Student on Fast Track of Success
When Chad Fast first graduated from high school, he went for one year to a private college outside of commuting distance from his hometown of Washington Court House. Yet despite receiving grants and scholarships that first year, the financial burden on his family was still too great and he found that he had to come up with an alternate plan. He was determined to find whatever means necessary to pursue his dream of being the first in his family to graduate from college.

That’s when he checked out the accounting program at the Raj Soin College of Business. “I found that I could get a degree from one of the most highly rated programs in the country at a school close to home that was much more affordable,” he says. Today, thanks to hard work, part time jobs, and scholarships like the Delottie Accounting Excellence Scholarship, Fast is on a fast track to reaching his goal.

“Everything is getting more expensive,” said Fast, who maintains a 3.85 gpa and plans to enter WSU’s Master of Accountancy Program following graduation next summer. “Providing a scholarship to students really lessens the burden that they have to carry.” And, befitting someone who plans a career in public accounting with a Big 4 firm, he offered this reminder to someone considering a contribution to the college’s scholarship fund, “it is tax deductible.”


Alumni Vital Component of Paperman Scholarship Program
As more and more accounting alumni are making a name for themselves in the business world, a scholarship established by retired accountancy chair Jacob Paperman is ensuring that even more of best and brightest are getting their degrees from the Raj Soin College of Business. Paperman believed strongly in the vital role that alumni can make in the life and mission of their alma mater. While chair, he established the Accountancy Alumni Scholarship Program. Since its inception, WSU accounting alumni and the firms that hire them have contributed generously to the program.

Upon Paperman’s retirement, the scholarship was created in 1987 by accountancy alumni to honor his contributions to the department. Considered one of the most prestigious in the program, the scholarship is awarded on the basis of outstanding academic achievement, leadership, and participation in extracurricular activities. Awards are determined through a select committee comprised of accountancy faculty and alumni.

This year’s recipient is Sravan Reddy, a senior accountancy major whose 3.9 gpa and membership in the accounting honors society Beta Alpha Psi exemplifies the academic excellence of Paperman scholars.
“I’ve really enjoyed my four years at the Raj Soin College of Business. Faculty really care, they have connections with major accountancy firms in area, which help with your career search and getting a full time job.” While extolling the benefits of earning a degree from one of the top accounting programs in the country, Reddy points out how academic scholarships benefit more than the recipients. “Scholarships help attract the cream of the crop, the top students to the Raj Soin College of Business. That builds the reputation of the business school—and Wright State—which elevates the value and prestige of a WSU degree.”


Stickney Charitable Annuities Give Student Emotional and Financial Boost
Sarah Ann Swartzbaugh, a senior human resource/business management major, is an example of how a little bit of help from friends like retired professor of management Frank Stickney and his late wife, Barbara, can make all the difference.

“I have been completely on my own since I graduated from high school in 2001 at the age of 17,” said Swartzbaugh, the 2004 recipient of the Barbara Kirk Stickney endowed scholarship. “I am so grateful to both Frank and Barbara Stickney for their generosity and kindness. The scholarship, a memorial to Barbara, has given me both the financial support and emotional boost I need to finish out my education.”

The popular professor also established second scholarship through a charitable gift annuity for students in the college.

Scholarship Continues Values of Popular Marketing Professor
To the students who were fortunate to be under the tutelage of the late Professor of Marketing Thomas Dovel, he was a caring mentor who worked tirelessly to gain more scholarships for them. To those who interacted with him outside of the campus community, he was a true humanitarian and community activist. Paula Saunders, chair of the Raj Soin College of Business’s Marketing Department, expressed the feelings of both the faculty and staff about the professor, who passed away in January 2002: “Without doubt, Tom’s greatest concern was meeting the needs of young people; he was always the champion spokesperson of the college for students.”

In keeping with the legacy of the late professor, it is fitting that the 2004 recipient of the Thomas Dovel Memorial Scholarship is a student who also exemplifies the values for which the popular professor was known.

Holly Gebert, a senior marketing major, works part time at a local restaurant; volunteers with the WSU chapter of Habitat for Humanity, serves as secretary of the marketing club, and recently completed training as a certified EMT. To top it off, she is enlisted in the Air Force Reserves. Besides putting in one weekend a month and two weeks in the summer with her reserves unit, she’s known for “going the extra mile,” by volunteering for extra duty and special projects. All the while she’s maintained a 3.5 gpa and a heavy class load, putting her on target to graduate this coming June after just 11 quarters.

“This scholarship has been a tremendous help,” said Gebert, who wants to go into either pharmaceutical sales or military medical logistics after graduation. “Even with the income from my part-time job and the military, I found that by my senior year, it’s become necessary to take out some loans. Receiving this scholarship means I won’t have the debt load that I would have had.” Reflecting on the altruistic values of Professor Dovel, Gebert added, “I’m very appreciative of this scholarship. Community service has its own rewards. You get back 10 times more than what you put in. It’s just a good feeling, knowing that you’ve helped others.”


Flagel, Huber, Flagel & Co. Scholarship: Reaping Rewards for the Community
According to Randy Kramer, supporting a scholarship to a deserving student can reap returns for both his firm and the region. “I consider it a great investment,” says Kramer, partner, with Flagel, Huber, Flagel Co, which has a strong history of supporting Wright State accounting scholarships.
 
“It is important for Miami Valley businesses to attract and retain top students. The more scholarship money that is available, the better chance of attracting top students. Upon graduation, these students are more likely to stay in the area, creating strong local companies and a stronger economy. We looked at this scholarship as one way to give back to the community. It also gives us a little name recognition, which doesn’t hurt either.”

Among the 50 percent of WSU alumni who stay in the area to enrich the local talent pool is Lori Berger, who is pursuing her master’s degree in accounting at Wright State. Recipient of the 2004-05 Flagel, Huber, Flagel & Co. Accounting Scholarship, she already has a job lined up in the Dayton area following completion of her degree next summer. “My scholarship means a lot to me personally. I think that those of us who receive a scholarship should one day give back to WSU by helping out a student just the way that I was helped.


Magner Scholarship Continues Legacy of Community Leader
Sixteen years after his death, Howard Magner is still having a positive impact on the lives of others through the Howard L. Magner Accountancy Scholarship Fund in the Raj Soin College of Business. Magner was the Dayton Partner-in-Charge of Coopers & Lybrand (now PricewaterhouseCoopers) tax department. Those who knew Mr. Magner best describe him as a true gentleman, a strong community leader, humble, a devoted husband and father, and someone who worked tirelessly for his clients, many of whom he endeared as a trusted friend.

One of those clients was Mrs. Thelma Fordham Pruett, who, in 1982, wanted to recognize her friend in a very special way by establishing an endowed scholarship in his name. Since its inception, 16 scholarships have been awarded. Mr. Magner, even in death, has inspired similar characteristics in his scholarship recipients. Mr. Magner’s widow, Willa Marie, recently shared a letter from a 2002 recipient, Kelly Delk, who said: “...one of the things I plan on doing is giving back to the scholarship funds that have helped me through college. I only hope that I can help others as much, or more than I have been helped.”

Other Magner Scholars also shared how the scholarship helped them. Andy Valerius said the award has allowed him to cut back on his work schedule, giving him time to concentrate more on his studies. “In one way, it’s more than the money. A scholarship is a real motivator to work hard and maintain those good grades,” he explained. Added Ashley Bussen, “it is a great honor. It’s nice to be recognized for your hardwork.