Congratulations Mike!

Mike probably won't appreciate me posting this, but I'm just so proud of him! He always works hard, but Mike has worked especially hard while in grad school and being named a Hawes Scholar is an outstanding recognition.

Great work honey, we love you!!

BYU Marriott School names 2011 Hawes Scholars

Brigham Young University's Marriott School of Management has announced eight MBA students as its 2011 Hawes Scholars. The honor, which carries a cash award of $10,000, is the highest distinction given to MBA students at the school.

“Our students are known for their desire to accomplish great things, but not at the expense of others,” says Craig Merrill, MBA program director. “We see this manifest in the way they serve each other. The Hawes Scholars are recognized by faculty and their classmates as excellent examples of personal achievement and service within the MBA program.”

The 2011 Hawes Scholars are Benjamin Capell from Orem; Edgar Cheney from Rexburg, Idaho; Michael Christensen from Leawood, Kan.; Brian Clegg from Salt Lake City; Caio Correa from São Paulo, Brazil; Adam Cuppett from Wilmington, Calif.; John Hancey from Rexburg, Idaho; Kelsey Harris from Kaysville, Utah; and Jennia Parkin from Colorado Springs, Colo.

Students and faculty nominate and vote on each year's Hawes Scholars. Final selection is made by the Hawes Scholar Committee and is based on academic performance, leadership maturity and a commitment to high ethical standards.

Named for successful corporate executive Rodney A. Hawes Jr. and his wife, Beverly, the award was created in 1998 to recognize the accomplishments of graduating MBA students.

The Hawes Scholar Award is one of many initiatives made possible by the Hawes Endowment, a gift of more than $2 million used to facilitate the growth and enhancement of the Marriott School's nationally ranked MBA program.

Rodney Hawes, a Baker Scholar from the Harvard Business School, and Beverly Hawes wanted to create a tradition at the Marriott School that recognizes and rewards excellence among students entering the business world.

Hawes served as chairman and CEO of Life Re Corporation, a leading provider of life reinsurance in the United States. He is a director of the W.R. Berkley Corp. In addition to being widely recognized for his expertise in financial matters, Hawes has a reputation for integrity, hard work and community service.

Although Michael Keith Christensen is a twin in a family of 11, he never has problems standing out in a crowd. A sports enthusiast, he lists completing the Kansas City Marathon as his crowning athletic achievement. He shares his OBHR skills by running the MBA Sherpa program, a peer-led mentoring group that helps first-year students secure internships. Christensen has twin boys of his own as well as two other children. He now embarks on a new journey as a human resources generalist with the Kellogg Company, feeling well prepared for responsibilities such as recruiting, employee relations and workforce planning. "I believe the Marriott School has provided a great training ground for acquiring life skills that will allow me to lift and lead those around me not only in a corporate setting but also perhaps most importantly, in my civic, religious and family responsibilities," Christensen says.