Above: Mary Jack, seated bottom right, next to Dr. Kathleen Scholl. Jack’s family members surround the pair.
On October 8th, Master of Business Administration student Mary Jack was presented with the John Scholl Family Scholarship Fund Award. The award honors the memory of the late Dean of the Harry F. Byrd, Jr. School of Business Dr. John S. Scholl, III. It is given to a student who is at least halfway through the MBA program and demonstrates “high scholastic achievement” while maintaining full-time employment. Here’s a bit of Jack’s story, in her own words.
Q: Where are you from?
Born – and, mainly raised – in Jacksonville, North Carolina. My family moved a bit in between because my dad was serving in the military.
Q: How did you choose Shenandoah’s MBA program? What year will you finish the program?
I moved to Winchester in 2013 to be with my fiancé, Brian, who had just received a teaching position at a local middle school. Shenandoah was within 10 minutes of our home and was the best fit for me because of the availability of evening and weekend classes. This alternative class schedule meant I could continue to work during the day. I also like Shenandoah’s intimate learning environment which allows me to get to know my professors. Additionally, I am able to network with professionals from a variety of organizations and industries in the area. I will finish the MBA program in fall 2017.
Q: Do you have any specific post-MBA goals either personally or professionally?
I hope to work for a healthcare provider, such as a hospital, in a larger setting. I am also interested in insurance policy provisions for prescription drugs, particularly with regard to cost reduction and improvements with coverage.
Q: Why were you chosen as the recipient of the The John Scholl Family Scholarship Fund Award?
Based on the amount of credits I have completed, I have the highest GPA in my program.
Q: Tell us a bit about the scholarship award event:
The event was held October 8 in my finance class with my family and peers in attendance. It was a brief but wonderful presentation. Dr. Kathleen Scholl presented the award and explained that she and her husband started the scholarship to recognize outstanding academic performance by students who are at least halfway through the MBA program while working full-time. She said she and her husband realized – while completing their own higher education programs – that there were not many awards for individuals who work while completing master’s degrees. The scholarship is the Scholl family’s gracious way of giving such students recognition.
Q: How does this scholarship support your professional or personal goals?
I hope it will exemplify to any future employers the amount of effort I put forth to reach my goals.
Q: What has been your favorite class or project?
In addition to the MBA, I am completing the Healthcare Management certificate program. I also participated in the 2016 Clarion Case Study competition earning second place along with working with a great group of girls from other university programs. I have always had a fear of speaking in front of large groups, so being able to get through such a huge presentation was huge accomplishment for me personally.
Q: Is there a faculty member who has been particularly inspirational to you?
Dr. Yvonne Chen has been a wonderful support from the moment I interviewed for the MBA program. She is always so encouraging and was even kind enough to have my family and me for tea before the presentation of the scholarship award. It meant so much to have my parents from North Carolina meet Dr. Chen and see what an inspirational woman she is!
Q: Tell us about your Shenandoah experience:
Shenandoah has been life-changing for me on a personal level. I am someone who finds it very difficult to be proud of myself or to be confident. The first thing I actually said to Dean Davis when he told me about the award was, “I have never been proud of myself.” He of course was so sweet and reassured me that this was something I should definitely be proud of. Being able to call my parents and fiancé and tell them about my award and to hear their excitement was one of the greatest feelings I have ever had. My time at Shenandoah, working with all my amazing professors, has given me so many opportunities to prove to myself. There are many things I am capable of doing – more than I ever thought I could do.
Thanks SU! 🙂