Eccles Newsroom

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Eccles School Newsroom

New HOPE scholarship will support more first-generation students

Jerry Norton2023-03-16T18:32:19-06:00December 20th, 2019|

A new scholarship is bringing HOPE to low-and-moderate income, first-generation students in Salt Lake City. The HOPE scholarship, which stands for Helping Our People Excel, was announced Friday as a private-public collaboration between Salt Lake City, the Semnani Family Foundation and the University of Utah David Eccles School of Business. The Eccles School and the Foundation have jointly seeded the scholarship fund with $150,000. [...]

Opportunity Scholars recharge at their annual leadership retreat

Lisa Collins2019-12-12T16:54:39-07:00December 10th, 2019|

More than 95 David Eccles School Business Opportunity Scholars recently came together for their Annual Leadership Retreat. This year's retreat, designed to allow students to explore their identities and strengthen their leadership skills, took place at the Zion Ponderosa Ranch in southern Utah. Led by program directors Rich Kaufusi and Latu Kinikini, the theme for this year was "Reflect, Recharge, Refocus." Students attended several [...]

Opportunity Scholars give back

Lisa Collins2019-11-27T16:35:38-07:00August 29th, 2019|

On Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2019, Opportunity Scholars from the David Eccles School of Business partnered with more than 150 community members to clean and ready Redwood Elementary School for the year. Fellow participants included elementary teachers, the West Valley City Council, and Eccles School Academic Advisors and Business Career Coaches. Service is an integral part of the Opportunity Scholars program that helps students [...]

Opportunity Scholars travel to the Aloha State

Lisa Collins2019-11-27T16:35:52-07:00August 22nd, 2019|

This July, Opportunity Scholars from the David Eccles School of Business traveled to Hawaii to experience the all the Aloha State has to offer. After landing in Oahu, students participated in a Maunawila Heiau Service Project, sampled shaved ice at the "Pineapple Experience" on the Dole Plantation, toured Pearl Harbor, and hiked the Waimea Valley. They finished up their experience with the "Secret Island [...]

Opportunity Scholars Luau celebrates 2019 graduates

Lisa Collins2019-11-27T16:36:04-07:00May 8th, 2019|

Opportunity Scholars at the David Eccles School of Business recently held their Annual Luau to honor graduating seniors and celebrate another successful year. Families, advisory board members, donors, faculty, and Eccles School staff gathered for the celebration. Several students spoke of their educational journey, expressing gratitude for all the help they received along the way. The evening highlighted the full-circle support Opportunity Scholars embraces [...]

The value of Opportunity Scholars

Dale Frost2023-03-16T18:30:59-06:00March 25th, 2019|

For first-generation students, navigating higher education for the first time often presents unique challenges. The Opportunity Scholars program at the David Eccles School of Business is designed to help break down those barriers so students can achieve excellence, both in and out of the classroom. On Tuesday, March 19, current members of the cohort met with program alums during their monthly meeting. This was [...]

Opportunity Scholars Winter Luau welcomes Congressman-Elect Ben McAdams

Jerry Norton2019-11-27T16:36:32-07:00December 10th, 2018|

The Opportunity Scholars program lived up to its name at this year’s luau, giving students the chance to meet Congressman-elect Ben McAdams. Each year the Opportunity Scholars program at the David Eccles School of Business honors their fall graduates at an incredible luau celebration. On Friday, December 7, the program recognized students who were set to graduate at the end of this semester. In [...]

Opportunity Scholars Program celebrates 33 graduates at luau

Jeff Wang2019-11-27T16:36:42-07:00May 2nd, 2018|

With 33 Opportunity Scholars scheduled to graduate in only a few days, excitement is in the air. Each of these graduates have faced unbelievable odds as first-generation students, making each of their accomplishments even more noteworthy. Kicking off the semi-annual luau, each of the graduates received a lei necklace, a pair of flip flops, and sunglasses. After receiving these gifts, each graduate had the [...]

Opportunity Scholars explore leadership, networking and Zion National Park

Jeff Wang2019-11-27T16:36:53-07:00April 4th, 2018|

The Opportunity Scholars program headed south this past weekend, gaining valuable experiences and relationships while in Zion National Park. For many of the scholars, the outdoor experiences they engaged in this past weekend were entirely new. Led by program directors Latu Kinikini and Rich Kaufusi, the scholars set up their campsite upon arrival and began engaging in activities revolving around leadership, relationship building, and [...]

Opportunity Scholars celebrates graduates at luau

Jerry Norton2019-11-27T16:37:05-07:00December 20th, 2017|

The Opportunity Scholars program has given students immense support, financial aid and guidance for more than 20 years and continues to grow each year. At the end of each semester, the program celebrates its graduating students at a luau. This semester’s luau began with a speech by Michelle Kaufusi, the newly elected mayor of Provo city. As a first-generation student herself, Kaufusi experienced many [...]

Get up and make a difference with Opportunity Scholars

Jerry Norton2019-11-27T16:37:26-07:00April 26th, 2017|

"Life will knock you down. Whether you have graduated, moved on with your career or are a current student, there are always going to be things you need to stand up for. Get up. Get up and make a difference." With those closing words from Rich Kafusi, director of the Opportunity Scholars program, you'd be hard-pressed to find a dry eye in the Hilton Salt [...]

Opportunity Scholars celebrates 20th anniversary at the Eccles School

Jerry Norton2019-11-27T16:37:37-07:00March 31st, 2017|

College was a new place for Andy Ho and his family. Neither of his parents attended college, and Ho wasn’t sure how he was going to navigate the world of higher education without some guidance. But he found Opportunity Scholars, and now the senior is set to graduate with a degree in management after diversifying his business education with internships at places such as [...]

Opportunity Scholars program celebrates 20 years

Jerry Norton2019-11-27T16:37:47-07:00March 20th, 2017|

The Opportunity Scholars program at the David Eccles School of Business is celebrating its 20th anniversary! The program, which helps first-generation, underrepresented students graduate from the Eccles School has worked with hundreds of students during its two decades. The celebration will be held Thursday, April 6 at the Hilton Salt Lake City Center with a reception at 6 p.m. and dinner and remarks at [...]

Staff Spotlight: Opportunity Scholars Director Richard Kaufusi

Jerry Norton2019-11-27T16:38:02-07:00September 23rd, 2015|

The David Eccles School of Business continues to strive for academic success with some of the best educators engaging with its students. Not only does the Eccles School educate its students, it also presents opportunities to students who have financial need and are first-generation college students, meaning the first in their family to earn a higher education. The Opportunity Scholars Program is a place [...]

Opportunity Scholars celebrate graduates at luau

Jerry Norton2019-11-27T16:38:16-07:00May 6th, 2015|

“Sometimes, it’s the people who no one imagines anything of who do the things no one can imagine.” The Opportunity Scholars program at the Eccles School is in the business of imagination. The program supports first-generation college students — students whose immediate family didn’t attend college. Many of the students come from under-represented populations. These journeys make celebrations all the more special. And quite [...]

Opportunity Scholars outdoors: My favorite Eccles Experience

Jerry Norton2019-11-27T16:38:26-07:00May 5th, 2015|

Editor’s Note: As the school year rapidly comes to a close, the Eccles Newsroom reached out to students to ask about their favorite Eccles Experience they had this year. In this Q&A, Stephanie Yu, a triple major in Honors Business Management, Chinese and International Studies with an emphasis in Asian Studies, shares her favorite Eccles Experience. What was a favorite Eccles Experience this year? [...]

Opportunity Scholars graduates celebrate, pass on some words of wisdom

Jerry Norton2019-11-27T16:38:38-07:00April 21st, 2014|

The Opportunity Scholars Program celebrated this year's graduates with a festive and emotional gathering of family, friends and faculty and staff from the David Eccles School of Business. There were a lot of tears, many laughs, and a celebratory "haka" dance to top it all off. Dedicated to providing scholarships and support--academic, professional and emotional--to first-generation college students at the business school, the Opportunity [...]