Earlier this month, Opportunity Scholars held their semester luau to celebrate their 2020 Fall graduates. Always inspirational, this semester's virtual event featured remarks from the program director, Rich Kaufusi, and alum, Simeon Lawrence. Lawrence, who received his degree in Finance, shared his personal story with the group and encouraged students to align the practice of goal setting with being intentional. "Start with the [...]
“At the end of the day, people won't remember what you said or did, they will remember how you made them feel.” ~ Maya Angelou This quote highlights the overall theme of the Opportunity Scholars Annual Leadership Retreat. Held virtually earlier this month, the event brought in speakers and alumni Annie Leither, VP Sponsorships, Zions Bank, and Erumis Ureña, Executive Officer, U.S. Foreign [...]
Earlier this month, Opportunity Scholars held its Fall peer mentoring kick-off event. Peer-to-peer mentoring is an important aspect of the Opportunity Scholars experience. Seniors and juniors are paired with freshman and sophomore students to provide support and direction throughout the academic year. These supportive, coaching relationships are unique, as mentors know almost exactly what their new classmates are facing. After all, they've recently been [...]
The Opportunity Scholars program at the David Eccles School of Business works to establish a culture of service. "Not only does service address a significant need in the community," said Program Manager Latu Kinikini, "but it also enriches the educational experience for our scholars by bringing them together and giving back to the community." And the Opportunity Scholars certainly delivered during their Fall Semester [...]
Pride. Perseverance. Inspiration. Accomplishment. Gratitude. Hope. These are just a few of the words that attendees took away from this year's Opportunity Scholars Luau, a celebration of 2020 Spring and Summer graduates. And while the COVID-19 pandemic may have kept them physically apart, this tight-knit community exhibited a real sense of togetherness. Graduates joined via zoom to express gratitude to donors, faculty and [...]
Good food, good company, better connection. Opportunity Scholars recently took time to relax, catch-up, and connect with peers over lunch and a peer mentoring activity. Junior and senior Scholars took the lead for this session, which focused on teamwork, the college experience, and advice on selecting a major. Peer mentoring activities are valuable. Students have the chance to create and nurture long-term, positive relationships, [...]
Capping off the Fall Semester, Opportunity Scholars hosted a Luau to celebrate graduates, express gratitude, and inspire their diverse and hard-working community. Hosted by program directors Richard Kaufusi and Latu Kinikini, the evening gathered current scholars, graduates, families, and mentors for a delicious meal, entertainment, and an address from our new Assistant Dean of Undergraduate Studies Andrea Thomas. Each graduate spoke about their life [...]
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. [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]