For Release: IMMEDIATELY UPON RECEIPT
Contact: GREG CANNON (845) 575-3112
MARIST STUDENT AWARDED PRESTIGIOUS MCGOWAN SCHOLARSHIP POUGHKEEPSIE - Caileen Collins, a Marist College junior from Seaford, NY, has been named a William G. McGowan Scholar and Marist's top business student for the 2009-2010 academic year. The prestigious and highly competitive scholarship from the William G. McGowan Charitable Fund will provide an $18,000 tuition award toward Collins's senior year as a double major in business administration and accounting.
A committee of Marist College School of Management faculty members selected Collins from a slate of business students nominated by management faculty. The committee reviewed nominees' academic records, leadership qualities, character, and commitment to helping others. In nominating Collins for the scholarship award, Marist Associate Professor Dr. Gregory J. Tully called her "an outstanding, highly motivated, personable student."
In addition to maintaining a GPA of 3.86 across her two majors and earning a spot on the Dean's List every semester at Marist, Collins is heavily involved in the Marist College Band and performs extensive community service through her work with Campus Ministry. She has also represented Marist in highly competitive business case competitions.
Since the age of eight, Collins has played snare drum in the Inis Fada Gaelic Pipe Band, competing in hundreds of national and international competitions, and marching in the New York City St. Patrick's Day and other parades. She is currently planning the organization's 50th anniversary celebration.
In her winning essay, Collins described a personal experience that made her identify with William G. McGowan, the businessman whose legacy the scholarship honors. McGowan was famous for overcoming great odds in taking on the telecommunications industry establishment to create MCI. Collins wrote how this resonated with her as someone who stood out as a young woman in the traditionally older male world of Irish bands, but who nonetheless went on to lead her band's drum corps.
After a scheduled 2010 graduation, Collins plans to work for one of the Big Four accounting firms and, ultimately, to use the experience gained there to start her own CPA firm.
Named in honor of William G. McGowan, a pioneer in the telecommunications industry and the founder and longtime chairman of MCI Communications Corp., the William G. McGowan Charitable Fund qualifies a select group of 60 colleges and universities nationwide to participate in its McGowan Scholars program.
The McGowan Charitable Fund established the McGowan Scholars program to provide significant scholarship support to the country's top students who are pursuing a business education. The program is based on the experience of William G. McGowan during his college days. Though admitted to Harvard Business School to study for an MBA degree, McGowan did not have sufficient funds to complete his studies. However, he won Harvard's Baker Scholars award, which provided the funds necessary for him to earn his degree and launch a successful business career.
The McGowan Scholars program recognizes the academic achievements of business students and is designed to encourage leadership ability, interpersonal skills, and significant involvement in academic, campus, and community activities while also recognizing excellence of character, a spirit of innovation, and entrepreneurial potential.
