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Contact: GREG CANNON (845) 575-3112
MARIST STUDENT AWARDED PRESTIGIOUS MCGOWAN SCHOLARSHIP POUGHKEEPSIE - Jesse Shea, a Marist College sophomore from Tinton Falls, NJ, has been named a William G. McGowan Scholar and Marist's top business student for the 2008-09 academic year. The prestigious and highly competitive scholarship from the William G. McGowan Charitable Fund will provide an $18,000 tuition award toward Shea's junior year as a business administration major.
A committee of School of Management faculty members selected Shea 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 addition to maintaining a GPA of 3.96 in his major and earning a spot on the Dean's List every semester at Marist, Shea is president of the college's chapter of Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) and serves as herald, or historian, for the recently established Marist chapter of Theta Delta Chi, an international fraternity.
Shea also serves his hometown of Tinton Falls as a volunteer firefighter and holds several certifications related to dealing with hazardous materials and disaster response.
Previously, Shea had been awarded a competitive Verizon Foundation scholarship and served as vice president of his high school's chapter of the National Honor Society.
Inspired by the onerous cost of healthcare for a family member with a chronic health condition, Shea hopes to use his business skills to one day start his own discount medical supply business. "It feels great to be recognized for such an honor, especially one connected to the legacy of William G. McGowan," Shea said. "I will continue to do my best, strive for my goals and work hard, just as Mr. McGowan would have done."
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.
In selecting Shea, the committee also considered his required 1,000-word essay on the contributions of William G. McGowan to today's business world in general and to the telecommunications field in particular.
McGowan "showed how it was possible for David to take on Goliath if only he had the righteousness, work ethic, and strength to endure," Shea wrote in his essay.
