Students Jump On Boards

PROVO, Utah – Jan 16, 2009 – A new program at Brigham Young University is giving graduate students the chance to become board members of nonprofits in Utah Valley.

"Marriott On-Board was started by the BYU chapter of Net Impact as a way to give Marriott School graduate students a chance to give back to the community by using their business skills, education and expertise in a nonprofit setting," says Jeff Stevens, a second-year MBA student from Centerville, Utah, and BYU Net Impact vice president of marketing. "Student participants, called board fellows, can gain experience while applying the concepts they are learning in the classroom."

Marriott On-Board offers a rare opportunity for students to get involved in an organization's board of directors and gives students involvement in the strategic planning process of nonprofits. While the students are non-voting members of the boards, they will sit in on board meetings, participate in discussions and assist with projects.

"The Marriott On-Board program is a dream come true for me," says Craig Anderson, a first-year MBA student from Austin, Texas, who was selected to work with United Way of Utah County. "My personal and career plans have always included participation on boards of community organizations; I just assumed it would have to come after a successful professional career."

To participate, students are required to submit applications and interview with Net Impact student leaders.

"One thing we look at is their passion and intrinsic motivation," says A-Young Kim, a second-year MBA student from Seoul, Korea, and Marriott On-Board program director. "They must be committed to furthering this kind of initiative and likely to continue to further these types of initiatives throughout their lives."

This year nine nonprofits have arranged to participate in the program, including: United Way, Red Cross, Habitat for Humanity, Project Read, Community Action Services, Centro Hispano, Reagan Academy, Family Support Center and Merit Academy.

Jonathan Kau, a member of the board of directors at United Way of Utah County and the BYU associate dean of students, is a board mentor for the program and says he has enjoyed seeing the students get involved in their community.

"I have been both pleased and impressed with the students' enthusiasm to learn and their interest in community affairs." Kau says. "Their contributions will prepare them for future service opportunities and further develop their sense of social responsibility."

The Marriott School is located at Brigham Young University, the largest privately owned, church-sponsored university in the United States. The school has nationally recognized programs in accounting, business management, public management, information systems and entrepreneurship. The school's mission is to prepare men and women of faith, character and professional ability for positions of leadership throughout the world. Approximately 3,000 students are enrolled in the Marriott School's graduate and undergraduate programs.