BYU Marriott School Announces 2013 Hawes Scholars

PROVO, Utah – Feb 14, 2013 – The Brigham Young University Marriott School of Management named nine MBA candidates as its 2013 Hawes Scholars. The honor, which carries a cash award of $10,000, is the highest distinction given to MBA students at the school.

“This award is in recognition of more than academic success,” says Craig Merrill, MBA program director. “These recipients have an abundance mentality and work to make each other better and to create opportunities for one another. They stand out for their broad contribution.”

The 2013 Hawes Scholars are second-year MBA students Sunshine Cardell, from Pocatello, Idaho; Jimmy Dunn, from Shaker Heights, Ohio; Tim Hansen, from West Jordan, Utah; Nicole Jensen, from Othello, Wash.; Nathan Packer, from Fruit Heights, Utah; Preston Peterson, from Rigby, Idaho; Vandita Razdan, from Kurukshetra, India; Scott Stonehocker, from Calgary, Alberta; and Sam Wright, from Draper, Utah.

Students and faculty nominate and vote on each year’s Hawes Scholars. Final selection is made by the Hawes Scholar Committee and is based on academic performance, leadership maturity and a commitment to high ethical standards.

Named for successful corporate executive Rodney A. Hawes Jr. and his wife, Beverly, the award was created in 1998 to recognize the accomplishments of graduating MBA students.

The Hawes Scholar award is one of many initiatives made possible by the Hawes Endowment, a gift of more than $2 million used to facilitate the growth and enhancement of the Marriott School’s nationally ranked MBA program. Mr. Hawes, a Baker Scholar from the Harvard Business School, and his wife wanted to create a tradition at the Marriott School that recognizes and rewards excellence among students entering the business world. In addition to being widely recognized for his expertise in financial matters, Hawes has a reputation for integrity, hard work and community service.

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. 

Sunshine Cardell graduated with her bachelor’s degree in finance in 2007 from BYU­­­­–Idaho. A dynamic leader from Pocatello, Idaho, Cardell participates in several student organizations, including Cougar Capital, the Graduate Finance Association, the Miller New Venture Challenge Leadership Team, MBA Association and Women in Management. Her work experience includes positions with LDS Media Services, Eastern Idaho Entrepreneurial Center and Renewabletech Ventures. As a new mother, Cardell enjoys spending time with her daughter, Tori, and her husband, Jason. “Attending BYU for my MBA has been a tremendous blessing,” Cardell says. “The program provides rich learning opportunities, and the extracurricular experiences have helped me to expand my skills, network and mindset.”

Jimmy Dunn, from Shaker Heights, Ohio, brought extensive marketing experience to the MBA program along with a passion for Ultimate Frisbee. He graduated from BYU with his undergraduate degree in English in 2008. A born leader, Dunn is part of the Miller New Venture Challenge Leadership Team, the MBA Marketing Association and the MBA Tech Society. He currently serves as executive VP in the MBA Association. After graduation Dunn plans on working for Johnson & Johnson as an associate brand manager. “I’ve gained a first-rate business education from some of the best faculty in the world,” Dunn says. “I’ve spent the last two years in the company of remarkable individuals who will be my friends for years to come.”

Timothy Hansen grew up in West Jordan, Utah. He graduated from BYU in 2008 with a bachelor’s degree in business management. From there, he worked as a consultant for Accenture in San Francisco. Hansen serves as the vice president of finance in the MBA Association and is a member of Cougar Capital, the MBA Tech Society and the Graduate Finance Association. He also acts as a mentor to nine first-year MBA students in the Sherpa program. After graduation, Hansen plans on pursuing opportunities in venture capital. “The unique blend of secular and religious learning coupled with the students’ desires to help one another creates an atmosphere that fosters individual and group growth and progress,” Hansen says.

As a former health inspector for the state of Washington and a product administrator at Zions Bank, Nicole Jensen brings vast experience to the MBA program and especially to her emphasis in finance. She serves in numerous leadership positions including: Miller New Venture Challenge assistant director, MBA student recruiting manager, Women in Management VP of finance and MBA Association singles representative. A native of Othello, Wash., she completed her bachelor’s degree at BYU in community health in 2003. She enjoys running, hiking, traveling and doing triathlons in her free time. “Wherever my life leads, I want to leave the world a better place,” Jensen says. “I’m a better person because I attended BYU’s MBA program.”

Prior to entering the MBA program Nathan Packer worked as a portfolio manager at ICO Management after spending three years as project manager to the CEO at Ivory Homes. The Fruit Heights, Utah-native has an extensive history of university involvement at BYU, serving as vice president of the MBA Strategy and Consulting Club and as a finance sherpa. He also participates in Cougar Capital, a student-run, private equity fund. Packer, who is married and has two sons, earned his bachelor’s degree in finance from BYU in 2007. He hopes to use his BYU experience to help him with his future job at Amazon.com as a senior financial analyst. “My experiences here have exceeded my expectations,” Packer says. “As I return to the business world, I feel equipped to contribute to any organization I belong to.”

Preston Peterson is originally from Rigby, Idaho. Prior to the MBA program, Peterson worked at Zions Bank as a portfolio manager. He plans on working for American Airlines in their network planning department after graduation. Winner of the Stoddard Prize and the Ray and Helen Nelson Scholarship, Peterson appreciates the solid foundation the MBA program provides. As head sherpa he has overseen a team of 39 second-year MBA students as they mentor first-year students through the internship process. In his free time he likes to golf and fish as well as traveling with his wife, Rebekah, and daughter, Madelyn. “For me, the MBA program was about building skills and networks,” Peterson says. “The exposure not only to companies but also to people has been key for me.”

The daughter of two law professors, Vandita Razdan received her undergraduate degree in engineering from Panjab University in Kurukshetra, India. Razdan enjoys traveling and exploring different cultures. She is the recipient of the Academic Excellence Award OBHR Major 2012, the Eccles Scholars Award, Dean’s Scholarship, Culbert Laney Memorial Scholarship and the Cook/NAC International Student Scholarship. Prior to attending the MBA program, Razdan worked as a senior systems engineer at Infosys Limited where she managed customer support for clients across 33 countries. After graduation Razdan plans on working as a senior associate at PricewaterhouseCoopers. “I have immensely enjoyed being a part of this diverse culture where we work hard, learn from each other’s experiences and help one another to excel,” Razdan says. “BYU concentrates on integrity in business, and I intend to reflect that through my actions.”

Scott Stonehocker began his MBA journey with the desire to give back. As the founder and chairman of the Same Same But Different Foundation, Stonehocker built a 7,000-square-foot hotel in Cambodia designed to generate tuition for underprivileged youth. A Canadian originally from Calgary, Alberta, Stonehocker earned his bachelor’s degree in French from BYU in 2006. He later went on to teach seminary and speak on the CES youth circuit. He is currently president of the MBA Association and a member of the MBA Marketing Club. Stonehocker spends his free time hiking, downhill biking and importing luxury cars. “The BYU MBA program has equipped me with the business skills and connections necessary to do more,” Stonehocker says. “It has trained my mind and hands to be a better leader in business and the community.”

Before coming to the MBA program, Draper, Utah-native Sam Wright worked for Cicero Group where he implemented Groupon’s global insight system in 41 countries. He also worked as the managing director of Education Direction — a company that improves student academic performance. His passion for education and natural flair for philanthropy led Wright to raise more than $50,000 for organizations like Sowers of Hope and other nonprofits to benefit schools in the Democratic Republic of Congo. He is the recipient of the Dean’s Scholarship and the Stephen Mack Covey Scholarship. Wright earned his bachelor’s degree from BYU in economics and plans to start his own company after graduation. “I have been changed by the MBA program,” Wright says. “I will be a better leader in business, my community, my church and my family because of it.”