What It Means to Receive

Last weekend, the Miller College of Business had its annual scholarship awards brunch, where scholarship recipients and donors are recognized.  The event’s speakers discussed both sides of a scholarship:  giving and receiving.  As the donors spoke, I understood what it means to give back to a university that’s made such a difference in your life.  As the students spoke about what it means to receive a scholarship, I found myself reflecting on what that means in my own life.

My scholarship was ultimately what led me to Ball State and the Miller College of Business.  As a Miller Scholar, I receive tuition and fees, a laptop, a study abroad stipend, and more.  These benefits were instrumental in deciding where to attend school. 

Today, they still make a difference for me.  Without my scholarship, paying for school would be easier said than done – college isn’t cheap!  I also never would have had the opportunity to spend two weeks on a study abroad in Europe this summer.  That alone was a once in a lifetime experience, provided by the generosity of my donors.  And I know these benefits are just beginning, as there are many more to come throughout college and my future career.

I really should stop and think more often about how much of a difference my donors have made in my life.  They didn’t know who I would be, yet they provided the money for my scholarship that allows me to attend school so I will one day have a successful career.  What an incredible act of generosity. 

It’s no wonder some of the donors that spoke at the awards brunch had once been students who had received scholarships as well.  Maybe one day I’ll have the opportunity to pass along the generosity that I’ve received too.

Miller Interview Day 2011

This past weekend was the Interview Day for the class of 2015 Miller Scholars. We will have a full 4 classes of honors students for the first time next year! For me, Saturday was especially exciting since I was not being interviewed this time around. I remember my own Interview Day was what made my college choice final - Ball State and MCOB was exactly where I wanted to be! This year though, I enjoyed being a student host rather than an interviewee. We spent most of the day with the prospective students, guiding them to their interviews, getting to know them, and sharing our experiences with them.

There were several current student panels for both prospective students and their parents. I was actually on a panel for the parents. It was interesting because I was the only freshman on a panel of sophomores and juniors. For the most part, I was unable to answer questions, especially those about internships and preparedness for them. But whenever there was a question about transitioning to college life or being a freshman on campus, it was all me!

I thoroughly enjoyed Interview Day 2011, especially getting to know my student interviewee. I am looking forward to meeting our next class of Miller Scholars in the fall!

P.S. It’s not too late to apply for the Miller HONORS Program – deadline is March 1st! Apply Here!

Miller Scholars & Honors

I first learned about the Miller Scholars & Honors program 3 years ago when it began. I knew then that it was something I wanted to be a part of, even so far down the road. And here I am today, writing a blog about my experiences as a Miller Scholar.

The Miller Scholars are representatives of the Miller College of Business (MCOB) at BSU. These students are labeled some of the “best and brightest” of the college, which is quite an honor. The program provides full tuition for about 10 students in each freshman class. The scholarship also includes a study abroad stipend, networking opportunities, and more.

Aside from the Miller Scholars, there are also 10 students from each class selected to be Miller Honors students, who have the same opportunities without the scholarship. On a day-to-day basis, there is no distinction made between us. We are all classmates and we are all part of the Miller Honors Program. We really are becoming a close-knit group of students.

As a Miller Scholar, we have each been matched with a Miller Mentor, who is a MCOB alumnus and who wants to be involved with the college. My mentor is the CEO of his own company, which makes him a great contact for me since my major is Entrepreneurship. He has already been an excellent mentor, who genuinely cares for me and my future.

In October he invited me to attend the MCOB Alumni Awards dinner. This is an annual event that is attended by a large number of alumni, which makes it a great networking opportunity. As a freshman, I was honored to attend. At the dinner, I joined a table of my mentor’s associates, his son (who graduated from the MCOB in Entrepreneurship) and his son’s fiancée, as well as several other current students. I even had the opportunity to meet the VP of World Travel at the Walt Disney Company, who is also a Ball State grad.

As I continue through the College of Business, I can foresee the Miller Honors program providing me with even more excellent opportunities that will make a difference in my future.

If you have an interest in the Miller Honors program, definitely check out their website! The deadline for the 2011-2012 Miller Scholars is January 31, 2011. Also, applications for the 2011-2012 Miller Honors Programs are due March 1, 2011.