Photo: Margaret McKinney/Highlands University
Business junior Denise Lujan, center, was awarded the top Bloomberg Business week scholarship May 1. At left is business professor Melanie Zollner, with Margaret Young, dean of the School of Business, Media, and Technology, at right.
Las Vegas, N.M. — Three New Mexico Highlands University business students earned scholarships from Bloomberg Businessweek for researching and writing outstanding business case studies.
The scholarships were funded through Bloomberg Businessweek’s B-School Connection Program. The winning case studies will be published on the program’s website.
The Highlands University Foundation also provided a match for the scholarships.
Denise Lujan, a junior accounting major from Pecos, New Mexico,won the $500 gold scholarship.
Melanie Wood, a junior business administration major from the Highlands Rio Rancho Center,won the $300 silver scholarship.
Amanda Segobia, a psychology major and business minor sophomore from the Highlands Farmington Center, won the $200 bronze scholarship.
All three students are in business faculty Melanie Zollner’s principles of management course this semester, with Wood and Segobia taking it online.
The 21-year-old Lujan has earned a 3.78 GPA.
“In my case study, I was impressed with Aflac’s record of corporate responsibility because this isn’t always the case with insurance companies,” Lujan said. “I’ve always enjoyed writing. I really appreciated how professor Zollner put so much time and energy into helping us strengthen our writing skills.
“All the professors in the School of Business are fantastic, and very knowledgeable in their fields. They give students so much personal attention to help us succeed,” Lujan said.
Margaret Young, dean of the School of Business, Media, and Technology, presented the students with their scholarship awards.
“In our School of Business, we focus on the importance of writing well,” Young said. “Communicating your ideas effectively in both the written and spoken word is critical in your quest for professional growth and success in the business world.”
“I’m very proud of these three dedicated students,” Zollner said. “They did great research for their papers and demonstrated strong analytical skills in their writing. I encourage my students to look at both how the company presents itself, as well as the impressions that stakeholders have of the company.”
Young worked with Bloomberg Businessweek to establish the scholarship at Highlands, now in its fourth year. The students researched and referenced Bloomberg Businessweek articles as well as other sources to write their business case studies.