Dean's Journal
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Scholarship Fuels Jesse H. Jones Scholar’s Passion, Drive for Education and Bright Future
Steven L. Fenberg, Community Affairs Offi cer, Houston Endowment, Inc., and Executive Producer, “Brother, Can You Spare a Billion? The Story of Jesse H. Jones,” second from left, presented a fascinating slide show about the life of Jesse Jones at Bauer in spring of 2008. Among those in attendance were Jones students James Thibeaux, Stephen Quezada (’08), and Mary Gould, UH Bauer Director of Registration and Academic Records.
Quyen Le
Each year, hundreds of students attend the C. T. Bauer College of Business on scholarship. The scholarships have wide-ranging criteria and are funded by individuals, corporations, alumni and families. At Bauer, where most students work their way through school and often are the first in their family to attend college, the scholarship money is especially critical — the deciding factor that can make or break a student’s ability to earn a degree.
When Quyen Le landed a Jesse H. Jones Business Leadership Development Scholarship as a freshman, she knew it could make a huge difference, not only in her life, but in the life of her family.
“My father and mother both work tirelessly in the seafood and fishing industry, and my family has always had financial difficulties,” she said. “With this scholarship, I hope to be able to build a better future for all of us and at the same time, accomplish my personal, civic, and career goals.”
Le is already well on her way to achieving that success. She has been able to focus on majoring in both Finance and Marketing while working part-time in the real estate business and in the campaign office of Houston Mayor Bill White. (“I haven’t stopped working since I was 15,” she said, noting that without the scholarship, her work hours would have been far more extensive and her grades likely would have suffered). Le also served as vice president for philanthropy for the American Marketing Association student chapter.
Le values the high level of professionalism and work experience she finds in her fellow students at Bauer, a tangible difference from the students at other schools who embrace simply being a college student. “You can just see it,” Le said. “The atmosphere at Bauer is different, and it’s something I wanted to be a part of.”
Being a Jesse H. Jones scholar has not only allowed her to keep a busy schedule while earning good grades, it offered a built-in support group made up of scholarship staff and students.
“I have no doubt that the Jesse Jones program has had an impact on my success and for that I am grateful,” Le said.
Each year, more than 30 outstanding Bauer students benefit from the Jesse H. Jones scholarships, which were established by The Houston Endowment to assist students with significant financial need who might not otherwise have a chance to attend college on a full-time basis.
The scholarships, established by the Endowment in1958, were first made available at Bauer in 1992, and provide graduating high school students from the Houston area with $12,000, paid over four years. In 2007, more than $3 million in scholarships were awarded to 322 high school graduates.
“Our objective is to assist these students toward graduation and help them become business leaders for Houston, with Mr. Jesse Jones as their exemplar,” said Mary Gould, Director of Registration and Academic Records at Bauer. “The Program puts into action a portion of Mr. Jones’ vision to make Houston a world-class city, by being sure to educate those who would be business leaders in the future.”
By Julie Bonnin
About the University of Houston
The University of Houston, Texas' premier metropolitan research and teaching institution, is home to more than 40 research centers and institutes and sponsors more than 300 partnerships with corporate, civic and governmental entities. UH, the most diverse research university in the country, stands at the forefront of education, research and service with more than 35,000 students.
About the Bauer College of Business
The C.T. Bauer College of Business has been in operation for more than 60 years at the University of Houston main campus. Through its five academic departments, the college offers a full-range of undergraduate, masters and doctoral degrees in business. The Bauer College is fully accredited by the AACSB International - the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. In August 2000, Houston business leader and philanthropist Charles T. (Ted) Bauer endowed the College of Business with a $40 million gift. In recognition of his generosity, the college was renamed the C.T. Bauer College of Business.