Editor’s Note: Eligible MDCOB juniors and seniors, by the semester the scholarship is awarded (with priority to juniors), may apply for the Ted Bauer Undergraduate Business Emerging Scholars Program though the Gator Scholarship Portal.
Fifteen Marilyn Davies College of Business (MDCOB) students are living proof of what happens when a donor is laser-focused on changing the trajectory of students’ lives.
The C.T. Bauer Foundation and MDCOB recently demonstrated what is possible when thoughtful, targeted philanthropy intersects with worthy beneficiaries. The Foundation had asked how to help business students with notable potential but standard grades; the answer was the new Ted Bauer Undergraduate Business Emerging Scholars Program. Ten of the Emerging Scholars have increased their GPAs, and 50% of those are now on the Dean’s List.
“We are honored that the C.T. Bauer Foundation partnered with the college to create this innovative scholarship program,” said Dean Jonathan Davis. “Rather than focusing narrowly on GPA, the foundation recognized that many of our most capable students are burdened by financial obligations that limit their academic performance. By strategically supporting those students, the foundation has removed a key barrier to their success and has unlocked academic improvements in just one semester.”
The MDCOB Ted Bauer Undergraduate Business Emerging Scholars Program is designed to support students who have faced academic challenges due to demanding life circumstances, such as full-time work or family responsibilities, and are now ready to refocus on their education. This scholarship offers both financial and academic support to help Ted Bauer Undergraduate Business Emerging Scholars successfully complete their two-year graduation plans.
Specifically, the scholarship award provides $9,000 per academic year to Emerging Scholars during their junior and senior years to cover tuition and fees after other financial aid is applied. The structured support from MDCOB includes:
- Personalized academic coaching from a dedicated program coordinator
- A two-year graduation plan
- Regular progress check-ins
- Access to internships, workshops, and student engagement opportunities through the MDCOB Career Center and student organizations.
Transfer student Alexandra Balli says the program helped her gain academic confidence and structure with personal goals to be on the Dean’s List and graduate Cum Laude. When she transferred to UHD in the fall of 2024 from a community college, she dedicated herself to being a full-time student by getting involved with campus activities, attending the tutoring center, and communicating with her professors. “I later became a student leader of student organizations like the American Marketing Association and the Human Resources Management Association, which helped me discover my major and what career paths interest me.”
“I’m now not only debt free in my undergraduate journey but also expanding my horizons by enrolling in the Foreign Country/Region Study Tour course, which I have selected as one of the electives to meet my degree requirements. This course includes a university-sponsored summer trip during which we will visit Paris and London for a few days.” said Balli.
Emerging Scholar Andy Chavez, who is now on the Dean’s List, credits the program with affording him the time to focus on school more than before. “My GPA has crossed the 3.0 mark, something I thought wasn't achievable,” said Chavez. “The daily meetings with my mentor have helped me stay focused on making sure my semester goals are met.”
His message to the C.T. Bauer Foundation is “Thank you. Your support of students who are not only at the top but those who are almost there allows a new group of people to have hope in reaching their dreams.”