Cerise Valenzuela MetzgerA new $1 million endowment will support Chapman University students looking to be leaders in the science and technology industries.
The Wall Family Scholars Program launches in fall 2023 and will feature several high-level industry speakers and networking opportunities for students in addition to CEOs rotating as instructors of classes on subjects like tech enterprise. Students can soon take new courses focused on STEM while they pursue an MBA at Chapman University’s Argyros School of Business and Economics thanks to the $1 million endowment from mergers and acquisitions attorney George Wall.
“Someone with a science background who also knows something about business can add a lot more value to a company – they know the goals, can spot people a lot better, and be a lot more entrepreneurial,” says Thomas Turk, dean of Argyros School of Business and Economics. “For the individual student, it will really accelerate their career.”
The Wall Family Scholars Program will focus on teaching students to think strategically, analyze carefully and lead, Turk says.
“We want to find out from industry leaders what they want the students to learn,” says Turk. “A lot of executives are really excited about us doing this,” he adds.
“George’s generous gift establishes the Wall Family Scholars Program, which is an endowed merit scholarship in the Argyros School of Business and Economics. The endowment will support two merit-based scholarships per year for students enrolled in the MBA program,” says Chapman Executive Vice President and Chief Advancement Officer Matt Parlow.
“The Wall Scholars program is vital to bringing this opportunity to our most talented students,” Turk says.
The program idea came from Doy Henley, former chairman of Chapman’s Board of Trustees. Henley, who owned an engineering company, saw a need for STEM-educated employees who thought like entrepreneurs, Turk says.
