Dedicated to Developing Tomorrow’s Ethical Business Leaders that will have a Positive
Impact on Business and Society
The Fowler Scholars Program was created to educate and prepare a select group of Fowler
College of Business students for accelerated and lasting leadership roles in global
business and society. Student development will be based upon proven best practices
in curricular and extracurricular programming combined with exposure and interaction
with current business and community leaders. Students are selected holistically on
a variety of characteristics – demonstrated leadership, ethical conduct, collaborative
nature, initiative, and academic ability. This is a leadership program – not an honors
program. The Fowler College of Business selects the complete student who has the potential
to positively impact business and society based on their ethical grounding and well-rounded
nature. The Fowler College of Business aims to develop their skills under the direction
of top faculty and professional mentors so that their impact will be maximized and
potential realized.
About The Fowler Scholars Program
The Fowler College of Business proudly announced its inaugural class of Fowler Scholars
for the fall 2018 semester and currently admits 4 freshman a year.
Great leaders acquire AND apply knowledge. A major tenant of the Fowler Scholars Program
is that students are provided the advantage of advanced and directed learning within
a small learning community and in turn will apply this knowledge in practical “real-world”
settings.
Speakers are successful business and influential community leaders, subject matter
experts, as well as senior faculty and alumni. A typical semester would have 5 topical
discussions, 1-2 case studies, and 6-8 guest speakers.
One of the most important aspects of the Program is the opportunity to attend and
participate in special networking events, both on and off campus. These events offer
students a unique opportunity to meet successful leaders in business and the broader
community in professional settings.
Each Fowler Scholar will experience a Winter Semester travel abroad trip where they
will gain a global perspective and understand the nuances for conducting business
with differing cultures and social mores.
A professional internship is an important element of the Fowler Scholars Program and
a requirement to complete the program. Internships provide students the opportunity
to apply their classroom experiences in the real-world and gain skills and competencies
that will allow them to launch a successful career. Internships are helpful in identifying the types of jobs and tasks that students like and dislike
and may also lead to a full-time position after graduation.
Service Learning experiences offer students another opportunity to apply knowledge
gained to “real world” problems. Each student is required to participate one or more
service learning projects that benefit the community.
Rhys Aiem is a Freshman majoring in General Business. Aiem’s career interests span
from the sports industry to finance. A Helix High School graduate, Aiem participated
in basketball, golf, Interact Community Service Club, and the La Mesa Youth Advisory Commission while juggling studies as an honor roll student.
Rhys credits the La Mesa Youth Advisory Commission with teaching him leadership and
how to become an involved citizen as he led campus clean ups and reading sessions for younger students. Rhys’s parents
have served as an inspiration, teaching him “to respect everyone, be open-minded, and put myself in others’ shoes.” As he begins
in the FSP, Rhys shares, “I’m very eager to begin as a Fowler Scholar to network and
meet new people. I know the program will give me opportunities to succeed throughout
college and give me the resources to find a job after graduation.”
Gaby Mabey is a Freshman majoring in Marketing. She hopes to one day transfer those
marketing skills to a career in Digital Marketing as a Social Media Manager. This
Helix High School graduate was an honor roll student who participated in swim, water
polo, and airbands. When she wasn’t focused on school or sports, Gaby mentored special
needs students assisting them with their homework. She also volunteers at her church
summer camps watching the infants in the nursery. Gaby shares that her parents have
served as an inspiration to her because of their hard work and continued care for
both Gaby and her brother. She is enthusiastic about starting in the Fowler Scholars
program and says, “I am most excited to start exploring the unique opportunities the
FSP provides me with and to meet new people in the business world.”
Karl Hedberg joins the Fowler Scholars Program as a Freshman majoring in Management.
Karl dreams of one day starting his own business after graduation. While at Saint
Augustine High School, Karl was an honor roll student who played Lacrosse and served
as the team manager for the basketball team. His mom serves as his biggest inspiration
for her unwavering support and without her, he says he would not be where he is today.
Karl looks forward to his time as a San Diego State University student and a Fowler
Scholars Program student. He explains, “I am excited to be at SDSU and flourish with
the opportunities available in San Diego. As a Fowler Scholar I am ready to learn
and be an outstanding businessman. I hope to benefit my community with the skills
and opportunity I will be receiving.”
Zachary Lafer is a Freshman majoring in General Business. He aspires to work within
real estate development while prioritizing client’s interests and conducting business
ethically. During his Scripps Ranch High School career, he participated in Golf and
was involved in the Student Movement Against Cancer club. Zachary graduated with honors
and also received the Advanced Placement Scholar Award for getting a 3 or above on
3 or more AP tests. Zachary draws inspiration from the late Martin Luther King, Jr.
and says, “He is someone who despite receiving thousands of death threats continued
to do what he believed was right. He gave up his life to make this world a better
place.” Zachary plans to join entrepreneurship clubs and participate in intramural
sports. He looks forward to his time in the Fowler Scholars program and explains,
“I am really excited to create a sense of comradery with my fellow Fowler Scholars
Students, and for us to make each other better, more ethical businessmen and women.”
Natalie Soriano is a Sophomore in SDSU's Fowler College of Business majoring in Accounting.
Soriano hopes to one day work with a company that will connect her with a diverse
group of people. Soriano served as Flute Section Leader and Band Secretary in her
high school's band. She was also a Link Crew leader, the Treasurer for the Westview
chapter of the National Honors Society, and a frequent volunteer at the San Diego
Food Bank. Soriano gathers inspiration from her parents because of how well they work
together as a team. Here's what she looks forward to while being in the Fowler Scholars
Program: "I'm excited because I will gain first-hand business experience and will
be learning from and growing alongside a tight knit group of mentors and peers."
Azareel is a Sophomore in SDSU’s Fowler College Of Business majoring in Marketing.
He hopes to become an active leader on campus, and to achieve a meaningful career
after SDSU. In high school, Azareel was an active member of the Barrio Logan College
Institute, Light of The World Church, and 'Circulo De Hombres' where he created workshops
for young men of color to become leaders. He was also the founder of Communities Converse
Conference and the President of his school's M.E.Ch.A where he promoted cultural identity
on campus. In Azareel's free time, he enjoys weight lifting and boxing. He is excited
to have discussions with other peers, leaders in business, and the mentorship that
will be offered. His biggest inspiration is his parents because they crossed hundreds
of miles to get to this country from Mexico to offer him a better life. He wants to
make their sacrifices worth something and wants to make them proud.
Brady is a Sophomore in SDSU's Fowler College of Business majoring in Finance. His
goals include working for or creating a company that makes a difference in the world,
for his work to symbolize something greater than money, meet and learn from successful
individuals, and grow as a leader himself. He was an active baseball player in high
school and believes he's developed a great deal of his leadership skills from the
sport. Brady is excited to be a part of the Fowler Scholars Program and is eager to
become an example for future Fowler Scholars and Aztecs. When asked about his inspiration,
Brady answered, "My mom fought and beat breast cancer and is a huge inspiration for
me. She has taught me the importance of determination and perseverance and is a big
reason why I have experienced the success that I have throughout my life."
Khai is a Sophomore in SDSU's Fowler College of Business, majoring in Business Administration.
Khai hopes to find a career within healthcare management. He is active in the local
community service youth group, San Diego Asian Youth Community, and competed for his
high school Badminton team. Khai and his family travel to Vietnam once every few years
for donation trips, donating food, supplies, and money to elderly homes and orphanages
across Southern Vietnam. His parents are his inspiration: "Both of my parents like
many immigrants came with very little. They had to sacrifice their college education
to support our family, with my dad working three jobs while my mom took care of her
baby brother. Their tenacity and tireless hard work inspires me to make them proud."
Davis hopes to find a career that combines his passions for business, entrepreneurship,
and ingenuity, with a sense of purpose and serving others. He hopes to be in the position
to give back to my community and SDSU later in my professional life. Davis was a member
of an award winning high school marching band as the Lead Drum Major and Clarinet
Section Leader. He recently completed his second summer internship at San Diego Composites,
an Aerospace Engineering Company. Davis was a volunteer at the Community Council for
Music in the Schools, a not-for profit organization that collects and repairs donated
instruments and issues over 2,000 instruments to students in the San Diego Unified
School District. Davis gets inspiration from leaders that “dream big and do not let
any obstacle seem unsurmountable.”
Landon describes himself as ‘driven’ and aspires to work for an international investment
firm. He competed on the Helix Charter High School swim team and enjoys running in
his free time. Landon shared that his late Mother is his biggest inspiration because
“she taught me that true strength is from within and life is not always fair, but
to try your best to enjoy every day” Landon is fluent in Spanish…and can solve a Rubik’s
Cube!
Rachel is planning to get involved with Associated Student as early as her freshman
year. One day Rachel hopes to own her own business. Rachel’s favorite things at SDSU
are its supportive community and beautiful campus. Rachel’s Parents are the source
of her greatest inspiration: “They're supportive and caring people who have worked
hard for everything they have and I hope to carry on those qualities throughout my
life.”
After graduation, Faith “hopes to have a positive impact on the community that has
given her so much.” In high school Faith was involved in Music with Motion, a tutoring
club that taught music to children at a local middle school. Faith also was student
president of her high school. Faith is an accomplished musician who performed piano
at state conventions, recitals, and competitions over the past 10 years. Faith gets
great inspiration from her grandparents. They arrived as refugees in Malaysia with
no possessions, and worked hard in plantations to earn money and build their own life
in Singapore. They had no education, but managed to open their own clothing business
and send both of their sons to study in England. They began with nothing, but ended
with everything, and their story makes me realize that perseverance can lead to great
things.
In addition to the Fowler Scholars Program, the Shaws support an endowed Fowler College
of Business Student Scholarship and SDSU’s Athletic Department Programs.
If you are interested in learning more about contributing to or creating an endowment
funds that are match eligible in support of the Fowler College of Business, we invite
you to contact Sheona Som.
Gaby Mabey
