Vision
To grow the next generation of ethical, empathetic, and innovative business leaders.
Mission
We believe supporting today’s future business leaders is the best investment we can make for tomorrow. The CBA Scholars Academy gives aspiring professionals a large network of business leaders, a challenging curriculum, and financial assistance so they can begin building their future.
The Scholars Academy meets these goals by providing:
- specific courses, taught by award-winning faculty, that the Scholars complete throughout their four years in the Academy.
- room for organic relationships and mentorship by matching Scholars to business professionals for a year-long mentorship program.
- an annual scholarship of at least $5,000 to each Scholar to help with tuition costs.
- a study abroad trip junior year, offset by a generous stipend.
- retreats freshman and sophomore years for each cohort to build community.
History
An honors-program specifically for business students was the long-time vision of former Dean Louis Pol and CBA faculty. Following a financial gift from the Virginia Pettengill Estate, that dream began to take shape in summer 2014 with the hiring of the first director.
After nearly a year of developing programming and recruiting high school seniors, the director and faculty committee selected the first cohort of 20 incoming freshmen in spring 2015.
Twenty incoming freshmen are added to the Scholars Academy every year, following an extensive application process that includes resumes, cover letters, and extensive interviews. In fall 2018, the Scholars Academy reached full capacity for the first time with four cohorts of Scholars.