WSU Business Student Recognized as McGowan Scholar

PULLMAN, Wash. – When Seth Eshelman started applying for scholarships during his junior year, the best he hoped for was a couple of small awards that would help with the cost of his senior year as a management information systems and finance double major in the Washington State University College of Business.

In the end, he received a full scholarship from the William G. McGowan Charitable Fund for his final year at WSU.

The McGowan Charitable Fund established the McGowan Scholars program, which recognizes the academic achievements and excellence of students pursuing a major offered by an accredited business school. It is designed to encourage leadership ability, interpersonal skills, and a significant involvement in academic, campus, and community activities. It also recognizes excellence of character, a spirit of innovation and entrepreneurial potential.

Each year colleges and universities across the nation submit proposals to be selected for the McGowan Scholars program. WSU’s College of Business has awarded a full-tuition scholarship for the past three years. Student eligibility is determined based on leadership capabilities and interpersonal skills, the student must contribute time and talent to campus and community, and strive for academic excellence with a minimum 3.0 GPA. Students must also display intellectual curiosity and entrepreneurial potential. Students are required to submit a 1,000 word essay on contributions of McGowan to today’s business world, along with the WSU scholarship application.

“I feel very fortunate and excited to be named a McGowan Scholar,” says Eshelman. “McGowan was a savvy business man who was willing to go out of his way to help someone else. He was determined and worked hard, and the legacy that he’s leaving behind is doing great things for future students and the community. It is a great pleasure to be honored with a scholarship in his name.”

“Seth is an exceptional student in and outside of the classroom,” says K.D. Joshi, associate professor in the CB’s Department of Information Systems. “In my opinion, his strong work ethic and an insatiable drive to compete will make him a very successful IT professional.  I truly believe that he will greatly benefit from the McGowan award and it will help him to continue to achieve scholarly success at WSU.”

A first-generation WSU student from Zillah, Wash., Eshelman has been intrigued by the passion, strength, and Cougar spirit he saw when visiting campus for sporting events with his family. After graduation, he plans to work for KPMG in Seattle, where he did an IT advising internship over the summer.

The WSU College of Business is accredited at the baccalaureate, masters, and doctoral levels by AACSB International – the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. The college spans the four campuses of WSU with the largest campus in Pullman and urban campuses located in Spokane, Vancouver, and the Tri-Cities area. The college conducts scholarly and applied research, and offers degree programs in a variety of business disciplines, and in hospitality business management, supplementing face-to-face offerings through innovative online learning and international programs. For more information, visit the college’s Web site at www.business.wsu.edu.