PULLMAN, Wash. Justin Thornley, an entrepreneurship major in the College of Business at Washington State University, has been awarded a full-tuition scholarship for his junior year at WSU from the William G. McGowan Charitable Fund.
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 been privileged to be a participant and has awarded a full-tuition scholarship for the past four years. Student eligibility is determined based on excellence of character, leadership capabilities, community involvement, academic excellence shown by a minimum 3.0 GPA, and nomination by the business school faculty. Students are required to submit a 1,000 word essay on the contributions of McGowan to today’s business world, along with an essay that demonstrates their potential and aspirations to transfer academic knowledge into today’s business world.
Prior to enrolling in the College of Business, Thornley worked for two venture capital companies and then launched his own consulting firm. In addition to maintaining a high GPA, he currently works at the Economic Development Administration and manages MBA students who perform feasibility analysis regarding the market viability of new product concepts for individuals and small businesses.
As executive vice president of the Students in Free Enterprise club for the 2008/09 academic year, Thornley successfully launched a strategy to expand the chapter’s impact by assisting economic development and combating poverty in depressed Washington counties. Next year, he will serve as the president and has plans to own retail operations on the WSU campus, expand consulting for small businesses, develop programs that encourage entrepreneurship in regional high schools, and increase economic development efforts in Washington’s most depressed counties.
The WSU College of Business 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 https://www.business.wsu.edu.
