WFUSB Partners with The Choctaw Nation to Boost Native American Graduate School Success

3.17.2011 General, News Release, School News

DURANT, Okla.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–The Wake Forest University Schools of Business (WFUSB) and the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma (CNO) Scholarship Advisement Program (SAP) – are joining forces to help Native Americans earn an advanced business degree through the Wake Forest University Master of Arts in Management (MA) program, offered by the Schools of Business.

Beginning in 2011, the partnership between the two entities focuses on long-term, sustainable progress in the CNO members’ academic achievement, financial, academic and advisory support. WFUSB and CNO-SAP will work together to promote the retention and graduation of Choctaw students toward an advanced degree through Wake Forest University Master of Arts in Management program.

“We know the desire to attend college and earn a degree is strong among CNO’s top student scholars,” said CNO-SAP Director Jo McDaniel. “With this partnership with the Choctaw Scholarship Advisement Program we now have a broader approach to helping our students earn important post-graduate degree success.”

A key aspect of the WFUSB/CNO partnership is early involvement with students and parents. In their effort to promote the retention and graduation of Choctaw students, WFUSB and CNO-SAP will reach out to students as early as the eighth or ninth grade through the CNO Scholarship Advisement Program’s workshops, college preparation testing and school visits. WFUSB also will act as a resource for the CNO Scholarship Advisement Program on issues related to college admission and financial aid.

Additional benefits for the Choctaw Nation Scholarship Advisement Program’s students include mentoring and internships available through corporate sponsors. The corporate sponsors benefit from exposure and relationships established with highly educated potential Choctaw employees.

“The Wake Forest University Schools of Business Master of Arts (MA) in Management is designed specifically for recent liberal arts and science graduates; the program broadens students' education beyond the focus of their undergraduate studies. The MA in Management program's learning environment is experiential and hands-on, emphasizing the value of teamwork and collaboration in solving problems,” said Steve Reinemund, Dean of Wake Forest University Schools of Business.

The WFUSB/CNO partnership also will provide the following:

•Up to two Choctaw Scholarships for the Master of Arts in Management Program beginning in 2011
•Full scholarship award for the CNO scholars
•tutoring for all Choctaw scholars
•mentoring support from business professionals for Choctaw scholars as part of the WFUSB Executive Partners Mentorship Program.
Applications for the Master of Arts in Management are accepted until June 15th.

For more information, contact Lance Bennett at the Wake Forest University Schools of Business at 336-758-3849, or email bennetle@wfu.edu .

Corporations or individuals interested in becoming a sponsor or scholarship donor can contact the Scholarship Advisement Program at 1-800-522-6170 Ext. 2383 or email shaunawilliams@choctawnation.com for more information.

About the Wake Forest University Schools of Business Master of Arts in Management Program

Wake Forest University is consistently ranked among the world’s best business schools. The Master of Arts (MA) in Management is an intense program that transforms candidates into polished young professionals with the core business knowledge that employers are actively seeking. The ten-month program also provides a head start toward earning an MBA. Students that complete the MA in Management program and meet the admissions requirements of the Wake Forest Schools of Business Full-time MBA program can return and complete their MBA at Wake Forest in one additional year.

About the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma and The Scholarship Advisement Program

The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma (CNO) is an American Indian Tribe and is federally recognized by the United States government through the Secretary of the Interior. CNO is headquartered in Durant, OK, and serves over 200,000 members worldwide through its social, economic and educational initiatives. The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma Scholarship Advisement Program has approximately 6,000 enrolled members (students and parents) and focuses on collegepreparation and retention for Choctaw students.