We love sharing stories about our students. Here are some from the Malcolm Baldrige School of Business. They are all part of the 2022 class of Baldrige Scholars, representing the top five percent of graduates from the school. A few of these students took a moment to express what the award means to them. As one recipient expressed, “this award is my testimony that hard work pays off and if I can think it, I can achieve it. This award means the world to me.”
Their stories gives you the all the feels. A dinner to honor these scholars takes place Thursday, May 12 at Waterbury Country Club.
Barry F. Stern
Where are you from? Right now I’m stationed in Greenville, NC. I grew up in South-Western PA, and have lived for extended periods in North and South Carolina, and Northern / Southern California.
What are your plans for the future?
After finishing my MS in Project Management, I intended to retire from Active Guard and Reserve (AGR) military service and move on to the civilian work sector. My background is in Public Health (Epidemiology) and Forensic Toxicology. After spending the past two decades working on a terrorism response team as the Analytical Science Officer, I thought that project management would broaden my window of employability.
Immediately upon course completion I was given the opportunity to become the Deputy Commander (DC) for my team. This new position is heavy in budget, contracting, scheduling, and team operations. None of which I would be familiar with had it not been for this degree program. My intention now is to work as the DC for a few years, utilizing what I’ve learned in real time and on a daily basis. Hopefully this new information and experience will benefit me in my “what comes next.”
What does this award mean to you?
This award means quite a bit to me. I feel that extra confidence in completing a task, and completing it well. As I was beginning my journey through this degree plan (March 2020), COVID was already presented across the globe. Our team was tasked with performing nasal swab testing on every inmate in every prison across the state along with some food production facility employees and their families. It was a large job with long days and extensive travel, and we ended up staying in several places with no internet. Completing course requirements in the front of a vehicle in the parking lot of a place with free WIFI became my norm. It was challenging, but it was handled.
This award is also validation and motivation for myself and my family, as it shows that putting your mind to something and being tenacious can yield real dividends. I’m very happy that my degree is completed, and honored to be recognized as a 2022 Malcolm Baldrige Scholar. I’ve been truly blessed!
Jazmin Elizabeth Andrews
Where are you from? South Richmond Hill, New York
What are the plans for the future?
This summer, I will return to CLA (CliftonLarsonAllen) for another assurance internship. Beginning in January 2023, I will begin my full-time position as an assurance associate with CLA.
My career dreams are to become a real estate investor and entrepreneur by opening an athletic training facility.
What does this award mean to you?
Becoming a Baldrige Scholar is such an honor. I am grateful to be considered one of the top students in the Malcolm Baldrige School of Business. This award proves to me that the hard work and dedication to my academics over the last four years have paid off and also have not gone unnoticed.
D. Caron, she/her
Where are you from? I grew up in Belair, Md but have since started a life in Wilmington, Delaware.
What are your plans for the future?
I have begun a career in accounting since finishing school and plan to take the CPA exams soon. After that, I will focus my attention on a pursuing a Doctorate in Business Administration and hope to one day teach the next generation of accountants. I also hope to bring visibility to those who are transgender in the accounting field, as it seems there are very few of us.
What does this award mean to you?
I joined the Army right out of high school because I did not believe myself capable of attaining a degree of any level. I did not believe, I was smart enough or even that I could focus enough on my studies to achieve such a goal. Receiving this recognition not only proves how wrong I was, but also that people should never place such doubt in their own capabilities.
Kristen Kelly
Where are you from? I am from Waterbury. I graduated from Sacred Heart High School in 1982 and from Mattatuck Community College in 1987 with my AS in Business Management.
What are your plans for the future?
I am enrolled with Post’s MBA Program. My first class began March 7, 2022. I have worked for Webster Bank in Credit Risk Management for just over 8 years now. Most of my 30 plus year career has been in banking.
What does this award me to you?
This award is such an honor to me! As I was born in Waterbury in 1964, I recall Mr. Baldrige being the CEO of Scovill’s prior to US Secretary of Commerce. The principles he championed, including innovation, customer as a primary stakeholder, and organizational responsibility, really resonated with me throughout working towards my BS in Finance. I find myself continually referring back to these principles in my career and am so impressed with how relevant they are to all organizations. I returned to Post University in 2019 at 54 years old, as I had taken several classes back in the early 1990’s, to complete my degree in Finance. Of all that I have learned in this time, I found that learning about the Baldrige Principles to have been the highlight of my educational journey. To be chosen as a Baldrige Scholar is an achievement that I am so very grateful for as it is an incredible honor to be a graduate of The Malcolm Baldrige School of Business.
Giorgio Scarpecci
Where are you from? Rome, Italy.
What are your plans for the future?
After the graduation, I will go working for a Sports intermediation company in Italy that operates as a bridge for student-athletes between Italy, the USA, and South America.
What does this award mean to you?
Being nominated as a Baldrige Scholar is a great accomplishment for me, it is a source of pride for me to see all the effort I have put in over the past three years as a student athlete from another country paid off. Also, being on my path to become a Baldrige Scholar I have been able to get a solid education through an unforgettable experience.
Anthony Monteiro
Where are you from? Prospect, CT
What are your plans for the future?
My plans for the future are to get a job doing digital marketing or social media marketing for a good company and save up enough money to move somewhere where I can do marketing for a video game development studio.
What does this award me to you?
I am grateful to receive this award as I received my Bachelors from the School of Business and made the decision to continue on with my Masters. I am also thankful for the School of Business for giving me the opportunity to come back and enjoy being on campus and around my teammates for one more year after the Covid-19 pandemic.
Katharina Kühne
Where are you from? Mönchengladbach, Germany
What are your plans for the future?
First of all, I will come back to Post University in August to get another bachelor’s degree in marketing and play another season for Post University’s Women’s Soccer Team. Afterward, I want to go back to Germany and find a job in a sports-related company because that is my passion. I believe that with two bachelor’s degrees, a master’s degree, and achievements like NSLS and being a Baldrige Scholar, I will be able to find the right company and job.
What does this award mean to you?
I am beyond proud and honored to be named a Baldrige Scholar, considering that I am an international student athlete starting my MBA journey during the pandemic and thus, dealing with many challenges at the same time! It shows me that all my hard work, dedication, and belief in myself in and out of the classroom are recognized. Being named a Baldrige Scholar demonstrates my overall passion as a student, athlete, and leader at Post University through my path to success and growth. It means a lot to know that all the success and failures along the way provided this achievement, and it will serve as motivation for the future to continue to aspire and achieve even when it seems impossible.
David Mollenthiel
Where are you from? I was born in Danbury, CT. However, my Father is Trinidadian and my Mother is from Canada.
What are your plans for the future?
I plan to receive my MBA in this next year with a concentration in Marketing. I have already lined up and started working as a marketing manager with KeeperStop. I plan on getting my real estate license after my Masters.
What does this award mean to you?
This award means so much to me as it shows that my hard work, going above and beyond in and out of the classroom over the past 4 years haven’t gone unnoticed. Also moving forward I will have the connections of the great individuals that have graduated before me and those who will come after.
Brianna Root
Where are you from? Bristol, CT
What are your plans for the future?
My aspirations for the future are to become an AA Affiliated General Manager for a baseball team.
What does this award me to you?
This award continues to show me that my hard work is validated and to continue to know my worth.
Charles Carroll
Where you are from? I am from Southbury, CT
What are your plans for the future?
My plans for the future are to grow into my new career which began almost immediately after graduating with my MBA.
What does this award mean to you?
The award means a great deal to me as it is a source of pride acquired through hard work which my children witnessed.
Margaret Williams
Where are you from? Waterbury, CT
What are your plans for the future?
In the future, I would like to open a Community Center to reach out to people who are in need of services with the focus on mental and physical health. There are so many struggles in our communities, and people need to know there is help for those who have a desire to do better.
What does this award me to you?
I am honored to receive this award and it is my testimony that hard work pays off and if I can think it, I can achieve it. This award means the world to me.
Andrea Sandoval
Where are you from? Guadalajara, Mexico.
What are your plans for the future?
I want to stay in the country this year to learn more and continue to grow as a person and a student. Get exposed to more experiences for work and this beautiful country to develop my skills and profession.
What does this award me to you?
This award has been a privilege. Being part of this advisory board and being part of such an important and interesting group. It gives me the confidence to believe that I can achieve anything I set my mind to. The sky’s the limit!
Other Malcolm Baldrige Scholars
- Gretel Valladares – St. Petersburg, FLA
- Nathalie E. Riviere-Mitchell – Waterbury, CT
- Bridgette Holm – Glastonbury, CT
- Adrian Saidi – Muster, Germany
- Keifer Nielsen – Elizabethtown, KY
- Joshua Musial – San Pedro, CA
- Wesley Wills – Fort Knox, KY
- Robert Olah – Trumbull, CT
- Madison Laferriere – Waterbury, CT
- Krystle Lambert – Windsor, CT
- Kailee Adams – Shelton, CT
- Felix Hinderthuer – Mutterstadt, Germany
- Griffin Maguire- Watertown, CT
- Danessa Harris – Naugatuck, CT
- David Pinto-Ricardo – Middletown, NY