Scholarship recipients (R-L: Kornelia Kostka, Krystyna Rastorguieva, Lauren Hackler, and April Henry. Not pictured: Ryan Faucher) with Dr. Rene Mueller, director of the Global Business Resource Center and Global Scholars Program.
Five College of Charleston School of Business students were awarded scholarships at this week’s 41st annual S.C. International Trade Conference (SCITC). This is the second consecutive year that College of Charleston students have swept SCITC scholarship awards.
RELATED: Learn more about the College’s major in international business.
Each year, the SCITC presents scholarships to students in memory of Mrs. Margaret A. Patrick, who was instrumental in the development of the annual trade conference and its strong support of transportation education, and in memory of W. Don Welch, the former executive director of the South Carolina Ports Authority. Five scholarships, ranging from $1,000 to $2,500, were awarded at the 2014 conference held at the Wild Dunes Resort with more than 400 attendees from across the state and southeast region.
All students from South Carolina colleges and universities were invited to participate in the competitive application process. The winners were selected based on a proven interest or experience in international trade or related area, academic standing and performance, a personal narrative, letter(s) of recommendation, honors and extracurricular activities.
The College of Charleston students who received scholarships are:
- Krystyna Rastorguieva, international business major (Don Welch Scholarship sponsored by the S.C. International Trade Conference Board of Directors in the amount of $2,500);
- Kornelia Kostka, double major in international business and finance (Margaret A. Patrick Scholarship sponsored by the S.C. International Trade Conference Board of Directors in the amount of $2,500);
- April Henry, international business major (scholarship sponsored by the Propeller Club of South Carolina in the amount of $1,500);
- Ryan Faucher, international business major and Honors College student (Customs Broker and Freight Forwarder Scholarship in the amount of $1,000); and
- Lauren Hackler, economics major with minors in French and international studies (scholarship sponsored by the Butler C. Derrick, Jr. Memorial Scholarship Fund in the amount of $1,000).
“This scholarship has provided me with additional motivation to expand my horizons and work even harder to develop my skillset as a student,” says Kostka. “Balancing athletic and academic obligations while finding time for extracurricular activities can be challenging, so I am very thankful for South Carolina International Trade Conference’s support as I aspire to reach my goals.”
“I am extremely proud that, for the last two years, our business students have swept the South Carolina International Trade Conference scholarship awards,” says Rene Mueller, director of College of Charleston’s Global Business Resource Center and Global Scholars Program, and professor of marketing. “I am constantly amazed at the impressive academic and work backgrounds of the students. Not only do these students have impressive GPAs but they also have extensive work and extracurricular experiences. They have studied abroad, participated in service learning programs, and have taken advantage of international trade internships. The scholarship awards are well deserved.”
