The management information systems program in the Price College of Business held an awards banquet Tuesday, in Oklahoma Memorial Union to honor scholarship recipients and donors.

A total of 35 scholarships, which ranged in value from $500 to 4000, were presented to students in the MIS program. The annual banquet included dinner, a keynote speaker and the presentation of scholarships.

Traci Carte, associate professor of MIS, said students applied for the various scholarships last December through the business college through an online application process. Carte said the applications were then reviewed by the MIS scholarship committee, which is made up of MIS faculty. She said the criteria used to determine who would receive the scholarships were based on "students who are in the MIS program, G.P.A., campus involvement, leadership and financial need."

Students also participated in interviews with representatives from donating companies.

Judy Oliger, administrative assistant and event planner for the banquet, said there were 17 donors, and ConocoPhillips gave the greatest number of scholarships to the program.

Pat Brown, director of recruiting, training and function development for ConocoPhillips, said the company gives scholarships to students in the program because students who come from the MIS program at OU tend to be of extremely high caliber.

"What we're trying to do is give scholarships to students who do well in their studies," Brown said. "We want to align ourselves with those students and create some kind of association between the company and the students."

Josh Hanke, senior MIS and finance major, received scholarship from ConocoPhillips. Hanke said he was selected to interview with many corporations and was chosen by ConocoPhillips based on scholarship's requirements. He said the recognition of his acheivement is most rewarding because it allows for a more positive image when companies like ConocoPhilips are ready to hire graduating students.

"I was impressed with the high morale of their employees that I was able to meet and talk with," Hanke said. "ConocoPhillips is very people-oriented and understands that their employees are their biggest asset."

Brown said each year, three or four students from the MIS program at OU come to the company.

The keynote speaker was Rob Moore, senior director of advanced technologies at Hertz Corporation. Moore spoke to students about the future of information technology and of the expectations of the real world.

"Hertz is one of the leading companies in IT," Moore said. "We've hired many OU students, so I'm honored to speak tonight."

Hanke said he feels the evening went well.

"Our keynote speaker gave an excellent presentation directed toward the MIS students that was full of wisdom with a touch of humor," Hanke said. "The food, speakers and faculty roast were incredibly delightful, making this year's MIS banquet a resounding success, and we are all looking forward to next years."
hello there & you too