Spears Business students distinguished as inaugural Tom Love Scholars

Spears Business students distinguished as inaugural Tom Love Scholars

Tuesday, August 27, 2024

Media Contact: Terry Tush | Director, Marketing and Communications | 405-744-2703 | [email protected]

Twenty Spears School of Business students received recognition as Oklahoma State University's inaugural Tom Love Scholars on Sunday evening during the annual Dean's Scholarship Banquet.

Love's Travel Stops contributed a generous $1.08 million to create the new scholarship program named for the late Tom Love, the company's founder. This year's Tom Love scholarships were among more than 1,360 awards totaling $2.9 million presented to Spears students.

"We are thrilled with the significant vision and investment that Love's Travel Stops is making in Spears Business students through the newly established Tom Love Scholars Program," said Dr. Marlys Mason, associate dean of Spears Business undergraduate programs. "This scholarship initiative not only provides students with generous financial support, but also offers invaluable opportunities for professional growth through networking and mentoring with Love's esteemed leadership. The Love's Scholar Program reflects a deep commitment to Spears students and a partnership for their success."

Here is the first cohort of Tom Love Scholars, including majors and hometowns:

• Oluwanifemi Abioye - management information systems - Edmond, Oklahoma
• Alexis Anderson - finance - Edmond, Oklahoma
• Joshua Anderson - accounting - Tulsa
• Jaden Brassfield - marketing and management - Oklahoma City
• Cole Comeau - accounting - Broken Arrow, Oklahoma
• Ella Fisher - accounting - Spiro, Oklahoma
• Trevor Friesen - management and marketing and international business - Edmond, Oklahoma
• Logan Hamby - finance - Oklahoma City
• Adam Lindsey - accounting - Cordell, Oklahoma
• Drew Lyon - finance and accounting - Tulsa
• Sydney Martens - marketing - Fairview, Oklahoma
• Madison Martin - management information systems - Tulsa
• Jennifer Martinez - management information systems - Stillwater
• Amanda Murillo - marketing - Broken Arrow, Oklahoma
• Ana Parrett -marketing - Dewey, Oklahoma
• Kyleigh Scott - marketing - Crescent, Oklahoma
• Brenda Tapia - management and marketing - Del City, Oklahoma
• Evan Taylor - accounting and finance - Skiatook, Oklahoma
• Laci Wood - management and marketing - Talala, Oklahoma
• Erin Woodward - management information systems - Sand Springs, Oklahoma

Abioye, a junior, addressed banquet attendees as a featured speaker at the Wes Watkins Center.

Tom Love Scholars are selected based on academic performance, campus involvement and leadership. Spears Business sophomores, juniors and seniors are eligible for the program, which will distribute 20 scholarships over each of the next four years.

The Tom Love Scholars Program provides not only monetary awards, but also multiple avenues for building professional networks. Love's will host a networking event at its Oklahoma City headquarters, and Love's employees will travel to OSU's Stillwater campus for additional events. The program will link each scholarship winner with a mentor who works for Love's, the sponsor for OSU's 2024 Homecoming festivities.