Choosing from an impressive cast of nominees, the Rotary Leadership Fellows committee has selected MBA students Whitney Austin and Chris Teeley recipients of the 2009 scholarship awards.
     They were two of the 11 nominees for the $5000 scholarships funded annually by Baylor Landrum Jr. and administered by the Rotary Club of Louisville. The awards are available exclusively to UofL MBA students. They seek to reward professional leadership and potential in community service among working professionals who plan to remain in the Louisville area for the foreseeable future.  

     The awards include a mentor and access to elite networking through Rotary’s membership of top business and civic leaders.
     Austin, a financial center manager and assistant vice-president for Fifth Third Bancorp, will graduate from the Entrepreneurship MBA program in May.  Teeley is director of process research and development for Brown-Forman Corporation.  He will graduate from the Professional MBA program in May.
     Each presented the selection committee a history of community service involvement and demonstrated an interest and capability to take their activities to a higher level. 
     “This was an exceptional group of candidates,” said Rotary Fellows Committee Chairman Barbara Lankford.  “The committee found several nominees worthy of the award, but Whitney and Chris were outstanding.” 
     In addition to Lankford (a previous RLF recipient), the interview committee included Mark Rorer (MBA graduate and previous RLF recipient), Brian Veeneman (MBA graduate and previous RLF recipient) and Rotarians Ray Schuhmann and Mickey Wilhelm.
     Recipients agree to a three-year commitment that includes active participation in Rotary community service initiatives and regular attendance at its meetings.  For a complete list of previous recipients and program requirments, visit Business.louisville.edu/rotary.
     Applications for the next RLF awards will be due in early March 2010.