2020 Robert D. & Margaret A. Wark Memorial Scholarship Recipient
Biography: Katia Arami is in her third and final year at UCLA, graduating with two degrees in Economics and International Development. Katia’s passion for economics began in high school as she became founder of the Young Investors Society, teaching principles of financial literacy and investment to her peers. Since coming to UCLA, Katia has become involved in the Undergraduate Economics Society through which she led several initiatives. She is most proud of founding the first undergraduate economics journal on campus, the Bruin Economics Journal, leading a team of writers as Editor-in-Chief and writing articles on economic subjects and trends. In her final year, Katia was accepted to the Undergraduate Student Initiated Education program through which she is creating her own course “Political Economy of American Empire” which she will teach this Spring.
Outside of UCLA, Katia has explored the financial world through her varied internship experiences. Throughout her college years, Katia has interned in venture capital, private equity, community development banking, and financial consulting for the entertainment industry. She is grateful for these experiences which have allowed her to apply what she has learned of economics at UCLA outside of the classroom. In her free time, Katia enjoys researching topics which include settler colonialism, slavery, and other key issues in preparation for her upcoming course, as well as obsessively reading through her library and dancing, a new lock down hobby.
Future plans: In her final year, Katia’s future plans include enjoying her last quarter at UCLA and taking some classes in varying departments, as well as teaching her weekly course, “Political Economy of American Empire.” Upon graduation, Katia has accepted an offer from wealth and asset management consulting firm, Alpha FMC. She greatly looks forward to beginning her work with the firm and continuing to learn from real-life applications of economics. Before beginning work in September, Katia is excited for her first summer “off” in quite some time, though knowing herself, she knows fully well it will not end up being quite so idle.
What does the scholarship mean to me? I am extremely grateful and honored to have received the Robert D. & Margaret A. Wark Memorial Scholarship. The generosity of the Wark’s in securing my education in this challenging year is a help beyond my expectations. I left my student job at the Hammer Museum in Westwood at the outset of the pandemic, and this scholarship will be a great aid to me in my final year of education. This scholarship also serves as an inspiration for me in continuing my passion for life-long learning. In my first year at UCLA, I began to doubt whether I was fit for the Economics program here, but this recognition is an affirmation that sometimes it is worth taking the difficult path. I would like to extend my sincerest appreciation to the Wark family for their generosity and continual support of students like myself.
Ellie Taraska
/in Uncategorized /by Stephanie Ferguson2020 Robert D. & Margaret A. Wark Memorial Scholarship Recipient
Biography: Ellie Taraska is a third year Economics major, who is hoping to double major in Statistics. She is from Boston, Massachusetts but now considers Los Angeles her home. On campus, Ellie currently serves as the Vice President of Finance for UCLA Panhellenic and is a volunteer for UCLA’s Volunteer Income Tax Association. Additionally, she works at the UCLA Anderson Graduate School of Business in the Marketing and Communications department as a marketing intern. Outside of her classes and extracurriculars, Ellie likes exploring Los Angeles, playing soccer, and spending time with her friends.
Future Plans: Ellie will be staying in Los Angeles this summer to intern at Intrepid Investment Bankers. She is excited to bring what she has learned from the classroom and her extracurriculars to the team this summer and learn more about mergers and acquisitions. After graduation, she hopes to work in finance and is considering going back to school after a few years to pursue a Master’s in Business Administration or a Master’s in Data Science.
What does this scholarship mean to me? I truly cannot express how grateful I am to the Wark Family for making this scholarship possible. With all of the struggles that have come this year during the COVID-19 pandemic, scholarships like the Robert D. & Margaret A. Wark Memorial Scholarship are even more important. This scholarship will greatly impact not only my success at UCLA this year but also my success in the future. I am able to focus more on my extracurriculars, community service, and academics because of this scholarship. Being recognized by the Economics department for my academic achievements also means a great deal to me and motivates me to continue to work hard.
Katia Arami
/in Uncategorized /by Stephanie Ferguson2020 Robert D. & Margaret A. Wark Memorial Scholarship Recipient
Biography: Katia Arami is in her third and final year at UCLA, graduating with two degrees in Economics and International Development. Katia’s passion for economics began in high school as she became founder of the Young Investors Society, teaching principles of financial literacy and investment to her peers. Since coming to UCLA, Katia has become involved in the Undergraduate Economics Society through which she led several initiatives. She is most proud of founding the first undergraduate economics journal on campus, the Bruin Economics Journal, leading a team of writers as Editor-in-Chief and writing articles on economic subjects and trends. In her final year, Katia was accepted to the Undergraduate Student Initiated Education program through which she is creating her own course “Political Economy of American Empire” which she will teach this Spring.
Outside of UCLA, Katia has explored the financial world through her varied internship experiences. Throughout her college years, Katia has interned in venture capital, private equity, community development banking, and financial consulting for the entertainment industry. She is grateful for these experiences which have allowed her to apply what she has learned of economics at UCLA outside of the classroom. In her free time, Katia enjoys researching topics which include settler colonialism, slavery, and other key issues in preparation for her upcoming course, as well as obsessively reading through her library and dancing, a new lock down hobby.
Future plans: In her final year, Katia’s future plans include enjoying her last quarter at UCLA and taking some classes in varying departments, as well as teaching her weekly course, “Political Economy of American Empire.” Upon graduation, Katia has accepted an offer from wealth and asset management consulting firm, Alpha FMC. She greatly looks forward to beginning her work with the firm and continuing to learn from real-life applications of economics. Before beginning work in September, Katia is excited for her first summer “off” in quite some time, though knowing herself, she knows fully well it will not end up being quite so idle.
What does the scholarship mean to me? I am extremely grateful and honored to have received the Robert D. & Margaret A. Wark Memorial Scholarship. The generosity of the Wark’s in securing my education in this challenging year is a help beyond my expectations. I left my student job at the Hammer Museum in Westwood at the outset of the pandemic, and this scholarship will be a great aid to me in my final year of education. This scholarship also serves as an inspiration for me in continuing my passion for life-long learning. In my first year at UCLA, I began to doubt whether I was fit for the Economics program here, but this recognition is an affirmation that sometimes it is worth taking the difficult path. I would like to extend my sincerest appreciation to the Wark family for their generosity and continual support of students like myself.
Siena Villegas
/in Uncategorized /by Stephanie Ferguson2020 Professor Harry Simons Endowed Undergraduate Scholarship for the Study of Accounting Recipient
Biography: Siena Villegas (she/hers) was born and raised in the Bay Area, where she first developed an understanding of diverse identities, a passion for empathetic leadership, and a love for math. She is graduating from UCLA in 2021 with a B.A. in Business Economics and Minor in Accounting. In her time at UCLA, Siena has been a student leader in Samahang Pilipino and a Resident Assistant. Siena also currently serves as the Chair of Associated Students UCLA Board of Directors, the largest student association in the country. Her work on the ASUCLA Board has enhanced the non-profit organization’s development and fundraising efforts, communication to students and other key stakeholders, commitment to sustainability and ethical labor, and relationship-building with university, local, and state governments.
Future plans: Siena is passionate about the ways identity intersects with and impacts finance and access to resources. After graduation, Siena plans to combine her background in business with her passion for serving the community. She is interested in both non-profit and client-serving work, with an emphasis in financial resources. Siena hopes to eventually give back to the community spaces at UCLA by providing mentorship and guidance to others.
What does the scholarship mean to me? I have been very dedicated and involved in student organizations throughout my undergraduate experience. It wasn’t until this year that I really started to build community within the Economics Department. Receiving this scholarship is a huge honor, and the perfect way to end my last year at UCLA. I am so grateful to the Donors of the Professor Harry Simons Endowed Undergraduate Scholarship, my professors, and my colleagues for making my time as a Business Economics and Accounting student so worthwhile. I will cherish all the memories I have made here.
Aeji Hyun
/in Uncategorized /by Stephanie Ferguson2020 Professor Harry Simons Endowed Undergraduate Scholarship for the Study of Accounting Recipient
Biography: Aeji Hyun is a third year Economics major and Accounting minor. At UCLA, Aeji is involved in various organizations including Korean Culture Night, Youth Empowerment Program, Kristos Campus Missions, and Spoon University. In her free time, Aeji enjoys reading, spending time with family and friends, and reading new recipes.
Future plans: This summer, Aeji will intern at Ernst & Young in their Assurance Services Practice. After graduation, she plans to obtain a CPA license and work in public accounting. Even as a working professional, Aeji hopes to be involved in giving back to her community, specifically the youth.
What this scholarship means to me? I am extremely grateful to be a recipient of the Professor Harry Simons Endowed Undergraduate Scholarship. Especially during a time like this, this award means so much to me as a student by allowing me to pursue my academic interests without any financial burden. I want to thank the generous donors for this award and will continue to express my gratitude by doing my best as a student and as a working professional.
Bruce Hsu
/in Uncategorized /by Stephanie Ferguson2020 Professor Harry Simon’s Endowed Undergraduate Scholarship for the Study of Accounting Recipient
Biography: Bruce Hsu is a second-year at UCLA majoring in Business Economics and minoring in Accounting. After realizing the practicality of accounting in understanding businesses, he decided that he wanted to take as many accounting classes as possible, switching his major from Economics to Business Economics. Outside of the classroom, Bruce watches anime, fiddles with Excel, runs, or plays video games like Pokemon and Minecraft.
Future plans: With a growing interest in accounting and computer science, Bruce intends to pursue a career in either tech or the financial services industry after graduation. For summer 2021, he does not have an internship lined up. He intends to spend summer 2021 either studying more about coding and investing, or interning at an accounting firm.
What does this scholarship mean to me? I am both extremely grateful and honored to receive the Professor Harry Simon’s Endowed Undergraduate Scholarship for the Study of Accounting. I came to UCLA with the intent to pay for it myself. With the pandemic halting a lot of extracurriculars I used to participate in at UCLA, I decided to spend more time working. By working more, I neglected my academics for a quarter. This scholarship not only puts me closer to my goal of self-financing my college education but also gives me more time to spend on furthering my interests both inside and outside of the classroom.
Gautham Pasupathy
/in Uncategorized /by Stephanie Ferguson2020 Ralph and Shirley Shapiro Scholarship Recipient
Biography: Gautham Pasupathy is a third-year student at UCLA. Gautham was born and raised in the Bay Area, and came down to Los Angeles to study Business Economics. Gautham enjoys studying at UCLA, and really enjoyed courses such as business law and accounting. Within UCLA, Gautham is involved in multiple organizations, such as Bruin Asset Management, Bruin Ventures, and the Indian Student Union. Outside of UCLA, Gautham enjoys hanging out with his friends, playing poker, and watching movies.
Future Plans: Gautham plans to intern in the field of finance this sumer. He is excited to collect a plethora of experience across the financial services industry, and wants to continue gaining more experience in as many ways as possible. Gautham is not fully sure what he wants to do in the long term; he does have an interest in public accounting and the financial services industry, but wants to explore all of his options.
What does this scholarship mean to me? I am really grateful to have been given this opportunity, and it really means a lot to me. I am very excited that I was awarded this scholarship, and I want to thank the Economics Department and the donors of the Ralph and Shirley Shapiro Scholarship once again. I will be able to put this money to good use in covering part of the cost of attendance at UCLA, which is something that I am very appreciative of.
Annie Pollak
/in Uncategorized /by Stephanie Ferguson2020 Gumbiner Savett Endowed Undergraduate Prize Recipient
Biography: Annie Pollak is a third year at UCLA studying Business Economics with a minor in Public Affairs. She was born and raised in the East Bay Area with her parents and two brothers. Annie is passionate about the intersection of business and social impact. At UCLA, she is the President of Bruin Consulting, the Vice President of Finance for Alpha Phi, is currently researching feasible plastic alternatives for UCLA dining facilities to integrate through the Sustainability Action Research Program, and enjoys volunteering with Bruin Animal Rescue Coalition. She loves to travel, go thrift shopping, work with Fulcrum Adventures, and play card games with family in her free time.
Future Plans: Annie Plans to graduate in June of 2022. This summer, she will be working with PwC as a Management Consultant Intern in their San Francisco office. She is excited to apply her technical and communicative skills from UCLA in a professional setting working for various clients. She believes management consulting will give her a great foundation and knowledge in various industries to help determine what industry she would like a career in. In the long term, Annie hopes to combine her passion for social impact with her tenacious business skills by working in the public sector.
How this scholarship is helping you? This scholarship will allow me to put all of my attention towards school and extracurriculars while taking a financial burden off of myself and my family. Further, as a female striving to work, excel, and lead in an industry traditionally dominated by men, being the recipient of this scholarship is instrumental in finding and reaching my personal success and fulfillment. It makes me proud to know that others see potential to invest in me for the impact I will make in the future based on my achievements at UCLA so far!
Nehariika Kakkar
/in Uncategorized /by Stephanie Ferguson2020 John J. Peterson Scholarship Recipient
Biography: Nehariika Kakkar is a third-year Business Economics major with a minor in Statistics. At UCLA, Nehariika serves as the President of Bruin Women in Business, one of UCLA’s largest business organizations with a mission to empower the next generation of female leaders. Nehariika also serves as the Internal Vice President of 180 Degrees Consulting and as a Senior Consultant at Bruin Consulting. Beyond campus involvements, Nehariika has completed internships in various fields, including digital marketing, business development, product management, and data analytics. Outside of her academic and work commitments, Nehariika enjoys veganizing old family recipes, practicing yoga, and chocolate making.
Future plans: Nehariika has accepted an offer to intern in consulting this summer. She is excited to begin working at Bain & Company as an Associate Consultant Intern in the firm’s Los Angeles office. Nehariika also plans to pursue an MBA to build upon her undergraduate business curriculum.
What does the scholarship mean to me? I am incredibly grateful to have received the John J. Peterson Scholarship. I would like to extend a sincere thank you to the donors of the scholarship and the department. This scholarship will help to reduce my financial burden and allow me to focus on pursuing my subsequent academic and professional endeavors. I am eagerly looking forward to this next chapter.
Tommy Waller
/in Uncategorized /by Stephanie Ferguson2020 Harold R. Mortenson Scholarship Recipient
Biography: Tommy Waller is a 3rd-year student at UCLA majoring in Business Economics with a Value Investing concentration. He is a dual citizen with citizenship in both the Netherlands and the United States and has grown up for most of his life in the Los Angeles area. Since coming to UCLA, Tommy has held the positions of Director of Membership and Vice President of the Bruin Real Estate Association, the largest commercial real estate organization on campus. In addition, Tommy has held internships at various commercial real estate firms throughout the school year and over the summer. His most recent internship took place with Prologis in El Segundo where he assisted the Capital Deployment team in conducting property and transaction analyses. In his free time, Tommy enjoys playing basketball and soccer and has played in a myriad of intramural leagues during his time at UCLA.
Future Plans: Tommy is hoping to enter the commercial real estate industry upon graduation. He will be interning at Hines as a development analyst this summer in their Los Angeles office. He plans to gain valuable experience in the Southern California market and hopes to continue his career within the area. He is considering applying for MBA programs after obtaining a couple of years of experience and exposure within the industry.
What does this scholarship mean to me? I am incredibly grateful to the donors of the Harold R. Mortenson scholarship for granting me this award. This award will be extremely beneficial to me as it eases my financial burden and allows me to focus more on my coursework and extracurricular activities. I hope to one day be in the position where I too can grant UCLA students scholarships for their hard work and dedication.
Aileen Shen
/in Uncategorized /by Stephanie Ferguson2020 Harold R. Mortenson Endowed Scholarship Fund Recipient
Biography: Aileen Shen is a third-year student majoring in Business Economics and minoring in Accounting. She was born and raised in the Bay Area. At UCLA, she has held leadership positions in Beta Alpha Psi and Net Impact. Despite being in a virtual environment, she has found ways to look for a silver lining; she treasures the time she is able to spend with her grandparents at home.
Future: This past summer, she had the opportunity to work as an FP&A Intern at Intel where she gained valuable experience working closely with the finance team. Upon graduation, Aileen will be pursuing a career in consulting in San Francisco. After a few years of work experience, she hopes to pursue an MBA.
What does this scholarship mean to me? I am incredibly grateful to be honored as the recipient of the Harold R. Mortenson Endowed Scholarship Fund award recipient for the 2020-2021 academic year. I realize the challenges of this year have been tremendous for so many of us, and I do not take this scholarship for granted. I’m extremely humbled by this recognition, and I thank the donors of the Harold R. Mortenson Endowed Scholarship Fund.