Paul Evan Wong

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2006 The Howard J. and Mitzi W. Green Scholarship Recipient

Biography: Paul Evan Wong was born in August 1986 and spent his formative years growing up in Alameda, California. Paul graduated cum laude from the Head-Royce School in Oakland and moved to Los Angeles in 2004 upon his acceptance to UCLA. Now in his third year at UCLA, Paul is pursuing a major in Business Economics and a Minor in Accounting. In addition to his primary major, Paul is also seeking a second major in History as a means of broadening his education. Considering universal academic pursuit a life-long interest and goal, Paul enjoys many other academic disciplines including Political Science, Psychology, and Astronomy, among others. While not engaged in coursework, Paul participates as a member of the UCLA Ski and Snowboard Team and works part-time in a law office. Also an avid soccer play and golfer, Paul enjoys all avenues of athletic gamesmanship. When not busy with any of the aforementioned, he enjoys cooking, reading, and napping in the sun.

Future Plans: Paul is attending the Chinese University in Hong Kong through the UC Education Abroad Program this quarter. While in Hong Kong, he hopes to gain an international perspective on business and economics. Upon returning to UCLA, he plans to continue his major coursework and to pursue a second major in History. Paul looks forward to finding an internship at a public accounting or investment banking firm in Los Angeles next summer. Following graduation in spring 2008, Paul hopes to work as a public auditor for a few years before attending business school. He then aspires to work as a financial consultant within the high-tech industry and ultimately hopes to someday run his own computer company, which provides affordable products to low-to-middle income households in a progressive eco-friendly manner.

What does the scholarship mean to me?: The Howard J. and Mitzi W. Green Scholarship means very much to me and it shall provide me with numerous opportunities that are invaluable to my growth, both as an academician and as a person. Without such a scholarship, I would be hard pressed to participate in the University of California’s Education Abroad Program. The aid that the Green’s scholarship provides has allowed me to go to Hong Kong to study. While there, I am primed to gain indispensable, first-hand knowledge of the economics and business in the region as well as an intimate understanding of my own cultural heritage. Returning to UCLA in the winter for the remainder of the academic year, the scholarship will further aid me in my endeavors. Both planning to begin Honors research and participate as a student-athlete, I am spread thin in my effort to also support myself financially. This scholarship will allow me to concentrate on my studies. The generosity of Mr. and Mrs. Green has made these upcoming, invaluable experiences possible. To the Greens and the Department of Economics at UCLA, I am grateful.

Jing Ming

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2006 The Gumbiner Savett Inc. Scholarship Recipient

Biography: Jing Ming is a fourth-year Business Economics major and Minor in Accounting. As an international student from China, she has had to adapt to a new language, culture, and educational system. She has maintained academic excellence since she came to the United States four years ago, but still enjoys traveling, watching television, and sharing the Chinese food that she has cooked for her friends in her spare time.

Future Plans: Jing is in the process of searching for a full-time career position, with her goal being working for one of the Big Four accounting firms. She is very interested in international tax and plans to work on the CPA exam after graduation. Jing wants to transfer to her firm’s China office after working in the United States for several years.

What does the scholarship mean to me?: I am very thankful to Gumbiner Savett for providing this scholarship to me. It means not only financial help with my tuition, but also recognition of the time and work I have devoted to accounting and economics studies. It encourages me to keep working hard and to pursue an accounting career in the future.

Nicholas F. Manolelis

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2006 Jeffrey W. Baus ’59 Scholarship Recipient

Biography: Nicholas F. Manolelis grew up in California, first in the Bay Area and then in Laguna Niguel. Spending a majority of his time with his immediate family at a young age, Nicholas developed a strong understanding of the importance of family and the relationships that they share. Nicholas was blessed with the responsibility of becoming a big brother on two separate occasions and looks at his younger siblings as his best friends and an inspiration to succeed and act as a positive role model. Nicholas developed a passion for sport at an early age, which suited his competitive nature and determination to succeed. He ran cross country, played club soccer, and was a pole vaulter while in high school. He was also involved in numerous extracurricular activities, filling leadership positions in student government, performing in air guitar talent shows, acting as lead council on the mock trial team, and working on community service projects. Nicholas graduated as class valedictorian in 2003 but, more importantly, left high school a familiar and dependable friend loved by many. Nicholas is now entering his final year at UCLA as an Economics major and a Minor in Accounting. He has continued to maintain a high level of involvement on campus as well as at church and in the community. An experienced world traveler, Nicholas awaits the next chapter n his life when he looks to combine the life experiences of college with that of his travels as he attempts to take on the world.

Future Plans: After graduation, Nicholas looks forward to taking time to live abroad in Greece with his family. He will use this opportunity to pursue further European travel and to become fluent in Greek. He will then return to the States to attain his CPA while working in audit for PriceWaterhouseCoopers. He then plans to return for an MBA or JD and to focus on entrepreneurship. In the long term, Nicholas hopes to accomplish a level of personal and financial success that allows him to live a comfortable life, surrounded by those he loves. He dreams of one day owning several pieces of real estate, including a hotel and nightclub in Greece, and a vineyard.

What does the scholarship mean to me?: The Jeffrey W. Baus ’59 Scholarship will help cover my educational and living expenses. I am extremely honored and grateful for this award.

Chunlee Leung

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2006 The Donald Edward Bragg & Diane Sims Bragg Scholarship Recipient

Biography: Chunlee Leung is a proactive and steadfast young woman who longs to become an extraordinary businesswoman. She was born in Guangzhou, China, the daughter of a businessman, grew up in a working-class neighborhood, and now is majoring in Business Economics and minoring in Accounting at UCLA. In order to develop her life outside the financial and psychological shelter that her parents had built for her, Chunlee became determined to study abroad when she was sixteen. Chunlee’s positive attitude and perseverance enable her to fit into any culture. She immediately reached out to her peers after she transferred to UCLA, served in student government, and became involved in several volunteer programs in order to give back to the community. Her enthusiasm for the financial field and her interest in working as a financial advisor has been greatly enhanced as a result of her coursework. Through assisting Professor Sokoloff in the Department of Economics with his research papers, as well as interning at five different corporations, Chunlee has strengthened her analytical skills and built up a solid practical foundation.

Future Plans: Chunlee not only enjoys coming up with business strategies with a group of colleagues, but is also excited to serve clients. Chunlee plans to work as a financial advisor after graduation. Her goal is to focus on strategic aspirations to establish trust relationships with her clients and to serve their financial needs. She ultimately wants to run her own consulting firm.

What does the scholarship mean to me?: I am so glad to be the winner of the Donald Edward Bragg and Diane Sims Bragg Scholarship for the 2006-2007 academic year. The Bragg Scholarship not only satisfies my financial needs, and allows me to concentrate on my academic training and engage in extracurricular activities, but also greatly motivates me to pursue my dream of having my own consulting firm. I strongly believe that success belongs to people who believe in their dreams and work patiently to achieve them. I welcome any challenge that may still lie ahead and embrace them as opportunities to grow and to excel in life.

Ling Dorcas Kwan

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2006 Robert D. & Margaret A. Wark Memorial Scholarship Recipient

Biography: Ling Dorcas Kwan is the eldest among the three sisters in her family. She is a community college transfer from De Anza College in Northern California, and is currently a fifth year undergraduate at UCLA. Ling is simultaneously pursuing a B.A. in Mathematics/Economics with a Minor in Statistics and an M.A. in Economics through the Departmental Scholar Program.

Future Plans: Upon graduation this June and completion of the comprehensive examination for her Master’s degree, Ling is hoping to get a job in the government. She is interested in jobs related to Econometrics (statistical analysis) and/or policy analysis.

What does the scholarship mean to me?: With one of my sisters transferring to a university this year and my staying for an extra fifth year to finish up the requirements for my Master’s degree, the Robert D. and Margaret A. Wark Memorial Scholarship has definitely helped me and my family to finance the increased educational expenses. I am very thankful for the assistance this scholarship has given me and my family. It has helped both my sister and me to get quality education at the University of California.

Jae-eun Kang

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2006 The Donald Edward Bragg & Diane Sims Bragg Scholarship Recipient

Biography: Jae-eun Kang grew up in Korea as a rather normal girl; however, when she happened to find a book I Wanted to be Excluded From Korea, written by Sung-Ju Kim, she started to think about her career as a woman business leader. This book, which is the source of her interest in business, motivated her to come to the United States and study it in depth. As soon as she graduated from high school in Korea, Jae-eun came to the U.S. by herself and started her new life here. Although she faced many challenges, such as the language barrier and cultural differences, Jae-eun was able to transfer to UCLA, her dream school. Now, as a senior at UCLA, Jae-eun is majoring in Business Economics with a Minor in Accounting, and has joined many business-related clubs to further explore her interests.

Future Plans: After taking classes for her major at UCLA, Jae-eun found herself being very interested in business, specifically accounting and tax. She is currently interning at an accounting firm to gain experience and to build up the skills that she will need in the near future. Jae-eun would like to work at one of the Big Four accounting firms after completing a graduate degree in accounting/tax and earning her CPA license.

What does the scholarship mean to me?: The Donald Edward & Diane Sims Bragg Scholarship helps me in many ways – not only financially, but also emotionally. As an international student, high tuition fees always worry me. Thanks to this scholarship, I can concentrate on studying instead of worrying. Moreover, with this scholarship it seems as if someone is supporting me, so this makes me feel that I should work harder to repay his or her thanks some day. I also feel that working hard to pursue my goal will bring me success, even though it it not always easy. Thanks again.

Ryan Houck

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2006 Patricia and Harry L. Bruce Endowed Scholarship Recipient

Biography: Ryan Houck is a fourth year student at UCLA and will graduate in June 2007. He is a double major in Business Economics and Psychology with a minor in Accounting. After his second year, he worked with The Mercanti Group, a mergers and acquisitions firm in Santa Monica. He interned at Navigant Consulting in Los Angeles this past summer. In 2005, he received the Robert D. & Margaret A. Wark Memorial Scholarship. In addition to his academics, he is Director of Consulting for UCLA’s Undergraduate Business Society and a member of Concerts Staff of the Campus Events Commission. Ryan is also a four-year member of UCLA’s club rugby team. He was born and raised in Fresno, where he attended Clovis West High School. Ryan was that school’s B’nai B’rith Scholar Athlete of the Year in 2003,, placing third in the state of California in high school wrestling.

Future Plans: Ryan thoroughly enjoyed both of his internships over the past two summers at The Mercanti Group (M & A) and then Navigant Consulting (Consulting), where he acquired invaluable “real world” work experience within two different fields. Upon graduation, Ryan plans to enter management consulting on a full-time basis. After a few years of work experience, he hopes to enter graduate school to earn an MBA before returning to his field.

What does the scholarship mean to me?: Receiving the Patricia and Harry L. Bruce Endowed Scholarship is one of the highlights of my academic career. I am deeply honored and grateful. The Scholarship award will relieve financial stress and allow me to focus on academics and community service during my fourth year at UCLA.

Lillian Hecht

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2006 Professor Harry Simons Endowed Undergraduate Scholarship for the Study of Accounting Recipient

Biography: Lillian Hecht is a third-year Business Economics student, with a Minor in Accounting. She has interned with Smith Barney and PricewaterhouseCoopers. She is currently a Resident Assistant in Hedrick Summit, and she loves to watch UCLA sports in her spare time, work on her car, and eat frozen yogurt.

Future Plans: Lilly hopes to graduate from UCLA this year. She would like to study and travel abroad in Europe over the summer. After that, she plans on working for PricewaterhouseCoopers as an auditor and eventually earn her CPA. Future ambitions may include earning her MBA or a law degree.

What does the scholarship mean to me?: Thank you so much for the Simons scholarship! It means so much to me that I will not have to worry about my finances this year. I am thankful to be able to attend UCLA, one of the greatest schools in the nation. This scholarship will help me reach my goals for the future.

Stephanie Cone

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2006 John J. Peterson Scholarship Recipient

Biography: Stephanie Cone, of Fillmore, California, is a junior Business Economics major at UCLA. She is a member of Alpha Delta Chi sorority, Campus Crusade for Christ, and the Regents Scholar Society. She also works as a marketing intern in the UCLA Athletics Department. She is a bright and joyful young woman who enjoys being with friends and cheering on the Bruins every chance that she gets.

Future Plans: Stephanie truly enjoys UCLA and all it has to offer. She will be going to Washington, D.C. in Winter Quarter 2007 with the Center for American Politics and Public Policy’s (CAPPP) Quarter in Washington Program. She will research and intern in the field of public opinion and voter behavior while in Washington,. Stephanie plans to pursue a career with a non-profit organization such as World Vision upon graduation,. She wishes to use her background in accounting, business, economics, and marketing to strengthen the global community.

What does the scholarship mean to me?: My family’s policy has always been that every child is responsible for putting themselves through college. Although it is not always an easy policy to live by, I have always respected it and it has taught me the true value of an education. I have been blessed enough to attend a university with alumni like Mr. John J. Peterson, Sr., who also understands the value of an education and wishes to help students like me with the associated costs. It is truly an honor to have been awarded this scholarship and I greatly appreciate the sacrifice that came in bestowing it. I strongly believe in using what God has given you to help others reach their full potential and Mr. Peterson has done just that for me. Thank you.

Andrew Baumgartner

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2006 Robert D. & Margaret A. Wark Memorial Scholarship Recipient

Biography: Andrew Baumgartner is a fifth-year Mathematics/Economics major. He was born in May 1984 in Kentfield, California, grew up in San Rafael, and graduated from Marin Catholic College Preparatory in 2002. Andrew is a red-shirt senior on the UCLA football team and has been a member since his sophomore year. His favorite activities include playing sports, going to the beach, swimming, flying kites, and participating in triathlons.

Future Plans: Andrew’s future plans include working on Wall Street, going to business school, and eventually owning his own business. Investment banking, hedge funds, and portfolio management are all financial areas that interest him currently. He hopes to work for some time in all three to discover what he really loves.

What does the scholarship mean to me?: I am very grateful to win this award because it gives me the ability to pay for the rest of my schooling without help from my parents. Between this scholarship and my student loans, I have enough to cover the remainder of my time at UCLA. Without the Robert D. and Margaret A. Wark Memorial Scholarship, I would not be able to play football this year, and for that alone I extremely fortunate to have won this prestigious award. Besides the financial benefits this grant has given me, the Wark Scholarship is also a tremendous honor to win because it is an award that rewards hard work in the classroom.