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Stanley Zel

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2010 The Boeing Company Scholarship in Economics Recipient

Biography: Stanley Zel is an international student from Hong Kong. He decided to study abroad after graduating from high school. Stanley developed interest in economics while studying at Diablo Valley College. He then transferred to UCLA to pursue the Business-Economics major, with a minor in Statistics. Stanley is currently working as a grader for several Management courses at the Anderson School of Management. He is also a member of the Golden Key International Honor Society. He enjoys playing soccer and traveling in his spare time.

Future Plans: Stanley is planning to pursue a career in the field of finance after graduation. He plans to take the CFA exams in the
near future to better equip him for his career. Stanley aspires to become a financial analyst.

What does the scholarship mean to me?: I would like to thank the Boeing Company and the support from my family. The Boeing Company Scholarship in Economics not only helps me and my family financially but also is recognition of my hard work at UCLA. I will make best use of the scholarship to broaden my horizons, and also spend more time exploring the United States during my last year at UCLA.

Binbin Xing

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2010 Robert D. & Margaret A. Wark Memorial Scholarship Recipient

Biography: Binbin Xing is a fourth-year student pursuing a double major in Mathematics Applied Science – Actuarial Science and Business-Economics, with a Minor in Accounting. Outside of her academic studies, she has committed a large portion of her time to extracurricular and professional activities. As the president of the UCLA Bruin Actuarial Society, she works alongside a team of motivated officers to promote and mentor fellow UCLA students. These students are interested in the actuarial profession, both in the consulting and insurance industries. One of her goals as the President of the organization is to publicize and extend the actuarial profession to students outside of the mathematics majors. In her spare time, Binbin enjoys being a Student Ambassador for The 1990 Institute, a non-profit organization serving to alleviate poverty and lack of self-sustenance in parts of rural China through means of microfinance. She is also an active member of the Chinese Cultural Dance Club on campus.

Future Plans: Binbin plans for a future career in actuarial consulting, a field that calls for both a solid foundation in mathematics as well as a developed intuition for business. This summer, Binbin interned with Towers Watson in Century City as a Summer Analyst in retirement actuarial services. She hopes to return to school for a Masters degree in either applied mathematics or statistics within the next five years.

What does the scholarship mean to me?: I am truly honored and grateful to be named a recipient of the Robert D. and Margaret A. Wark Memorial Scholarship for this year. It is truly rewarding to see that my past achievements and academic pursuits have been recognized. This scholarship will not only allow me to continue my studies in this field but will further encourage me to share this rewarding career path and unique academic experience with other aspiring business professionals. I would like to express my deepest gratitude to the Wark Family for their generous support.

Mateen Safaie

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2010 John J. Peterson Scholarship Recipient

Biography: Mateen Safaie is a fourth-year Business-Economics student from Agoura Hills, California. After graduating from Agoura High School in 2007, Mateen attended Moorpark College for two years before transferring to UCLA. His primary academic interest is to study the feasibility and effectiveness of microcredit ventures in rural areas of developing nations. Outside of the classroom, Mateen is a board member for the Baha’i Association at UCLA and involved with the Junior Youth Spiritual Empowerment Program. He is also a resident assistant for the Rieber Terrace on-campus housing community.

Future Plans: As Mateen enters his final year at UCLA, he hopes to pursue research in the area of microfinance. After he completes his degree in Business-Economics, he plans to attend law school. He wishes to utilize a legal education focused on international business law. He hopes to establish and sustain a non-profit organization that encourages socioeconomic development projects in rural areas, which safeguards the commercial interests of developing nations in international trade agreements.

What does the scholarship mean to me?: I am honored to receive the John J. Peterson Scholarship for the 2010-2011 academic year. The financial award of the scholarship will allow me to focus more of my time and energy on pursuing academic and extracurricular passions. Particularly, it will allow me to be more engaged in the research I hope to undertake in the coming year. Furthermore, the academic recognition that the scholarship entails motivates me to pursue greater degrees of excellence in my studies. I thank John J. Peterson very much for this honor and scholarship.

Isaac Rose

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2010 The Donald Edward Bragg & Diane Sims Bragg Scholarship Recipient

Biography: Isaac Rose is a fourth -year student pursuing the Economics major, with a Minor in Public Policy. During summer 2010, he served as a Business Analyst Summer Intern at ZS Associates. He worked on a case with a major pharmaceutical client to understand the buying process for a particular disease. In summer 2009, he interned with the majority party at the U.S. House of Representative Financial Services Committee in Washington D.C. He worked on policy issues ranging from the new roles of the Federal Reserve and Treasury Department to the international bankruptcy proceedings of Lehman Brothers. Isaac is involved in various activities outside of his academic studies at UCLA, which include being the chairman of both the Wooden Center Board of Governors and the Undergraduate Students Association Finance Committee. He is also actively involved in Bruin Consulting, Dance Marathon, and playing IM dodge ball and soccer. In his free time, Isaac enjoys skiing, reading the New York Times, and talking with interesting people.

Future Plans: Isaac’s future plans are to work for the public good in whatever fashion that may take place. Upon graduating from UCLA, he is interested in a career in strategy or management consulting. Several years down the road, Isaac would like to pursue a Masters in Business Administration.

What does the scholarship mean to me?: I am grateful and honored to be the recipient of The Donald Edward Bragg & Diane Sims Bragg Scholarship. The family’s commitment and dedication to the UCLA Economics Department is commendable. I am personally grateful for the financial assistance the family is providing me this year. One of the greatest assets of this country is the spectacular higher education system. Through scholarships like The Donald Edward Bragg & Diane Sims Bragg Scholarship, more students are given access to learn and expand their minds at this fine institution. Making the decision to attend UCLA has been one of the best decisions of my life. This scholarship is truly allowing me, and all the past recipients of this award, to take full advantage of all the great resources this university has to offer. I am proud that UCLA has such wonderful and generous donors like the Bragg family.

Nick Rasines

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2010 The Donald Edward Bragg & Diane Sims Bragg Scholarship Recipient

Biography: Nick Rasines is a fourth-year Business-Economics Student from McKinleyville, California, a small town on the coast near the Oregon border. At McKinleyville High School, Nick excelled in the classroom and was also a decorated athlete in baseball and basketball. At UCLA, Nick has held internship positions at SBE Entertainment, Morgan Stanley Smith Barney, Ernst & Young LLP, and recently completed an internship at UBS Investment Bank in New York City. Nick is currently an Investment Banking Director of the Undergraduate Business Society and a member of Phi Kappa Psi Fraternity.

Future Plans: This year, Nick is planning to complete his B.A. in Business-Economics. Upon graduation, Nick has accepted an offer to become an investment banking analyst at J.P.Morgan. After his time in investment banking, Nick is looking to work at a private equity firm and then go back to school to pursue his Masters in Business Administration. Nick is watching the actions of many of his mentors, including investment bankers and private equity executives, in order to better plan his career path to accomplish his career goals. Nick is eventually looking to become a CEO or founder and president of a firm.

What does the scholarship mean to me?: I am truly honored to receive the Donald Edward Bragg & Diane Sims Bragg Scholarship for the 2010-11 school year. This scholarship is extremely important to me as recognition of my dedication to extracurricular activities and academic pursuits. More importantly, this scholarship lightens the financial burden placed upon myself and my family, and gives me further motivation to remain focused on my career goals. I want to sincerely thank Mr. Donald Edward Bragg and Mrs. Diane Sims Bragg for their support of my future educational endeavors.

Eva Mak

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2010 The Gumbiner Savett Inc. Scholarship Recipient

Biography: Eva Mak is a third year Business-Economics major, with a double minor in Accounting and Public Health. Originally from San Jose, California, Eva had the opportunity to intern this past summer in the Tax/Industry Services Group for PricewaterhouseCoopers in San Jose. In summer 2009, she studied abroad at King’s College, Cambridge, in England. She took courses in economics, history, and philosophy. Eva also had the opportunity to join the UCLA Travel Study program in Shanghai. She was able to learn more about business and development in China in 2008. While at UCLA, she has been involved as the Finance Director for Bruin Consulting, the Marketing Director for Net Impact Undergrad, a teaching assistant for Prof. Boss’ Mgmt 108 course on Business Law, a discussion leader for Education 92F, as well as an active member of the Alumni Scholars Club. In her free time, Eva enjoys reading, swimming, and watching the Daily Show with Jon Stewart.

Future Plans: Currently, Eva is focused on broadening her horizons by looking into other internship or job opportunities in accounting, finance, or consulting. She hopes to obtain her B.A. in Business- Economics within the next year. One of her aspirations is to eventually attend law school. She will be preparing for the LSAT this year and work on enhancing her UCLA experiences to prepare her for any graduate opportunities.

What does the scholarship mean to me?: I feel absolutely honored to have received this year’s Gumbiner, Savett, Inc. Scholarship. This award has truly helped me in numerous ways. It takes off the burden of the student loan I would have had to obtain in order to continue my education at UCLA. With this award, I am able to shift my focus from financial worries to more academic and professional endeavors.

Larissa von Lockner

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2010 Jeffrey W. Baus ’59 Scholarship Recipient

Biography: Larissa von Lockner is a third-year Business-Economics major at UCLA, with minors in both Accounting and French. On campus, she is very involved with the Bruin Belles Service Association, a philanthropic group of young women focused on serving the greater Los Angeles community. Larissa also participates in Greek life on campus and is a member of the Student Accounting Society. In her free time, Larissa is involved with clubs and intramural sports at UCLA.

Future Plans: Larissa is very interested in the public accounting field. She is eager to obtain an internship with an esteemed accounting firm next summer. She hopes to start her career working as a public accountant, a path that will no doubt allow her to gain an unparalleled understanding of business operations. Eventually, Larissa hopes to do business at the international level. By engaging in the work of diplomacy and focusing on economic issues, she knows that she will be able to truly impact the world for the better. She looks forward to putting her strong cultural background, fluency in French, and love of people to use as she looks to help others realize the importance of cooperation within our global community.

What does the scholarship mean to me?: Being selected as the Jeffrey W. Baus Scholarship for the 2010-2011 academic year is truly an honor. It is through such generous contributions and true altruism that I will be able to focus on my academics and excel in the classroom setting. Due to my ambitions to begin my career with one of the big four accounting firms, it is imperative that I maintain high academic standards and graduate near the top of my class. My involvement in extracurricular activities also remains important. I would love to dedicate my leisure time to the Student Accounting Society’s Board, the Undergraduate Business Society, and various other philanthropic initiatives around campus. It is through the generosity of donors such as Jeffrey Baus that I will be able to improve my academic performance, while working only limited hours during the school year.

Mark Lam

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2010 Robert D. & Margaret A. Wark Memorial Scholarship Recipient

Biography: Mark Lam is a fourth-year Business-Economics major originally from Singapore. He currently serves as the President of the Singapore Students Association and is a member of the Riordan Student Investment Fund. This past summer, Mark interned as an analyst with BlackRock in New York City. As an avid music lover and singer, Mark received his first recording contract when he was twelve, and is currently part of YOUTHphonics, an a cappella group at UCLA which volunteers twice a week at Fairfax High School’s music program. Additionally, Mark is passionate about poetry, and was recently published in Ceriph, a creative publication in Singapore. In his free time, Mark also enjoys cycling and playing badminton.

Future Plans: After completing internships with Merrill Lynch and BlackRock, Mark intends to pursue a career in the financial services industry. He plans to take the CFA Level 1 exam in June 2011 and begin working full-time with BlackRock’s Portfolio Analytics Group in August 2011. Within the next few years, Mark hopes to earn a Masters in Business Administration or a Masters in Financial Engineering. In the longer term, Mark aspires to share his experiences and knowledge through returning to academia and teaching.

What does the scholarship mean to me?: I am grateful and honored to be selected as a recipient of the Robert D. & Margaret A. Wark Memorial Scholarship. Given the recent tuition increases of up to 32%, this scholarship will immensely help ease the financial burden placed on me and my family. Consequently, it will allow me to better focus on my academic and extracurricular pursuits. I hope to one day be able to contribute in a similar way. Indeed, the situation of increased tuition and undertaking student loans is a heavy burden, especially for international students. This timely support will undoubtedly ensure my academic success. I would sincerely like to thank the Wark family for their generous support of continuing education at UCLA.

Melanie Johnson

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2010 Professor Harry Simons Endowed Undergraduate Scholarship for the Study of Accounting Recipient

Biography: Melanie (Mimi) Johnson is a third-year student pursuing a double major in Business-Economics and Psychology, with a Minor in Accounting. Mimi grew up in Redondo Beach, which made it very easy for her to decide that she wanted to stay in beautiful Southern California. She graduated from Redondo Union High School as co-Valedictorian of her class. Mimi is an active participant and committee leader in the Alumni Scholars Club, Beta Alpha Psi Accounting Honors Society, Student Accounting Society, and Psi Chi Psychology Honors Society. She enjoys community service and continues her work with students with special needs on campus. In her free time, Mimi loves spending time with friends and family, surfing, swimming, running, and relaxing at the beach.

Future Plans: Mimi hopes to intern with a public accounting firm in the summer following her junior year, and to obtain a full-time position with the firm following graduation. She hopes to earn her CPA license and continue a career in public or private accounting. She is looking into earning her Masters in Business Administration or a Juris Doctor degree in the future.

What does the scholarship mean to me?: I am truly honored to be awarded the Professor Harry Simons Endowed Undergraduate Scholarship for the Study of Accounting. This scholarship is greatly appreciated. It will allow me to continue to devote my time in pursuing a top notch education at UCLA. With less pressure to finance my education, I will be able to focus more on academics, research, and community service. Furthermore, I will be able to take advantage of the numerous career-oriented workshops and events on campus that help me cultivate the skills necessary to achieve my professional goals. Additionally, I will relieve the burden on my parents and embark on the path to financial independence. This award recognizes my past achievements and encourages me to continue that hard work and dedication to my studies and activities. I would like to thank the donors of the Professor Harry Simons Endowed Scholarship for providing me with this opportunity.

Min Huang

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2010 Patricia and Harry L. Bruce Endowed Scholarship Recipient

Biography: Min Huang is a third-year student double majoring in Business Economics and Math/Applied Science-Actuarial Plan. After eleven years of a traditional Chinese Educational system study, Min took a two-year British A-Level course in an international high school in China. She came to the U.S. for higher education because she wanted to experience life in the world’s top academy and financial center. After three years at UCLA, Min has been able to maintain a 3.98 GPA, with straight A+s in all economics courses taken. Furthermore, Min is actively involved in the UCLA Bruin Actuarial Society with an Internal Public Relations position. She is looking forward to becoming Vice President for the next academic year. Min also works for the Math Department as a reader. In her spare time, Min loves singing, traveling, and spending time with her family and friends.

Future Plans: After undergraduate study, Min is going to pursue a Masters degree in finance. She thinks that it will help her to build a more solid bridge for becoming a financial analyst in one of the top financial organizations. Min is also sitting for both the CFA and SOA (Society of Actuaries) exams that will prepare her better for analytical work.

What does the scholarship mean to me?: I am really appreciative to learn that I was selected as the recipient of Patricia and Harry L. Bruce Endowed Scholarship for 2010-2011 academic year. With the generous support of Mr. and Mrs. Harry Bruce, my parents’ financial burden will be eased and I can focus more on my studies. Also, this scholarship serves as recognition of my academic achievements, which provides me with more confidence and pride. It also encourages me to work much harder in order to reach my future career goals. I really want to express my sincere gratitude to Mr. and Mrs. Harry Bruce for their generosity and thank the Economics Department for giving us such a great opportunity.