Next-Generation Entrepreneurs

Menna Mulugetta (TPR'07) credits Carnegie Mellon for pushing her to go out into the community and make a difference.

"Carnegie Mellon really impacted my personal development in the leadership arena," said Mulugetta, now an associate at a private equity firm. "There is so much support in terms of your advisors, your professors, the resources at the university. They really want to help you see whatever idea you have come to fruition."

One of her most memorable experiences was the work she did as an Andrew Carnegie Society Scholar.

Selected by their deans and department heads, these students embody high standards of academic excellence combined with multi-dimensional characteristics such as volunteerism, and participation in sports or the arts.

In addition to the $2,000 the 2007-08 scholars received to support their academic and personal growth, each scholar received $250 in the spirit of cultivating philanthropy. As a group, the scholars worked together throughout their senior year to decide how best to contribute their money back to the university.

"We all came from different cultural backgrounds – diverse backgrounds – representing different schools, all figuring out how to best utilize everyone's potential to make the biggest impact," she explained, drawing a connection to her current job. "That's how you differentiate yourself in a business. If employees are strong problem solvers, they're part of the next generation of entrepreneurs."

For more information about the ACS Scholars program -- or to support it -- please contact Kathleen Bonte, Andrew Carnegie Society director, at (412) 268-3909 or bontek@andrew.cmu.edu.