Meet future supply chain leaders—Nunana Honutse and Scott M. Devereux, the most recent recipients of the John Galt Scholarship Program.
DALLAS, TX—September 28, 2020—Access to educational scholarships and other resources is a lifeline for students trying to fund a college education. Recognizing this need, John Galt Solutions added a second $5,000 scholarship to its $10,000 Scholarship for Future Supply Chain Leaders. After sifting through hundreds of applications, the scholarship committee selected two worthy future supply chain leaders for the awards.
John Galt is pleased to announce that Nunana Honutse, who is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management with a minor in Business Analytics from Rider University, received the $10,000 scholarship award. Scott M. Devereux received the runner-up $5,000 scholarship to help fund a Supply Chain Management degree with a minor in Applied Business Data Analytics from Arizona University.
Honutse, who relies on student loans and works two jobs to pay for her education, expressed her gratitude at receiving the scholarship. “When I received the call, I cried, laughed and was grateful,” she said. “This scholarship will enable me to pay my tuition as well as go toward paying my loans. I will be forever grateful to John Galt for this awesome opportunity.”
She hopes to use her knowledge of supply chain and technology to address food insecurity. “Coming from Ghana, it has always been a dream of mine to build an NGO focused on reducing hunger,” Honutse said. “Food insecurity is an issue that affects more people than we see on the news. My NGO will focus on reducing poverty, especially in Ghana, by building a food bank or community center.”
Devereux is equally grateful for the scholarship. He has been interested in supply chain since his first job as a seasonal warehouse associate in a Target Distribution Center. He followed that role with a job as an inventory specialist at Best Buy. His work experience and 4.0 GPA recently landed him an internship with Stryker Medical Devices.
“The scholarship will embolden me to continue on my path to become a leader in supply chain,” he said. “My goal is to become a Director of Supply Chain for a company working to improve patient outcomes in healthcare. The scholarship will allow me to focus even more on my studies and campus associations, dramatically helping to improve my chances of fulfilling that dream.”
The scholarship committee noted, “Both candidates impressed us with their dedication to their education. These students work full time while attending school! Their hard work, combined with their academic dedication to supply chain, made us certain that granting these scholarships would help two gifted and compassionate students achieve their goals.”
John Galt Solutions wishes Nunana Honutse and Scott M. Devereux every success!
The John Galt Solutions Higher Education Scholarship for Future Supply Chain Leaders has two open calls for applications each year—one in Spring/Summer and one in Fall/Winter, awarding $10,000 and $5,000 twice a year to four worthy individuals. More information is available via the John Galt Solutions Scholarship web page. The next call for applications opens in March 2021.
About John Galt Solutions
John Galt’s Atlas Planning Platform provides a comprehensive end-to-end supply chain planning solution that helps companies increase forecast accuracy, optimize inventory levels, and maximize supply chain performance. Since its founding in 1996, John Galt Solutions has built a proven track record of providing affordable, automated forecasting and inventory management services for consumer-driven supply chains. We have an unmatched ability to configure tailored solutions for customers, regardless of size or business challenge, that save both time and money by compressing implementation periods and delivering intelligent information that positively impacts your bottom line.
John Galt Solutions
johngalt.com
PREVIOUS SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS
September 2020: Catherine Ballali
During these unprecedented times, access to educational scholarships and resources has become more important than ever. To do our part in ensuring that bright, young minds have access to quality education without financial burdens, John Galt reopened its long-standing $10,000 Scholarship for Future Supply Chain Leaders earlier this year. And after carefully evaluating hundreds of applications, one recipient stood out.
We are pleased to announce that the Fall 2020 scholarship winner is Catherine Ballali. Catherine is currently pursuing her Masters in Supply Chain Management and Healthcare systems certification from the Engineering Systems Division of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Catherine will receive $10,000 that goes towards her tuition, helping her focus on her long-term goals of making supply chains more resilient.
“Supply chain is a reflection of my personality. I am a natural problem solver, in fact, problem-solving is one of my strongest attributes. And the thing with supply chain is that something always goes wrong and you constantly need to adapt and optimize, finding and evaluating new ways to do things. And this is what I love. I love being in the middle of all this and getting my hands dirty. This is why I tend to gravitate towards projects that require troubleshooting and analysis.”
Empowering Noble Minds Determined to Change the World
John Galt Solutions is passionate about supply chain and empowering individuals to grow their knowledge in the field and achieve great things. Our commitment and dedication extends to our scholarship program.
One of the things Catherine wants to improve is global healthcare. Quality healthcare is one of the most basic human necessities and yet it is not easily accessible in many parts of the world still, especially in rural areas. One of the main causes of this is the limited infrastructure that is often found in rural parts of the world. Growing up in Tanzania, Catherine saw how this affects people and knew that even small improvements in supply chain management could make a world of difference. As a result, she has been on a mission to make healthcare more accessible by better utilizing rural infrastructure.
From a young age growing up on the coast of Tanzania, I have witnessed a gap in public health sector where established infrastructure such as supply chains play a massive role in hindering the delivery of essential medicines and services to communities. From my experience living in developing countries, the areas of greatest needs are overwhelmingly rural. Establishing decentralized healthcare delivery systems by building resilient supply chains can be the key to effectively direct scarce resources such as essential medicine to areas of need.
Catherine has demonstrated strong determination, commitment, and perseverance in her work, education, and personal life goals. John Galt is extremely proud of supporting Catherine in her journey to becoming a future leader in the supply chain industry.
January 2020: Sara Wilson
John Galt Solutions congratulates Sara Wilson from The University of Utah. Sara will receive a $10,000 scholarship towards her tuition and John Galt Solutions will be curious to follow her career to see how her future in the supply chain industry unfolds. We look forward seeing her realize her goals of making a big difference in sustainability and helping to create a more environmentally-friendly world.
"As we went through applications this year Sara stood out as someone deeply committed to using their education to help make the world a better place," said Anne Omrod, CEO "Part of this scholarship is finding individuals who both showcase potential for supply chain leadership and putting those skills to use for the greater good - we couldn't have found a better fit than Sara Wilson."
John Galt Solutions launched this scholarship to support the next generation of expert forecasters and supply chain leaders who show a strong commitment to their career in one of these fields, as well as demonstrating a desire to make positive change in the world. We are proud that we have now made a difference in the lives and education of three committed students of supply chain. Sara is a worthy addition to our scholarship alumni and will go on to great things, standing out among the next generation of passionate change-makers in Supply Chain.
In response to winning the scholarship, Sara says:
"Receiving this generous scholarship will enable me to further immerse in my education and career, and ultimately achieve my goal to implement sustainability in supply chains and operations around the world. I can see this goal is now in the near future, thanks to John Galt Solutions. My gratitude for this scholarship cannot be expressed enough, as this is surely an upward turning point in my life."
Sara's passion for the environment stems from a 6-week cultural exchange she did in Panama during high school and she is cementing this interest into formal education by taking a minor in Environmental and Sustainability Studies, which will help her to create and substantiate her specialization within her Supply Chain career. She also has a strong interest in helping charities, and her extracurricular activities include being a member of the Supply Chain Club at her University, which has already begun to open doors for her, and she is a member of the Marching Band which she says has helped to develop her leadership skills.
"After weeding through the hundreds of scholarships we receive each year, it's always a joy to read a submission like Sara's and know they embody the spirit of self-improvement and social conscience that our world needs more of," said John Galt's scholarship coordinator, "We couldn't be prouder to support Sara as she continues her education and quest to make meaningful change as a supply chain leader."
John Galt Solutions wishes Sara Wilson every success!
September 2019: Lillian DeMarco
September 2019 - The scholarship committee at John Galt Solutions sat down this fall to a record pile of 125 applications for their second biannual Scholarship for Future Supply Chain Leaders. From this impressive pool of applicants, one recipient was selected - a person whose dedication to their career as a future supply chain leader stood out among the applications and demonstrated a passion, commitment and clear path towards a strong future in the industry.
It gives John Galt Solutions great pleasure to announce that this person is Lillian DeMarco, from Rider University College of Business Administration - with a dual major in Global Supply Chain and Business Analytics. Lillian will receive a $10,000 scholarship towards her tuition and John Galt Solutions will be watching her career with great interest at what will certainly be a strong future as a leader in the supply chain industry.
With this scholarship, John Galt Solutions aims to support the next generation of expert forecasters and supply chain leaders who show a strong commitment to their career in one of these fields, as well as demonstrating a desire to make positive change in the world. Choosing Lillian as the second recipient of the scholarship cements a pride that their support of the up-and-coming generation of supply chain experts continues to reward motivated individuals who prove their passion and dedication to the field and to making a positive contribution to society through supply chain and business acumen. Lillian came to Rider University because it felt like home to her after visiting seven times before attending. As a biology student on the pre-medical track, she was headed towards a professional life as a dentist and orthodontist, but soon realized that her lifelong passion for statistics and analytical tendencies was begging to be utilized in a more concrete and practical way. When she switched to business, her enthusiasm found its place and she hasn't looked back. Her goals within the corporate world include becoming a Chief Financial Officer, Chief Executive Officer, or Head of Operations at a large company; promoting Corporate Social Responsibility in every aspect of her work; executing efficiency into forecasting and analytical processes; and creating an environment for equal opportunities of success among all demographics.
"I chose Rider University because of its community-centric atmosphere that is perfect for attaining real world, meaningful experiences that you wouldn't necessarily get an opportunity to indulge in at a larger public university. I am extremely grateful to be part of the Rider community."
Lillian's altruistic nature shines as she speaks about her ambitions to change the world, both within and outside of the office. She believes that life is more than just the mix of our personal and professional "daily grind" - it's about extending help to those that need it. She plans on reaching a stage where she will be able to channel her supply chain expertise to help produce clean irrigation systems in deprived areas of the United States and developing countries, spreading awareness about prevalent issues plaguing our world, and economically empowering and fighting for justice for underrepresented groups and minorities.
“Being chosen as the recipient of this scholarship means more opportunities for professional and personal growth are possible, and I can focus on my schoolwork and greater purpose in life: to be a resource for all. Thank you to John Galt Solutions for fueling my dedication and commitment to being a supply chain leader.”
As CEO Anne Omrod put it: “Her commitment to her studies and personal growth already has her well on her way to becoming a supply chain leader of the future. I look forward to seeing where her career takes her and in what way her commendable goals to create positive sustainable change in disadvantaged communities manifest."
Manager of Student Relations at John Galt Solutions, Emma Rosonski, added: "I'm so proud to be part of an organization that values paying it forward - especially when we can help people like Lillian take one step closer toward achieving such great ambitions for making the world a better place."
John Galt Solutions wishes Lillian DeMarco every success.
Feb 2019: Marie Ozenua
Late 2018, John Galt Solutions announced they were accepting applications for their bi-annual scholarship. After receiving an overwhelming number of applications it was narrowed down to a select few, which were presented to the John Galt Staff who chose Marie Ozenua as the winner.
This $10,000 scholarship is aimed at supporting the next generation of expert forecasters and supply chain leaders who show a strong commitment to their career in one of these fields and Ms. Ozenua met those qualifications with admirable ease.
Sibling to two brothers, Marie is a Nigerian born demand planner in the making. While in the 10th grade, her father persuaded her to chose sciences over her first love, the arts, and she has not looked back. After contemplating several American universities Marie chose Georgia Tech.
“I chose Georgia Tech because I had heard about it's reputation for being one of the best engineering schools in the country,” Marie Ozenua said. “And at the time, I wanted to be a Computer Engineer.”
She later goes on to admit, “The artist in me couldn’t help but love the black and gold of Georgia Tech.” After a brief stint in what she thought would be her major, Marie decided to go in a different direction, switching to Industrial Engineering. This proved to be an easier decision that she thought, expressing, “I picked Industrial engineering because of its focus on math and efficiency. As a young girl, I always knew I wanted to help people, but I wasn't sure how. As an industrial engineer, I can help make systems and designs more efficient so work can be done faster and easier.”
Having the dream as a young girl of helping people having not left her mind, she began finding a way to implement that desire in her new field.
“As a supply chain engineer, I can design supply chain systems that would get essential products to consumers faster. This was a dream come true for me because it allowed me to see how I could use my skills to solve one of the most pressing problems facing those back home in Nigeria and in so many countries around the world - How do we get essential products (food, medicine, clothes, etc.) to people that need them the most, and in the fastest and most efficient way possible?”
It was statements such as this that cemented the decision of the John Galt staff; Marie Ozenua was, without a doubt, the correct recipient of the scholarship. “Her dedication to improving herself as person was obvious from the start, but it was her dedication to improving the world that drew us to her,” said one staff member. “It was very obvious to all of us that she had a plan to use her education, and soon to be influence, to better the lives of others.”
When asked about her goals, Marie did not disappoint reinforcing what the John Galt staff told us, saying, “My goal as a supply chain engineer is to design networks and systems that developing countries around the world can use to better understand their resources and capacity and provide more for the people that live in those countries.” If was very clear from start to finish that this year’s scholarship was going to someone who not only deserved it, but was going to use it in a manner that could truly change the world.
About John Galt Solutions:
More than ever, companies must be able to sense and respond to the dynamics of a complex supply chain. John Galt's Atlas Planning Suite provides a comprehensive end-to-end supply chain planning solution that helps you increase forecast accuracy, optimize inventory levels and maximize supply chain performance. Since its founding in 1996, John Galt Solutions has built a proven track record of providing affordable, automated forecasting and inventory management services for consumer-driven supply chains. We have an unmatched ability to configure tailored solutions for customers, regardless of size or business challenge, that save both time and money by compressing implementation periods and delivering intelligent information that positively impact your bottom line.
Additional Resources
- Learn more about John Galt Solutions
- Contact our press office at 312-701-9026 or visit johngalt.com