ECU student from Chickasha Brayden Battershell is Business Scholar

Ada, OK (05/02/2024) — Brayden Battershell is preparing for a career in human resources or finance.

The East Central University junior from Chickasha is well on his way to achieving that goal and perhaps enhanced his chances by being named an ECU Business Scholar for 2018-19.

The exclusive Business Scholar program not only welcomes students for their academic achievements but also their ability to show leadership skills in a manner of being an extension of the university's faculty through the Harland C. Stonecipher School of Business.

Students must have at least a 3.50 grade-point average before entering the program and must maintain at least a 3.25 each semester to remain in the program. They must also be active in the Business Leaders Association by attending meetings and holding positions of responsibility.

Besides being on campus for two or more years, the business scholars must be able to volunteer for special projects in the School of Business, participate in the Dean's Leadership Council, be willing to travel during assigned trips and, once they graduate, give back to the program after graduation as Alumni of Business Scholars.

Battershell credits the Stonecipher School of Business and its faculty for laying the groundwork for his business scholar achievement.

"My coursework has taught me more about leadership than anything else. To be successful in business, one must have the skills to be a leader," said Battershell. "You don't have to be a boss to be a leader. The leadership skills that I have learned through my coursework in the Stonecipher School of Business have helped me in several events outside the classroom. I have used my leadership skills in my involvement in several organizations on campus, including being president of the ECU Society for Human Resource Management chapter."

Battershell has also developed and used those skills in working in the Linscheid Library at the reference desk last semester.

"Only a handful of students are trusted to take this position which is the face of the library in helping any patron in need," Battershell said. "My coursework has taught me the leadership, communication, technology and problem-solving skills needed to excel in this new position in the library."

Battershell has also utilized those skills in volunteer events like Tiger Academy, hosted by the Stonecipher School of Business. He served as a college leader to six sixth grade boys during the academy. Battershell says he also learned lessons through the basics of economics and writing journal entries with the leadership skills currently being employed through his college journey.

He believes the skill that has helped him the most is communication.

"Communication is key to business whether it's chatting with a coworker, conducting a meeting, giving a presentation, making a sales pitch or talking with your boss," said Battershell. "The business school has taught me so much about communication already in my two years, both directly in communication class and indirectly through classes, projects, interviews and other events I've attended."

Through those communications skills, he has admitted to having built confidence and learned to be more outgoing.

Battershell's interest in becoming a Business Scholar came when he toured ECU as a senior at Chickasha High School.

"I got the privilege to meet Dean (Wendell) Godwin and learn about the program and the business school," Battershell said. "The business school was ultimately the reason I chose ECU."

-ECU-

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