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Casey Smith, a senior management and human resource management major from Orange, and Lance Taylor, a senior accounting and finance major from Port Arthur, have been recognized as "the best and brightest" business students who "exhibit entrepreneurial aspiration and demonstrate a propensity for leadership, entrepreneurial achievements or an industry innovator." 

The Texas Business Hall of Fame awards scholarships annually through its foundation to students from participating Texas universities. Â鶹ÊÓƵ’s participation in the scholarship program is made possible through the Hall of Fame’s Ben J. Rogers Scholarship, endowed by Regina Rogers, daughter of Ben Rogers. Regina has also been a strong supporter of Â鶹ÊÓƵ and the College of Business, where she endowed the Ben J. Rogers Chair in Entrepreneurial Studies, currently held by Dr. Brandon Price. The contributions of the Rogers family to Â鶹ÊÓƵ and the Southeast Texas area are immense.

The Texas Business Hall of Fame Foundation seeks to help future business leaders pursue their degrees. Both Smith and Taylor aspire to run their own businesses after graduation and demonstrated their personal goals and business ideas through the scholarship vetting process.

Professors in the College of Business nominated Smith and Taylor. The nominees completed applications, wrote papers detailing their business aspirations and business plans. They were required to present their business plans to the Dean of the College of Business for approval. Once approved, the applicants were interviewed at the University of Houston and met with the coordinator and staff of the Texas Business Hall of Fame. Final recipients were selected based on presentation and interview.

Smith interned at Chick-Fil-A and hopes to open his own Chick-Fil-A in Orange.  “I plan to get my M.B.A. at Â鶹ÊÓƵ and then apply to become a Chick-Fil-A franchisee,” said Smith.  “Due to my age, it may take a while before I get accepted, so until that day comes I will probably work in the nonprofit sector.”

Taylor, who already has his own real estate business and is interning for Chevron this summer, hopes to start his own business after graduation. “This scholarship helps me to finish my senior year of college and also, be able to develop my own business even further,” said Taylor. “After graduation, I plan to work with a bigger company to gain some experience on how corporate business operates and network with other business professionals to prepare myself to finish and develop my own business in Southeast Texas.”