The SMPS Foundation, in partnership with the United Negro College Fund (UNCF), provides financial assistance to students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Made possible by generous donations, the SMPS Foundation Zinsmeyer Scholarship Program focuses on the fields of architecture, construction management, engineering, marketing, mass communications, and public relations. Recently, SMPS chatted with Yenique Mason who attends Morgan State University. Yenique is one of 16 students who received a scholarship for the 2024-25 academic year.
What inspired you to apply for this scholarship? I was particularly inspired to apply to the SMPS Foundation Zinsmeyer Scholarship because of the organization’s commitment to helping students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), especially those in my designated field of marketing. This, along with the Foundation’s aim to support the youth who will guide the future, all influenced my decision to apply.
How has receiving this scholarship impacted your academic or personal journey? Receiving this scholarship has been a great help as it has allowed me to focus on my academics instead of worrying about the financial pressures associated with schooling. This scholarship has also helped me on my personal journey.
What are your academic and career goals? Academically, I aim to complete my degree at Morgan State University double majoring in marketing and human resources management with minors in management/business administration and sociology. I then aim to return to graduate school to gain my master’s. Career wise, I hope to venture into the field of marketing working with digital solutions to help promote brands and products.
Have you faced any challenges in your educational journey, and if so, how have you overcome them? Throughout my educational journey, I have indeed faced many challenges. I would say the greatest and most common amongst college students that I encountered was allocating enough time for academics and extracurriculars, while also juggling friendships and a full-time internship. This showed me that time management was most important and allowed me to grow my skills in this area. To overcome this, I began being more intentional with my time as well as being realistic with the goals that I set for myself.
Can you share a school project you’re proud of and what, if anything, has it taught you? One project that I am particularly proud of was my Business Design portfolio for my winter-mini semester Entrepreneurship course. With the course being administered within a two-week period, I was tasked with quickly creating a startup business portfolio as well as a detailed business plan and product presentation for my ideal venture. Although pressured by time constraints, I was proud of the outcome as it has taught me so much about the entrepreneurial sector and mindset.
What drew you to pursue a degree in business management? I became interested in the field of business as I grew up surrounded by many professionals in their various fields. During middle school, I was also a member of Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA), which furthered my interest and knowledge of the industry.
What’s one important lesson you’ve learned about business, leadership, and/or teamwork so far? The most important lesson that I have learned this far has been that “there is no I in team”. Often times when working in groups, people can become overwhelmed or focused on the finished product and instead neglect others and their opinions. Having learned this early within my team and leadership experience, I often repeat this saying to myself within these roles.
Is there a particular sector or industry you’re excited to work in after graduation, and why? After graduation I am particularly excited to work within the digital marketing industry. With today’s world being centered around digital content and media, I see this area as a great field to combine my love for social media with marketing.
