Douglas G. Matthews Scholarship Endowment for Management Excellence and Entrepreneurship

This two-year MBA scholarship encourages management excellence and the entrepreneurial spirit. Generously funded by Doug Matthews, '80EMBA, this award goes to an MBA student who has demonstrated exceptional entrepreneurial activity, merit, and financial need. Recipient is chosen by MBA Admissions Committee. Doug Matthews '80EMBA graduated with Goizueta's first Executive MBA class. An inspiring entrepreneur, he thought something was missing in the academic program. "At the time, I felt the curriculum didn't place enough emphasis on small companies or entrepreneurship," says Matthews.

To address that problem, he created the Douglas Matthews Entrepreneurial Scholarship in 1989. The endowment has since tripled in value, and a recent additional commitment from Matthews means it will soon fully cover a two-year MBA student with an interest in small companies. It is difficult to teach entrepreneurship, Matthews says. "It's a gut instinct. A true entrepreneur not only creates a successful business, but can do it again." Matthews' current business, Intercredit Ltd., of Palm Beach, Fla., focuses on financing for the airline industry. A member of the Goizueta Advisory Board, he lectures at the school twice a year. "It's a great graduate business school," he says, "a tremendous educational opportunity."