In September, six Baker alumni returned to campus to serve as judges for the BOOK competition. The Baker Organizational Observation for Knowledge program provides students the opportunity to enhance the value of their summer internship by exploring beyond their immediate responsibilities to gain insight into the operations of their host organization. As part of the BOOK competition, students present a profile of their internship organization based on research and interviews with managers, department heads, and CEOs.
Since 2007, alumni have played a pivotal role in the BOOK program by returning to campus to assess student presentations. The panel uses criteria provided by the Office of Career Services and the Department of Business and Economics to rate each presentation and determine the awards. Students are assessed on how well they get to know the business practices and culture of the hosting organization.
The following alumni, representing a variety of professional backgrounds, served on the 2024 panel.
Andrew Dare, ’17, has worked at KPMG, a Kansas City-based accounting firm, since graduating from Baker, most recently as an audit manager.
Vic Doane, ’04, has led business process improvement efforts and served as a project manager, senior trader, consultant, data analyst, and radio sports director.
Ben Hass, ’19, MBA ’07, MSM ’10, has served the banking and financial industries in numerous roles, including senior treasury management banking officer, vice president and treasury management officer, director of new business development, and client relationship manager.
Molly (Bostwick) Herwig, ’14, MBA ’17, has held positions as a senior accountant and an engineering operations lead at a technology company that serves the self-storage industry.
Brandon Milburn, ’18, has served several national soccer organizations by heading up marketing, digital media, and strategic growth initiatives. In February he returned to Baker to server as the director of marketing and communications.
Aaron Toren, ’08, has served a variety of organizations as director of global cyber security, senior IT auditor, business analyst, account manager, and account services analyst.
Dare, Herwig, and Toren are BOOK veterans, having participated in the program during their undergraduate years.
The following students were awarded cash prizes for their presentations:
- Luke McDonald (Southwest Milling Supply) $1,500
- Joaquín Muñoz (Banco de Santander-Surgir) $750
- Lila Avila (Evergy) $750 plus $150 for social responsibility
- Chloe Nelson (CVS) $250 plus $250 for social responsibility
- Tyler Nettles (Headquarters) $100 for social responsibility
The three social responsibility awards were given for the analysis of the hosting organization’s treatment of social responsibility.
