The Legacy of the Emory University Scholar Programs

About this same time last year Giselle F. Martin, Associate Dean of Admission, spoke about the legacy of the great people who have made the Emory University Scholar Programs possible. While the Scholar Programs at Emory University offer full and partial merit-based scholarships, they are so much more than that. Grounded in the values of generosity and developing catalytic leaders, everything about the programs seek to empower students to not only reach their full potential as leaders, but also make meaningful, impactful contributions to the global community. To that end, Scholar Programs include Scholar-only retreats and workshops, networking events, professional development, and Scholar-led programming. They also include more practical perks such as early registration and special faculty advisors.

So yes, full disclosure, this is updated content from last year. But the sentiment and heart of the legacy of these unique Programs apply today!

This post is part of a series highlighting the Emory University Scholar Programs, the Scholars application deadline (November 15, 2016), and Emory University’s affordability. Also check out stories from Amy Hou and Noam Kantor, current Scholars, get answers to Financial Aid FAQs, and use these step-by-step instructions to apply for Scholars through the Common or Coalition Applications.

So, without further ado, some of the deep-rooted values in the legacy of the Emory University Scholar Programs:

Generosity

Robert W. Woodruff, also known as “Mr. Anonymous.” Most know Mr. Woodruff as a remarkable businessman and philanthropist. He became president of The Coca-Cola Company in 1923 helping shape the company from a local soft drink business into the world’s best-known brand. Yet when you hear personal accounts from people who knew Mr. Woodruff, they almost always recount how he remembered hundreds of friends’ birthdays each year with the gift of a rose in a Coca-Cola bottle, or that as one of Emory University’s largest benefactors (and Oxford College dropout) he declined receiving an honorary degree at Emory University because he felt he had not truly earned it.

In civic life, Mr. Woodruff preferred to remain in the background, making anonymous gifts that greatly enriched his hometown of Atlanta, Georgia. His philanthropy focused on transforming the small, bustling railroad town into a world-class city, and he made significant gifts to Atlanta’s health, education, and cultural institutions, like the impressive Woodruff Arts Center. Whatever the gift, Mr. Woodruff believed in giving quietly. On his desk sat a quote embodying his life’s creed:

“There is no limit to what a man can do or where he can go if he doesn’t mind who gets the credit.”

Developing Tomorrow’s Leaders

Think about the mission of Emory University’s Goizueta Business School—to help students grow intellectually, personally, and professionally so that they feel enabled, empowered, and motivated to make significant positive contributions to the organizations they serve and to society as a whole. You can’t help but wonder where this mission comes from. The Goizueta Business School is honored to take its name from Roberto C. Goizueta, a Cuban immigrant who was an innovative and influential business leader who also served as chairman and chief executive officer of The Coca-Cola Company from 1981 until his untimely passing in 1997.

Hailed by The Wall Street Journal as “one of the most highly regarded CEOs in America,” Goizueta demonstrated a level of personal and professional courage throughout his lifetime that has ensured his legacy as one of the most respected business leaders of the 20th century. His challenge for us here is to “not teach business the way it is but the way it will be.” His ability to recognize opportunities, solve problems, and take intelligent risks transformed not only the Coca-Cola Company but the broader communities he committed his time to. During his tenure, he began introducing new beverages, including Diet Coke, Cherry Coke and New Coke (you may want to look into this one. It is a good story!), and even purchased Columbia Pictures!

Much like Woodruff, while he was at the helm of the world’s most valuable and best-known brand, Mr. Goizueta did not seek the limelight. He would give credit where credit was due. But should he not agree with you, he would not hesitate to share his thoughts. It was this kind of openness and honesty that made him a man you could trust—and who could be trusted with one of the best-kept secrets in the world—the secret formula for Coca-Cola! One of my favorite Goizueta quotes is:

“The cynics will tell you that the good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow. Just do it anyway.”

What will your legacy be?

We share these legacies because we encourage you to unleash your creativity, embolden your thoughts, and share them without fear! We learn so much from each of you, from both your success, your failures, and the things that are yet to come. Particularly when selecting students for the Scholar Programs, we are not seeking students on a spreadsheet based on your test scores—we are reading your full story that. Who you are as a person, a thinker, and a risk taker matters to us just as much as all the other attributes.

We look forward to reading your applications and hearing your stories and values.

Giselle F. Martin
Associate Dean of Admission

Photo of Woodruff courtesy of Wikipedia

Don’t hesitate to connect with us by posting a comment to this blog, tweeting us @emoryadmission, or emailing us at admission@emory.edu. We look forward to hearing from you!

Note that Scholar Program invitations and any associated merit scholarships are subject to change from year to year. Please visit our website for the most up-to-date information and to learn more about scholar program opportunities.

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