Fellowship Opportunities in MBA

Outdoor Industry MBA Fellowship Opportunities

If you have been accepted to the MBA Program and are interested in any of the fellowship opportunities listed below, please email the Program Director, Jennifer Visitacion, MBA The number of program fellows will be determined each year by the quality and quantity of the candidate pool. Western’s MBA program offers fellowships to reduce student tuition, enhance organizational partnerships, elevate the quality of collaborative projects, and improve students’ career competitiveness.  Seventy percent of MBA students receive financial aid.  Unless otherwise noted, fellowships are awarded on an annual basis.

Colorado Outdoor Recreation Industry Office Diversity and Inclusion Fellowship

The Colorado Outdoor Recreation Industry Office has offered fellowship opportunities for MBA students who are underrepresented in the Outdoor Industry. This MBA is committed to ensuring that future leaders of the industry are engaging in a program that is both inclusive and diverse, so they deeply understand the benefits of including all voices in an industry that benefits all participants. Fellowships are up to $5,000 each.

Social Media Marketing Fellowship

This fellow will assist the Social Media Marketing Team in creating content, connecting across channels and building a thriving ecosystem to support our students’ professional growth. Individuals with past Social Media Marketing professional experience are encouraged to apply. Fellowships are up to $5,000 each.

Special Events Coordinator Fellowship

The Special Events Coordinator Fellow will assist in executing our current exciting conferences as well as other event opportunities that are being developed. Individuals with past professional event planning experience are encouraged to apply. Fellowships are up to $5,000 each.

Sustainability Coordinator Fellowship

We define sustainability as the nexus between the consideration of social, environmental, and economic concerns. This fellow will assist the program in continuing to strive towards reducing our impacts and creating a more equitable world. Individuals with past professional sustainability management experience are encouraged to apply. Fellowships are up to $5,000 each.

Wright Challenge Fellowship

The Wright Challenge is a non-traditional collegiate innovation competition bringing together entrepreneurial problem-solvers from a variety of backgrounds to address pressing challenges within the outdoor recreation industry. This fellow will assist in coordinating this challenge for the MBA’s first year students. Fellowships are up to $10,000 and are available to second-year students only.

Military Personnel Fellowship

Eligible individuals are active duty military personnel, honorably discharged veterans,and military retirees. This includes all personnel listed in the Title 10 US Code, including DoD (USA, USAF, USMC, USN), Department of Homeland Security (USCG), Department of Commerce (NOAA) and the Department of HHS (UP Public Health Service). Eligible veterans are individuals honorably discharged in one of the previously mentioned organizations. Retirees are veterans who have served honorably for 20 or more years. You must be able to provide one of the following forms of documentation:

• Recent Military Orders
• Current Military ID Card
• DD Form 214: Certificate of Release of Discharge from Active Duty

Fellowships are up to $5,000 each. Additionally, veterans can find more supporting resources here.

Industry Fellowships

Highly skilled and knowledgeable managers are essential to organizations in the outdoor industry.  An Industry Fellowship involves a partnership between Western’s OIMBA program and an outdoor industry organization; specifically, it involves an agreement between the MBA program and an organization to financially support one (or more) employees in completing their MBA degree while advancing their career.  The MBA program will match up to $10,000 of funds provided by the student’s employer.  Typically, after an employee completes the program, they agree to continue with the company after their studies, apply all course work and their project to the company’s needs, and progress the company’s goals. Commonly, employees will sign a retention agreement with their existing company. The amount of the Industry Fellowship and the scope of the project work are to be negotiated with the employee, organization, and Western prior to enrollment. Please have your HR Director, or someone in an equivalent position, contact the Program Director to discuss this opportunity.

Research Fellowships

This research fellowship will work under an MBA faculty and contribute to an emerging body of literature related to the outdoor industry.   Students should have a desire to conduct quantitative and/or qualitative research, perform data analysis, use analytical skills, and employ exemplary writing skills.  Research fellowships may provide up to $10,000 over two years of degree completion.

Gunnison Valley Economic Prosperity Fellowship

This fellowship provides support for individuals directly creating positive economic impact with their MBA capstone project in Gunnison, CO. Projects can be diverse in scope. Individuals applying for this fellowship must send a project proposal and must reside in the Gunnison Valley. Individuals with entrepreneurial experience are encouraged to apply. Fellowships are up to $10,000 each and are available to second-year students only.

Writing Tutor Fellowship

In order to support fellow graduate students, this fellow will assist in writing support, working under the Graduate School’s Writing Workshop. Individuals with excellent writing skills, entering their second year, are encouraged to apply. Fellowships are up to $1,000 per year.

VF Foundation Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Fellowship

The VF Foundation has offered fellowship opportunities for MBA students who are underrepresented in the Outdoor Industry. This MBA is committed to ensuring that future leaders of the industry are engaging in a program that is both inclusive and diverse, so they deeply understand the benefits of including all voices in an industry that benefits all participants. Fellowships are up to $25,000 each over two years of degree completion.

General MBA Fellowships

Product Track

The MBA offers a number of fellowships at varying amounts. The Product Track fellows will be asked to champion a high visibility project during their second year. At year’s end, in addition to the agreed upon project outcomes, each fellow will complete a white paper, newspaper article, Outdoor Industry Association report or other deliverable of high value. Fellowships are up to $5,000 each.

Service Track

The MBA offers a number of fellowships at varying amounts. The Service Track fellows will be asked to champion a high visibility community project during their second year. At year’s end, in addition to the agreed upon project outcomes, each fellow will complete a white paper, newspaper article, Outdoor Industry Association report or other deliverable of high value. Fellowships are up to $5,000 each.