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Texas Woman’s Hub for Women in Business announces inaugural class of Minerva Scholars
10/25/16
The 2016 Minerva Scholars met Texas Governor Greg Abbott and First Lady Cecilia Abbott when the Abbotts visited TWU on October 21. Pictured are (left
to right): FRONT ROW: Scholars Maria Beshears, Rutendo Thembani, Gov. Abbott, Cecilia Abbott and Scholar Madeline Hoffman; MIDDLE ROW: TWU's
Hub's Executive Director Tina Mims, Scholars Joan Denton, Ayman Mehdi, Grace Muir, Mikaila Summers, Sarah Scharringhausen and Danielle Johnson; BACK
ROW: Scholars Anna McGee, Sterling Stinson, Carrie Buckley and TWU’s Hub Student Programs Director Nancy Hong.
Texas Woman’s University‘s Hub for Women in Business (/hub/) has named its inaugural class of Minerva Scholars (/hub/minerva-
scholarships/). Twelve students were selected for scholarships based on multiple factors including their academic achievements and
their plans to open a business in Texas.
The scholarship is designed to encourage rst-year and master’s level students to plan their college career around their desire to open
their own businesses in Texas. These scholars can pursue any academic program offered at TWU, but they must complete the Hub’s
required extracurricular activities in addition to their degree plan requirements.
”Our rst cohort of Minerva Scholars exemplify the traits of successful business women – curiosity, innovative thinking, motivational
drive and persistence,” said Tina Mims, Ph.D., executive director of TWU’s Hub. “By providing scholarships to offset part of the cost of
their education, TWU gives these students the opportunity to excel in the classroom as well as in the business world.”
By participating in this scholarship program, these students earn business certi cations in specialized skills, develop business plans,
and receive one-on-one coaching and mentoring from business owners.
TWU’s rst class of Minerva Scholars includes:
Maria Beshears of Dallas, Texas, who is pursuing her master’s in occupational therapy;
Carrie Buckley of Jarrell, Texas, who is pursuing her master’s in occupational therapy;
Joan Denton of Aledo, Texas, who is pursuing her master’s in nutrition;
Madeline Hoffman of Whitney, Texas, who is pursuing her bachelor’s in kinesiology;
Danielle Johnson of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, who is pursuing her master’s in nutrition;
Anna McGee of Graham, Texas, who is pursuing her master’s in kinesiology;

2. 12/25/2016 News ­ TWU News ­ Texas Woman's University
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Ayman Mehdi of Dallas, Texas, who is pursuing her bachelor’s in nursing;
Grace Muir of Sanger, Texas, who is pursuing a bachelor’s in child development.
Sarah Scharringhausen of Carrollton, Texas, who is pursuing her master’s in teaching;
Sterling Stinson of Ponder, Texas, who is pursuing her bachelor’s in history;
Mikaila Summers of Dallas, Texas, who is pursuing her bachelor’s in nursing;
Rutendo Thembani of Harare, Zimbabwe, who is pursuing an MBA executive track.
TWU’s Hub launched in 2016 in response to Governor Greg Abbott’s goal of making Texas number one in the United States for
women-owned businesses.
“The inaugural class of Minerva Scholars will help strengthen TWU’s leadership in elevating women business owners across the Lone
Star State,” said Gov. Abbott. “Texas succeeds when Texas women succeed, and I am con dent that with the outstanding work of
TWU’s Hub for Women in Business, Texas can become the nation’s top location for entrepreneurial women.”
TWU's Hub for Women in Business offers annual Minerva Scholarships up to $6,500 for tuition and fees. These scholarships are
available to incoming rst-year students and master's level students from anywhere in the country who wish to open a business in
Texas and ful ll speci ed application requirements.
Media Contact
Khristen Jones
Writer
Social Media & Media Relations Specialist
940-898-32877
kjones79@twu.edu (mailto:kjones79@twu.edu)
Page last updated 12:52 PM, December 19, 2016
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