Mays Impacts

For the third consecutive year, a Mays student has a won a Brown Foundation-Earl Rudder Memorial Outstanding Student Award. Finance major Morgan Knocke ’10 was one of the 2010 recipients.

She was described by nominators as a “young woman of exceptional honor who leads by example.”

Texas A&M President R. Bowen Loftin presents a Brown Foundation-Earl Rudder Memorial Outstanding Student Award to Morgan Knocke ’10 during her graduation commencement ceremony.

The Brown-Rudder award is one of the highest given at A&M, and includes a cash gift of $5,000. It is presented each spring at commencement to students who exemplify the leadership and related traits of the late General Earl Rudder, a World War II hero who served as president of Texas A&M from 1959 until his death in 1970.

While her 4.0 grade-point average had her nominators calling her academic achievements “remarkable,” Knocke was also praised for her volunteer efforts to bring educational and medical aid to Kenya. Paying her own travel and living expenses, Knocke spent the summer there working with Comfort the Children International.

Dean Jerry Strawser said he “cannot imagine a more deserving recipient of the Brown-Rudder Award. In addition to her outstanding academic credentials, Ms. Knocke has demonstrated remarkable levels of selfless service and leadership.”

At Mays, Knocke served two years as coordinator of the Fellows program. She also founded the Horizons program, which provides resources to prepare students for careers in strategy consulting and investment banking. One of Knocke’s classmates asserted that Knocke worked to connect students with former students in top positions in a variety of fields to act as mentors. As a result, the program has raised awareness about career opportunities in these areas while educating top firms across the country about the value of an Aggie graduate.

Knocke and the other recipients were presented their awards by Texas A&M President R. Bowen Loftin.