There’s a good reason the Monfort College of Business at the University of Northern Colorado will once again be the Video Vignette sponsor of the Junior Achievement Colorado Business Hall of Fame on January 31 at the Hyatt Regency Denver Convention Center.

“Like the Monfort College of Business, Junior Achievement grooms the business leaders of tomorrow,” said Don Gudmundson, Dean of the College.  “In fact, many JA students end up studying business here.”

Those who attended the 2012 Colorado Business Hall of Fame had the opportunity to hear one of those future business leaders speak.  Michael “Mick” Mrozek got involved in Junior Achievement at age 17 and then got his degree in Accounting and Finance at Monfort College of Business.  Of course, a lot happened in between.

“When I was in JA in high school, we had a team project where we created a new custard flavor for Good Times.  It was unlike any experience I’d had in school, and I was hooked,” he said.  Through his JA experience, he also realized that the road to success included a college degree.

Fortunately for Mrozek, his experience with Junior Achievement also helped him pay for college.  He was the recipient of the Junior Achievement Rocky Mountain Inspiration Scholarship, which provided $500 a year toward college expenses for four years.  “I wanted to be successful and help my family out.  My JA scholarship helped me achieve that.”

Mrozek chose to attend the Monfort College of Business because it was the only business school in the country to earn the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award from the Office of the President of the United States.  “I was impressed by that, and it was right here in my back yard.”  He also enjoyed the small classes, which enabled him to get to know his professors beyond the classroom.  “There’s an open door policy with the faculty and they really care about and connect with their students.”

In fact, professors helped him land two internships while in college:  one at Western Union and the other at Denver-based EKS&H, where he’s now a member of the tax staff.

“The Monfort College of Business requires all students to have a 50-hour Professional Experience before graduation,” Gudmundson said.  “It helps our students be market ready upon graduation.”

When asked what his dream job is, Mrozek said, “You know, I really haven’t thought about that.  But I am very optimistic about my future and I have JA and the Monfort College of Business to thank for that.”

Learn more about the Monfort College of Business and how your business can get involved as a resource for our students by contacting their professional experience coordinator, Alexa Williams at (970) 351-1844.