Congratulations to Ian M. Murphy, a computer engineering technology major at Oregon Institute of Technology in Klamath Falls, OR, who has won the spring 2015 edition of Buildium’s Build U. Scholarship.
Ian, who plans to graduate in 2018, is focusing his studies on software engineering and has a keen interest in cyber security. The Buildium scholarship committee voted his essay on the importance of employee ownership to building a successful organization as the winning entry for spring 2015. Ian was awarded a scholarship prize of $2,500.
In his essay, Ian used the company his mother works for as a shining example of what employee ownership can do for a business. He credits managers who encourage employees to take greater responsibility for their work as the key to the company’s long-term success.
According to Ian, that success is embodied by the 30 (of 40) employees who followed their managers and stayed with the company after it was acquired by another corporation. These 7 managers had worked their way up from entry-level positions to their current roles by never backing down from the challenges and obstacles at their company. Along the way, they also received the support of their managers, and the numerous opportunities for professional development they provided.
“The most prevalent reasons cited for leaving a job are poor relationships with coworkers and/or their manager, no room for advancement, insignificant work, and they do not feel recognized or appreciated,” Ian said in his essay. “Good managers develop good employees. Great managers can create a family.”
When asked what he plans to do with the $2,500, Ian requested that the money be sent to his parents to apply to next semester’s tuition. Ian is grateful for the support of his parents, who told him in the eighth grade that he was expected to take ownership of his college career by paying for half of his tuition. Additionally, Ian thanked his two favorite high-school teachers, Michael O’Brien and Kieffer Tarbell.
“Both were experts in their fields, mathematics and chemistry, respectively, whose enthusiasm in the classroom contributed greatly to my education, as well as the education of every other student they encountered,” Ian said.
Congratulations again, Ian, for winning the Build U. Scholarship, and for taking ownership of financing your college education!
