An interesting thing happened when Rolland “Rollie” Walk met Erika Hoot – they discovered that their goals in business were very similar, even though they were many years apart in age.
Rolland graduated from Kent State in 1955 with a degree in management science. Erika will graduate in 2014 with a major in entrepreneurship and minors in international business and marketing.
Today, Rollie still enjoys a very satisfying career as a manufacturer’s representative, and Erika is completing an internship at Diebold to gain experience in international business. Their meeting was a remarkable experience for both of them, with Erika wanting to hear all about how Rollie got started in business, and Rollie delighted to answer her questions.
One of the experiences the Walks looked forward to when they were considering establishing a scholarship was that they would be able to meet their student recipients. For them, meeting Erika has been a wonderful affirmation of why they decided to give back to Kent State.
Erika was very grateful for being awarded Rollie and Marilyn’s scholarship. “I used the money to help defray the cost of tuition and books,” she says. “The past three years have gone by quickly and as I begin my senior year, I’m grateful for the opportunity to have attended Kent State.” And for the very special opportunity to have met the people who have helped her achieve her career goals.