Integrated supply management student wins prestigious scholarship
Dober accepted the $4,250 scholarship award at the organization’s annual scholarship awards celebration at the Detroit Athletic Club. “This scholarship gives me validation that hard work does pay off,” says Dober. “It feels great to be recognized for my current and future potential in the supply chain industry.”
Dr. Sime Curkovic, professor of supply chain, encouraged Dober to apply for this award as she embodies the purpose of the organization. The TCD was organized to promote and encourage the highest standards of education and technical competence among the members of the transportation industry and supply chain discipline. The organization gave out total scholarship awards of $25,000, and Dober received one of the largest scholarships.
“Madison is a clear leader in our program and is a motivated and committed student who is willing to go above and beyond to achieve success in the supply chain field,” Curkovic says. “More importantly, she brings out the best in others because she puts them ahead of herself.”
Dober has been a standout student throughout her time at Western. “Madison has the enthusiasm, energy and drive to always succeed,” says Dr. Marcel Zondag, director of the integrated supply management program at Western. “She shows her peers that dedication to classes and an eagerness to learn outside of the classroom can definitely help determine your future career path and success.”
This scholarship will give Dober a chance to pursue further credentials, providing her additional experience for her future career.
“Receiving the TCD scholarship allows me the financial freedom to continue pursuing my undergraduate education with confidence," she says. "Thanks to the organization’s generosity, I will now be able to pursue my Six Sigma Yellow and Green Belt Certifications through the ISM Center prior to graduation.”
As a woman in the supply chain field, Dober says, “The possibilities are endless for women in supply chain. There is such a need for collaborative and empathetic leaders in the workforce. The biggest piece of advice I have for women considering supply chain is to be bold! Ask questions, network and seek others’ wisdom. If you want it, go for it!”
About Madison Dober
Madison Dober is a junior from Lake Orion, Michigan, majoring in integrated supply management and minoring in business analytics. She expects to graduate in spring 2024. In fall 2021, she was part of the student team that won the General Motors/Wayne State University Supply Chain Case Competition. She has served as a supply chain intern at Consumers Energy and as a manufacturing supply chain intern at General Motors. In May 2022, she studied global negotiation abroad in Germany.
Dober was awarded the Excellence in Education Scholarship from Achieving Women's Excellence in Supply Chain Operations, Management, and Education (AWESOME) in spring 2022. As a winner of this scholarship, she was recognized for being a future female leader in the supply chain industry.
She is involved with several student organizations on campus, including the Supply Chain Management Association, where she acts as executive vice president, and Delta Sigma Pi, of which she previously served as social chair in spring 2022. She has also been named to the dean’s list every semester she has been at Western.
About WMU’s ISM Program
Supply chain management is crucial for business success and has become more prominent since the pandemic. Consistently ranked as a top national program, the integrated supply management program at Western Michigan University offers a major and minor, as well as graduate coursework, providing students with the supply chain knowledge and skill sets necessary for a variety of industries. The curriculum combines courses in supply chain management, information technology, team management, communication, negotiation and problem-solving.
Find more information about the program.
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