The Center for Ethics on Social Responsibility (CESR), with the Leeds School of Business, offers two premiere scholarship opportunities for undergraduate students with demonstrated interest in business ethics, social responsibility or sustainability – the Marc Prisant and Heidi Heltzel Scholarship for Ethics and Social Responsibility and the Donna T. and Gary L. Antonoff Scholarship Fund are committed to encouraging the development of ethical business leaders.

Marc Prisant and Heidi Heltzel Scholarship for Ethics and Social Responsibility

A scholarship is available for students who are actively pursuing CESR's Social Responsibility and Ethics (SRE) Certificate. The Marc Prisant and Heidi Heltzel Scholarship for Ethics and Social Responsibility will award at least two $5,000 scholarships annually ($2,500 per semester). 

Award Criteria:

  • Recipients must be a rising junior or senior actively pursuing the Social Responsibility and Ethics (SRE) Certificate (or similar program) through the Center for Education on Social Responsibility (CESR) at the Leeds School of Business.
  • Recipient must demonstrate financial need or be a first-generation college student. 
  • Recipients shall be selected using the established procedures of the Leeds School Undergraduate Scholarship Committee.
  • Recipients shall sign and abide by the civility agreement at the Leeds School of Business.
  • At least two recipients shall receive the award each academic year.

  • Preference will be given to those students more extensively involved with the Center for Education on Social Responsibility (CESR).
  • Preference will be given to candidates participating in diversity programs.
  • Preference will be given to renewing the scholarship to the same student(s) annually. However, recipients must maintain a 3.0 GPA to retain the scholarship. 
  • Preference will be given to those that have completed the Federal Application for Student Aid (FAFSA).

Marc and Heidi have been guided in their lives and careers by social responsibility and ethics. When they met in 2007, they found these traits were just another part of their lives which they could share.

Heidi is a member of the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award Board of Examiners, and is executive director of Rocky Mountain Professional Excellence, the regional organization for the Malcolm Baldridge Performance Excellence Program.  Based on the Baldrige Framework for Excellence, it is a proven best-practice program that evaluates organizations in seven areas: leadership; strategy; customers; measurement, analysis and knowledge management; workforce; operations; and, results.  Heidi worked in public policy for many years before she transitioned to nonprofits. Having served on a humanitarian medical mission in Tanzania, she subsequently co-founded and was executive director of the American Transplant Foundation. This organization was created to increase organ and tissue donor awareness nationwide.  From here, she led the turnaround of Can Do Multiple Sclerosis, a national nonprofit, achieving explosive growth in program delivery, funding and brand recognition. 

Marc’s career has primarily been in venture capital, working as the chief financial officer for venture partnerships and portfolio companies alike. Having successfully completed over 110 financial audits, he has tirelessly focused on maintaining transparency and ethics in business transactions. He briefly served on the board of the National Kidney Foundation (Northern California Chapter) after becoming a living organ donor in 1996.  Marc arrived in Colorado in 2007 to become executive vice president and chief financial officer of the Steadman Philippon Research Institute (“SPRI”), a nonprofit, where he stayed until 2012.  Following his time at SPRI, Marc went back into working with medical devices start-up companies, serving in “C-suite” positions.

While Marc and Heidi never attended CU, through their friendship with Michael Leeds, they learned about the work being done at the Leeds School of Business and appreciated the focus and the direction that the business school and, in particular, the CESR program were taking. Marc and Heidi’s strong beliefs in social responsibility and ethics drew them to establishing this annual scholarship at Leeds, which they hope will attract future generations of students to the business school and CESR.

It is their intention that this annual scholarship will grow over time and, subsequently, be a part of their legacy to the Leeds School of Business.

    Donna T. and Gary L. Antonoff Scholarship Fund

    Five $10,000 scholarships are awarded to qualifying incoming students at the Leeds School of Business, with preference given to students who’ve demonstrated interest in business ethics, social responsibility or sustainability.

    Recipients of the scholarship exemplify strength of character and a potential for success, as demonstrated by overcoming adversity, having shown integrity in a challenging situation, or possessing leadership skills and experiences. Meet the first recipients!

    Award Criteria:

    • Scholarship recipients will be selected in accordance with established procedures for awarding need-based scholarships.
    • Scholarships shall be awarded to Colorado residents.
    • Scholarships will be awarded for one academic year and are renewable for up to five years based on criteria established by the University.
    • Recipients must be incoming freshmen in the first year of receiving the scholarship.

    • Preference given to students who have demonstrated interest in the areas of business ethics, social responsibility or sustainability.

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