Celebrating Our M.A. Wright Award Recipients

Rice Business takes pride in having MBA students who value integrity, intellectual curiosity and continuous personal growth.

Every year, we select well-rounded, exemplary graduates across all our MBA programs to honor with the M.A. Wright Award. Named for Mike Wright, the first chairman of the Jones Graduate School Board of Advisors, this prestigious award is determined based on nominations from graduating class members. The criteria for nomination reflect our core values — recognizing students who demonstrate outstanding academic performance, selfless leadership, community stewardship, and career progress. Following nominations, students vote on the winner for their program.

During the December 2023 graduation celebration dinner, we recognized three MBA@Rice award winners: Erin Hulme, Grace Kim and Roger Sun. (Ashley Britt, our fourth winner of the year for this program, was recognized in the May 2023 graduation ceremony.)

As individuals, each of these students has achieved great things. But, just as importantly, they epitomize the Rice Business values of community leadership and care.

• Erin Hulme joined Rice to challenge herself and elevate her leadership abilities with the goal of reaching executive roles. In her current role as a business director, she regularly applies concepts about motivational coaching and financial analysis to empower her teams.
• Grace Kim sought an MBA to achieve executive healthcare roles and serve patients. Her passion for service led her to help peers through extensive career mentoring in groups like 180 Degrees Consulting.
• Roger Sun, the sixth member of his family to receive a Rice MBA, looks to leverage his degree by networking across diverse industries to build connections for future collaborations in the digital software community. He now applies his knowledge and skills at Umbrage, part of Bain & Company, as a director of product management.

We applaud these all-star students who represent the best of our tight-knit, high-achieving community. Click their profiles to read more about the relationships, networks and career opportunities they developed during their time at Rice.

If you share a passion for rising to challenges, making a difference, and reaching your full potential, you’ll feel right at home with us! You belong here.