The results are in for the tenth annual Shelving.com Business Scholarship contest! This year, we are proud to offer the largest prize amounts yet. Open exclusively to Michigan residents, this contest has highlighted some of the brightest minds in our community. Originating in Detroit and now based in Madison Heights, Shelving.com takes pride in supporting local students who demonstrate a strong commitment to using their education for positive change.
The top scholarship of $4,000 was awarded to Dylan Jiddou from Northville. The second-place prize of $2,500 went to Cameron Hendrix from Detroit, and the third-place scholarship of $1,500 was granted to Kara Crepeau from Troy.
The scholarship was available to students majoring in a business-related field, requiring a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.8. Applicants submitted their transcripts, resumes, and an essay detailing how they are currently using or planning to use their business studies to benefit their communities.
As a family-owned company, Shelving.com values the importance of preparing the next generation for success and is committed to supporting students in their educational endeavors.
Read on for more details about the 2024 Business Scholarship recipients.
Dylan Jiddou | Northville, Michigan
Dylan is pursuing a major in neuroscience and a minor in business at Wayne State University with the goal of becoming an oncologist and proficient leader—capable of managing medical practices and enhancing his nonprofit organization, Metro Detroit Operation Smile (MDOS). By combining these fields, he aims to impact healthcare delivery and community support.
The neuroscience major will provide a solid foundation for diagnosing and treating neurological aspects of cancer, essential for his future specialization in oncology. The business minor will equip him with critical management and leadership skills that are vital for establishing a successful, patient-centered oncology practice.
Dylan’s commitment to community service is evident through the founding of MDOS, inspired by his own personal battle with Hodgkin's Lymphoma. His plans to advocate for policies that benefit patients and practitioners, as well as foster community engagement through health fairs, educational workshops, and mentoring aspiring healthcare professionals, thus inspiring the next generation of leaders.
Cameron Hendrix | Detroit, Michigan
Growing up in Detroit, Cameron has witnessed the intersection of socio-economic factors, politics, and race. Volunteering as a kindergarten teacher's aide revealed the challenges of under-resourced classrooms and the broader impacts of food insecurity and lack of parental support on students' behavior and concentration. These experiences underscore the educational disparities between low-income and high-income students, particularly in literacy skills.
Cameron is inspired by his cousin, who founded Rhymes with Reason—a web-based learning tool that enhances students' reading and vocabulary through music lyrics. He plans to use his education from The Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan to implement a systematic 3-step approach to secure financial support from private businesses, in order to fund resources in socio-economically challenged communities.
This strategy aims to form a coalition involving socio-economic initiatives, city government, and local businesses, showcasing how his funding can enhance the working class, reduce urban crime, and boost economic activity. By establishing community-centric innovation hubs in Detroit, Cameron aims to revitalize underprivileged communities, driving long-term societal advancement through collaboration and creativity.
Kara Crepeau | Troy, Michigan
Inspired by her Finnish and Chinese grandmothers, Kara combines the principles of ‘sisu’—meaning resilience in adversity—and ‘toan ching’—meaning compassion and helping those in need—to pursue a career in business and technology at Creighton University. Her grandmothers' stories of courage and kindness motivated her to embrace her multicultural heritage and find her purpose in serving others.
Kara's passion for business and technology extended beyond academics, leading her to assist a local restaurant during the pandemic. She volunteered to create a website, drawing on her programming, marketing, and data science skills to boost the restaurant's online presence and revenue. This experience ignited her philanthropic mindset, prompting her to host a web design class for teens, inspiring the next generation to explore these areas.
As a future business leader, Kara aims to leverage her real-world experiences and education to enhance organizational efficiency through cutting-edge technology. She plans to advocate for women and minorities in business and technology, providing mentoring, tutoring, and education on financial literacy. By embodying ‘sisu’ and ‘toan ching’, Kara continues her grandmothers' legacies, striving to make a meaningful impact in her community.