UVA Darden School Announces 2015 Genovese Fellowship Recipients

University of Virginia Darden School of Business First Year resident MBA students Kendal Carlson, David Semo Scharfman and Raphael Swann received a boost to their hopes to run their own businesses in the future when each was awarded a Genovese Fellowship.

Genovese Fellowships are among Darden’s most prestigious merit-based awards and are made possible through the generous contributions of Frank Genovese (MBA ’74). Genovese named the recipients during First Coffee on 20 April, announcing that each student will receive more than $61,000 to help fund their second year of Darden’s MBA Program.

“They epitomize the goal of the Genovese Fellowship, which is to find people who want to be general managers or owner-operators,” Genovese said. “I hope that the money awarded will allow them to get there soon.”

Genovese has announced recipients of the gift every year since the fellowship was created 24 years ago. To date, 62 awards totaling $2.5 million have gone to high-performing Darden students interested in business management or entrepreneurship. Genovese said 51 of the 57 fellows who are now out of school are already general managers or running their own businesses.

Carlson, Semo Scharfman and Swann were chosen from a group of seven finalists. The fellowship finalists were chosen from among the top academic performers in their class, while the winners were selected through a rigorous interview process conducted by Genovese, faculty and Darden alumni.

A specialist in entrepreneurship, acquisitions and turnarounds, Genovese has owned and operated nine companies during his career. After earning more money than he ever expected, Genovese said he sought ways to give back to the people, places and experiences that helped him succeed.

“One of the greatest joys in life is giving away your money,” said Genovese, who is also president of the Rothbury Corporation and a member of the UVA Board of Visitors. “I chose to endow these fellowships over 20 years ago to repay Darden for what it meant to me.”