University of Wisconsin Oshkosh senior human resource management major Amber Baugnet has given new meaning to the term full-time student.
Balancing school, her role as UW Oshkosh Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) president, an internship, a College of Business Ambassador and treatment for Crohn’s disease, Baugnet is exceptionally dedicated.
Her commitment to her school, community and education were some of the many reasons Baugnet was chosen by the national SHRM organization as the 2012 recipient of the SHRM Foundation Undergraduate Scholarship.
Representing more than 250,000 members in 140 countries, SHRM is the world’s largest association for human resource management professionals. The organization offers a variety of education scholarships to both graduate and undergraduate students.
To be eligible for the undergraduate scholarships, applicants have to be SHRM student members and have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0. Applicants were judged based on SHRM chapter involvement, academic achievement, additional leadership and financial need.
Beth McFarland, SHRM Foundation manager of special projects, said the selection process for the undergraduate scholarships this year was very competitive.
“We had approximately 150 applicants for 11 undergraduate awards, so just the top seven percent of applicants received an award,” McFarland said.
The Foundation chooses applicants based on how involved they are in their chapter and the level of dedication to the human resource field.
“The fact that I was one of the 150 applicants chosen to receive this scholarship shows that my dedication and passion for my career is outstanding,” Baugnet said.
Baugnet stood out to the SHRM Foundation judges because of the many responsibilities she took on herself as SHRM president and intern, all while having good grades and preparing for her future career, McFarland said.
“She has selected HR as her career choice and is preparing herself to be successful in it,” McFarland said. “In addition, she has demonstrated strong character in the way she has managed some challenging health problems.”
In June 2010, Baugnet was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease, an autoimmune disease that causes inflammation in the digestive system.
Despite the setbacks, hospitalization and surgery in January, Baugnet says she is close to the end of her recovery process.
“I have battled all of this while maintaining a good GPA, working at my internship, and acting as the SHRM president,” Baugnet said. “At times it is stressful, but the support I get from my family and friends is amazing.”
Faculty adviser of the UW Oshkosh SHRM chapter, Sarah DeArmond, said it’s a balancing act for Baugnet, especially with all the events and trips SHRM has. In addition to her SHRM obligations, Baugnet is also a College of Business Ambassador.
“When you take these two activities and add them to an internship and schoolwork, you can clearly see that Amber has a to balance a lot,” DeArmond said. “She is doing a great job.”
Currently a human resource management system intern at Oshkosh Corporation, Baugnet said when she graduates in May 2012, she will start full-time as a human resource analyst in the HRMS department.
Baugnet will be recognized in her local chapter and at the national SHRM student conference in Atlanta, Ga., in June.
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