Business Students Awarded for Excellence in Supply Chain Management

Four talented students from the Stillman School of Business have been honored with scholarships from the Containerization & Intermodal Institute (CII) for their hard work and proficiency in logistics, transportation and supply chain management.

The CII, based in Cranford, New Jersey, is a nonprofit organization devoted to fostering the growth of international trade and the intermodal container transportation community. Each year, CII contacts Penina Orenstein, Ph.D. to nominate deserving undergraduate and graduate students for these awards based on GPA, their interest in pursuing careers in or related to the supply chain area and their involvement in Seton Hall's student chapter for the Association for Supply Chain Management (ASCM).

CII’s Connie Award is considered a most prestigious honor in the global containerization and intermodal industry. Named for the container, the Connies are awarded annually to people, companies, associations and other entities that have made significant contributions to the transportation modes. The award recipients are honored at gala events whose proceeds benefit academic scholarships awarded to those who are perceived as the next generation of industry leaders, such as this year’s Seton Hall students, who received a total of $15,000 from this scholarship opportunity.

• Grace Ferguson – Graduate student from New Jersey, who earned a bachelor’s degree in Psychology with minors in Graphic Design and Business Administration and is currently pursuing an M.B.A. in Supply Chain Management.
• Christian Hui – Undergraduate student from New Jersey, studying Sports Management, Information Technology, Business Analytics and Supply Chain Management.
• Mikkel Lejbowicz – Undergraduate student from Denmark, majoring in Global Supply Chain Management and Business Analytics and a member of the Seton Hall men’s soccer team.
• Emily O’Donovan – Graduate student from Ireland, pursuing an M.B.A. in Supply Chain Management; she holds an undergraduate degree in Marketing from Seton Hall and is a member of the Seton Hall women’s tennis team.

Orenstein said, “These four exemplify the best of what our students can achieve. Their dedication, leadership skills and academic excellence make them stand out. It’s a reflection of the quality of education and mentorship we provide at Stillman.” She added, “For three consecutive years, our students have won the special Anthony Marino $10,000 scholarship in Supply Chain Management — an achievement that speaks not only to their talent, but to the growing prestige of our program.  This award is selected by CII representatives and is based on a national competition in which students create videos or write essays on how supply chain management shaped their career.  We are grateful CII Provides these opportunities and experiences to our students."

For the students, the scholarships represent both recognition and tangible support as they pursue their academic and professional goals. 

“The Norton Lilly Scholarship is a privilege to receive and a full-circle moment for me, from joining the Association of Supply Chain Management as a freshman to receiving this prestigious scholarship today,” said Hui. “My family has always valued the importance of education and this generous award has made it possible for both me and my sister to attend university and my brother to attend high school.”

O’Donovan, who also received a CII scholarship in 2024, said the continued support has made a meaningful difference. “Receiving this award means the world to me and has taken so much pressure off both myself and my parents,” she said. “The Stillman School has prepared me tremendously over my undergraduate and graduate careers. I’ve built true connections with professors and over the past two years, I’ve become very passionate about the field of supply chain.”

Ferguson also declared a “passion for supply chain” and how “this recognition reaffirmed that I have chosen the right field.” She added, “The award has also allowed me to graduate a semester early, giving me the opportunity to enter the workforce ahead of schedule.”

Lejbowicz said the scholarship affirmed his academic efforts while allowing him to stay focused on his studies. “This award recognizes the hard work and dedication I’ve put into my academic studies,” he said. “It has motivated me to continue pushing myself academically and has allowed me to fully focus on my education while taking advantage of the opportunities offered at the Stillman School.”

He is especially appreciative of its access to a strong professional network, which he said has been “invaluable in connecting with like-minded students and professionals who share similar career ambitions.”

Orenstein recognized these individual successes as part of a longer tradition within the program. “In addition to our students’ recent scholarship successes, the program continues its long-standing tradition of recognition through the annual Connie Awards, which honor outstanding achievement in supply chain management at both the undergraduate and graduate levels,” she said. For more than a decade, Orenstein — together with her late colleague, Renu Ramnaryanan, Ph.D. — have nominated exceptional students for these distinctions.

 “In the field of supply chain, I have a special place in my heart for the late Professor Ramnarayanan,” added Hui. “She truly loved education and her students and is the reason I pursue supply chain management today.”

Categories: Business, Nation and World