Seniors Neal Sales-Griffin and David Hoffman, who are both majoring in learning and organizational change, received the Kapnick Prize in the Business Institutions Program. The prize is awarded to outstanding graduating seniors who complete the business institutions minor. Chaired by a faculty committee, the Harvey Kapnick Business Institutions Program is a multidisciplinary program in Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences. The minor approaches business from a broad perspective that incorporates social, philosophical, cultural, social, political and literary perspectives.
During the 2009–10 school year, Sales-Griffin (pictured at top left) has been president of Associated Student Government, where he initiated a major reorganization. In addition, throughout his college years he has been active in entrepreneurial ventures and founded a campus organization called Minorities in Business. "My passion is entrepreneurship," says Sales-Griffin, who started two companies while in college. He also worked at a venture capital firm two days a week while he was taking a full load of classes and serving as student body president.
Hoffman (bottom left), who also has a strong entrepreneurial bent, was one of the founders of an innovative web site called The Next Big Sound, www.thenextbigsound.com. The site, which was featured in the New York Times, allows users to create their own music labels and "sign up" musical talent. Hoffman, SESP alumnus Alex White (BS08) and three other Northwestern students started the venture based on their work in an entrepreneurship class.After graduation, Hoffman plans to continue to "build useful things on the Internet with a great team." Because of his studies in learning and organizational change (LOC), he says he acquired a unique perspective. "I gained a disposition towards questioning the status quo, which I think leads to understanding how things can change, and how individuals can create change. I'm passionate about design, and I think LOC indirectly impacted this interest. When something is designed, it changes the way humans interact with it, or the way a system works, and this pertains directly to LOC and understanding the dynamics around change," he notes.
As Kapnick Prize honorees, both Sales-Griffin and Hoffman received a commemorative plaque and $500.
Last Modified: 11/19/09