The Lally School has awarded the prestigious Herman Family Fellowship for Women in Entrepreneurship to Victoria Kruse, an MBA student entering Fall 2009.
Established by Michael '62 and Karen Herman to advance the interests of women in entrepreneurship, the Herman Family Fellowship is granted to women enrolled in Rensselaer’s Lally School MBA program. Kruse was personally selected for the award by Michael Herman based on her academic credentials, achievements, entrepreneurial spirit and leadership potential.
Kruse described her excitement in learning of her award: “When I first heard, there was a lot of jumping up and down, and flailing of the arms. While it was a relief financially, the Herman Fellowship is much more than a financial award. Knowing Mr. Herman places importance in my specific career goal, and identifies the challenging career path I must take, not only encourages me to truck along, but also gives me confidence that it will one day all pay off. And when my hard work does pay off, RPI will have a fellowship sponsored by, and named after, me!”
Kruse is the first member of her family to graduate from college, earning a BS in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Alabama Birmingham. After college, she returned home to Fort Worth, TX to start an after school educational program aimed at helping Hispanic high school students prepare for college. She then went on to earn a JD from the University of Minnesota Law School, where her studies focused on the patenting of biotechnological inventions.
Kruse’s recommenders praised her strong technical and writing skills as well as her interpersonal skills—“in a class of high achievers, she clearly stood out.” In addition to her high academic achievement, Kruse is an avid soccer player and coach, as well as an active community volunteer in women and children’s shelters.
Kruse has worked as an intellectual property and patent Intern at American Medical Systems, as a paralegal at Stockham, Carroll & Smith, PC, a Birmingham law firm, and also as a Project Coordinator at Boys & Girls Clubs of America. After receiving her MBA, Victoria hopes to start and manage her own medical device company.
About The Herman Family Fellowship for Women in Entrepreneurship
Established by Michael '62 and Karen Herman to advance the interests of women in entrepreneurship, The Herman Family Fellowship for Women in Entrepreneurship is awarded to women enrolled in Rensselaer’s Lally School MBA program. The fellowship supports women in pursuing their entrepreneurial interests with a tuition scholarship. Recipients also join the Herman Family Fellows, a network of professional women entrepreneurs, and have an opportunity to participate in yearly reunions hosted by the Hermans.