2010-2011 HR Leader of Tomorrow Scholarship Recipient Announced

The Mid-Hudson Human Resources Association (MHHRA) and the State University of New York at New Paltz are pleased to announce that Michelle Flotard has been selected as the recipient of the 2010-2011 HR Leader of Tomorrow Scholarship. This scholarship was established in 2006 by MHHRA to recognize and encourage New Paltz students who are interested in pursuing a career in the profession of human resource (HR) management. Preference is given to applicants who are active student members of the Management Association (MA), the New Paltz student chapter of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM).

“MHHRA is pleased to be associated with the New Paltz Management Association and is proud of the student chapter’s educational activities,” said Shaun Hoff, MHHRA Student Chapter Liaison for New Paltz. “As the costs for attending college continue to increase, developing a student scholarship is a noteworthy way for MHHRA to positively impact the lives of students and recognize the academic accomplishments of a student scholar.”

“MHHRA is very pleased to be able to offer the HR Leader of Tomorrow Scholarship again this year,” said Nancy Couse, MHHRA President. “Even in this economic climate it is important that we help students reach their academic goals.”

Flotard is a recent graduate from New Paltz with a Bachelor of Science in Management. She is currently pursuing a Masters of Business Administration (MBA) degree. Her career goal is to be employed at a human resources consulting firm and to pursue a doctorate degree to become a professor at a state university. In the future, she also aspires to contribute to research for human resource issues such as workplace aggression and counterproductive work behavior. Her experiences have included serving as a financial services representative at Hudson Valley Federal Credit Union, a teaching assistant for the School of Business at New Paltz, and working at New York Life Insurance Company.

“It makes a difference in students’ lives when an organization realizes their potential and invests in their future,” said Flotard. “I would like to sincerely thank MHHRA for awarding me this scholarship and for continuing to offer this scholarship to students each year.”

“The scholarship provided by MHHRA helps students pursue the education and training necessary for a successful career in human resources,” said Kristin Backhaus, MA Student Chapter Advisor and Associate Professor of Management at New Paltz. “We are so grateful to MHHRA for their continued support of the School of Business and our students.”

MHHRA is an organization, affiliated with SHRM, based in Dutchess and Ulster counties of New York State for HR professionals. The association is dedicated to the advancement of the HR profession and the development of HR professionals in the community.

MHHRA is the sponsoring professional SHRM chapter for the New Paltz Management Association. This affiliation provides New Paltz students with an opportunity to explore the field of human resources (HR) as a career and to learn more from HR professionals about the HR function in business. This forum enhances educational opportunities for students to gain ideas, information, and skills, as well as the opportunity to develop job contacts and participate in professional internships.

For more information about MHHRA and its affiliation with the Management Association, please visit its web site at http://midhudsonhr.shrm.org.