Nine Students Awarded Sands Fellowships

From breaking down barriers in ballet to empowering survivors of abuse, nine innovative business ventures have been selected as the 2025 recipients of the Sands Family Social Venturing Fellowship.

These nine MBA students will each receive a $5,000 fellowship to pursue their social ventures, aiming to create tangible impacts within the Twin Cities community. Additional funding is contingent upon the advancement of their ventures through their MBA entrepreneurship curriculum.

University of Minnesota graduates Bill and Susan Sands established the fellowship to inspire future generations of Carlson School MBA students to apply their business expertise to make a significant impact on their community.

Now in its 13th year, nearly 90 Sands Fellows have either partnered with existing organizations or launched new ventures addressing critical societal issues. Through their fellowships, these students have honed their entrepreneurship skills and taken their initial steps to become visible leaders in the community. The information below comes from the students' applications:

Emily Johnson, '26 MBA 

Proposed Social Venture: Inclusive Ballet Program

Inclusive dance program aims to break down barriers in ballet through a week-long curriculum with scholarships and culturally appropriate resources, fostering a diverse community and empowering underrepresented dancers to succeed.

Calvin Watson, '26 MBA

Proposed Social Venture: Homeless Workforce Training

Support homeless individuals in the Twin Cities through real-time access to critical resources and mobile workforce training programs for long-term stability and independence.

Katie McElrath, '26 MBA

Proposed Social Venture: Vertical Farming Initiative

Establish a vertical farm in Minneapolis to address health equity and food insecurity by providing affordable, pesticide-free produce to low-income communities. 

Stephany Smith, '26 MBA

Proposed Social Venture: Therapeutic Puzzles

Therapeutic puzzles combining grounding techniques, affirmations, and mental health tips to provide a calming, educational tool for managing anxiety, stress, and depression.

Kristina Van Deusen, '27 MBA

Proposed Social Venture: Survivor Empowerment

Provide financial consulting, micro-loans, and resources to help women rebuild financially after leaving abusive relationships, empowering survivors with independence and long-term stability.

Indri Dyrmishi, '26 MBA

Proposed Social Venture: Businessopoly Game

Gamified learning tool that simplifies entrepreneurship education for primary and high school students, fostering creativity, problem-solving, and strategic thinking through play.

Mukesh Sah, '25 MBA

Proposed Social Venture: DME Access Solutions

Improve access to DME for older adults and individuals with disabilities in Minnesota by developing educational resources and enhancing service efficiency in the industry.

Rozalyn Maney, '26 MBA

Proposed Social Venture: SSDI Application Resources

Empower individuals with disabilities, and their support teams, by providing clear guidance and resources to navigate the SSDI application process efficiently.

Katie Henning, '26 MBA

Proposed Social Venture: Internship with Bloom

Strategic planning internship with Bloom Early Learning and Childcare, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization providing equitable access to early learning and care so that children and families thrive and find pathways out of poverty.