Event management student receives prestigious Helen Brett scholarship

Ames, Iowa – Kylie Egbert, a junior at Iowa State University, was one of 11 individuals nationwide to receive the prestigious Helen Brett scholarship, awarded annually by the International Association of Exhibition and Events (IAEE) to competitive female students pursuing a career in exhibition/events management. Students selected for the scholarship were immediately considered for an internship with Expo! Expo!, IAEE’s annual meeting exhibition event and received up to $5,000 in tuition assistance.

In order to qualify, students must study event management or a related program at an accredited institution, present two letters of recommendation, have a minimum grade point average of 3.0 and meet other requirements. Egbert studies event management with a minor in public relations and hopes to work in corporate events in the future. 

“Receiving this scholarship has helped grow my interest in the exhibition aspect of corporate events,” said Egbert. “I pay for all of my college expenses myself, so this scholarship has been a big help in helping me continue my education at Iowa State.”

Iowa State University’s event management program is the only four-year program of its kind in the state of Iowa. Offering real-world application and learning opportunities from event professionals, the event management program is ranked first in the category “Best colleges for event planning degree programs” and first in the category, “Best planning schools in the midwest” according to Hospitality Colleges. Students have access to various career opportunities and on-campus experiences in preparation for a career in the events industry. 

Associate professor, Dr. Joan Su, taught Egbert in two event classes at ISU. Su said, “Kylie completed my Event 378, Sustainable Event Management course, and is currently enrolled in my Event 379,Eve Community Nonprofit event management course. Based on my interactions with her, I am pleased to note that Kylie consistently exhibits an exemplary work ethic, which establishes a commendable standard of dedication and commitment in her coursework and assignments.”

Egbert attributes her scholarship success to the skills she has learned in her past two years at ISU. 

“Iowa State offers a lot of different classes that have shown me what options are available. The real world event experience and hands-on activities I’ve gained in the classroom have helped me feel more prepared to enter the event management industry and also gave me enough confidence to apply for scholarships like Helen Brett,” she said.