Hunden Partners, a national real estate development advisory practice, has announced the recipients of the annual Robin Scott Hunden Real Estate Scholarship. The aim of the scholarship program is to promote diversity in the real estate industry, encourage young people to pursue real estate-related careers, and alleviate the financial burden of college for families.
Robin “Rob” Hunden, the founder and CEO of Hunden Partners, established scholarships for students at Indiana University Bloomington (IU-Bloomington) and Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) to support his alma mater and cultivate talent from non-traditional backgrounds in real estate. He is a graduate of the Indiana University Kelley School of Business.
“As an Indiana University alum, I appreciate the opportunities I had to build a foundation for my future real estate career during my course of study at the business school. I’m thrilled to help provide these same opportunities to a new generation of college students through scholarship support,” said Hunden. “Commercial real estate is often categorized as an insider’s profession with many barriers to entry. I wanted to do what I could to change that perception and provide opportunities to students that would help reduce racial and gender disparities in our industry.”
The Robin Scott Hunden Real Estate Scholarship has been awarded to two deserving students, Michelle Lin from Shepherdsville, Kentucky, and Imani Thomas from Zionsville, Indiana. Both are currently studying finance and real estate at Indiana University (IU) and Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI), respectively.
Michelle Lin is a dedicated student who is involved in many student organizations, including the Asian American Association, Women & Co, and the Real Estate Club. She is also a member of Kelley’s Commercial Real Estate Workshop and serves as acting president of the Chinese Business Association.
Imani Thomas is a talented basketball player and a member of the Women in Business club at IUPUI. Her focus is on studying finance and real estate, and she has plans to pursue a career in real estate development with a strong emphasis on social value.
Both Lin and Thomas have been awarded scholarships of $2,500 each for the upcoming academic year, ’22-’23. The scholarship will be awarded annually, with preference given to students who have demonstrated financial need, including those who are paying for their own education.
“We have seen a surge of interest in real estate studies at the Kelley School, with enrollment in our classes, clubs and workshops that focus on this area growing exponentially. Gifts like Rob’s allow greater access to the opportunities that we provide our students, who like him, can look forward to successful careers,” said Ash Soni, dean of the Kelley School and the Sungkyunkwan Professor. “We appreciate his generosity and partnerships like his.”