The Sigma Nu Tau Founders Scholarship, initiated in 2017, supports outstanding students who exemplify academic excellence and a commitment to entrepreneurship. In 2024, eight $1,000 scholarships were awarded to students who demonstrate principled entrepreneurship, active involvement in the entrepreneurial ecosystem, and a dedication to both campus and community service.

We spoke with one of this year’s scholarship recipients, Catherine Mohos, to learn about her journey and the impact the scholarship will have on her academic and career aspirations. Catherine is a senior majoring in Recreation and Tourism Management with a minor in Entrepreneurship.

Tell us about your academic journey and what inspired you to join Sigma Nu Tau.

I started here at CSUN as a Recreation and Tourism Management (RTM) major. I loved my major and did not consider adding a minor until I took Entrepreneurial Ventures in Recreation and Human Services with Professor Nathalie Virem. This class was my first exposure to the business world and with the challenge of designing a business plan and proposal within the hospitality industry.

Starting a business in the industry has always been a far-off dream of mine, and this project quickly became a passion project, opening my eyes to the incredible possibilities in the world of entrepreneurship. Even before the course’s conclusion, I decided to request adding entrepreneurship as a minor, despite it being one of the most challenging courses I had taken at CSUN so far.

My love for the creativity and imagination involved in business design led me to take entrepreneurship specific courses the following semester. I took ENT 101, during which my group won the in-class peer and investor pitch competition, and ENT 310. The support and encouragement from Dr. Joanne Scillitoe and Dr. Lois Shelton steered me toward entering the Bull Ring Competition in which I placed as a semi-finalist.

One fateful day that same semester, I received an email from the entrepreneurship department promoting a social entrepreneurship trip to Kenya hosted by CSU Chico. Chico was looking for students willing to be one of the first to try the pilot program. I jumped on the opportunity and before I knew it, I was on a plane to Nairobi, Kenya that summer to study social entrepreneurship with local Kenyan students at Strathmore University. This trip was a turning point in my academic journey. I loved the thrill of pioneering a new program and being able to combine my two great passions: tourism and entrepreneurship.

I am beyond grateful for the scholarship I received from Nazarian College’s Center for Social and Technology Entrepreneurship to help fund the trip and the unending support from Dr. Scillitoe, Nazarian College staff member Anna Manzo, Dr. Phil Gorman, and everyone involved in supporting me through the program. After coming back from Kenya, I had so much to share with other students and was honored to speak at several events to promote the program.

Soon after, I received the incredible offer to become a member of Sigma Nu Tau and applied for the Founder’s scholarship. As one of eight recipients nationwide, I am proud to represent CSUN’s newly formed chapter and pave the way for others to gain support in their entrepreneurial education.

How do you define principled entrepreneurship, and how have you demonstrated it in your endeavors?

Principled entrepreneurship refers to practicing business research, design, and implementation in a way that respects all stakeholders and involves the local communities and those most deeply affected by the prospective business in the entire process. It means acting responsibly and respectfully for the people and environment that a business will affect. And it means acting ethically in terms of intellectual property and giving the proper credit for all work accomplished.

I have been lucky enough to have upstanding role models from which to learn principled entrepreneurship from. My professors have taught me the business specific details of acting ethically, and my parents have taught me what constitutes a respectful and professional person. In my work, I have ensured that all work is my own, original content and that my citations are clear and accurate.

A current issue that affects principled entrepreneurship is the continued growth, development and use of AI sources, such as Chat GPT. It is important to note the value in using such resources for research purposes. However, it must not be used in place of original work. I am proud to say that I have practiced principled entrepreneurship and will continue to do so in all of my endeavors.

How have you contributed to promoting the entrepreneurial ecosystem at CSUN?

I have spoken at several CSUN gatherings about my participation in the Bull Ring competition and the social entrepreneurship program in Kenya. I even had the amazing opportunity to speak about the trip to Kenya at the Entrepreneurship Advisory Board’s meeting this past September.

I also shared my experiences with students in Dr. Scillitoe’s ENT 101 class and at the Entrepreneurship Minor Social and have offered to mentor fellow students. I intend to remain a resource for CSUN students after my graduation.

What off-campus volunteer or community activities have you participated in, and how have they impacted your personal or professional growth?

The trip I took to Nairobi, Kenya, was an incredibly life changing opportunity. Our group, consisting of students from CSU Chico and Cal State LA, worked with students at Strathmore University to crease business plans for issues observed during various site visits to Kibera, the largest slum in Africa, as well as other places.

Seeing how local people are improving the lives of their communities with so little moved and inspired me. I truly believe there is no better teacher than travel and traveling to Kenya and connecting with the locals on a personal level was fascinating. Not only was I educated about the real challenges and beauty of social entrepreneurship, but I was also able to blend in my passions of travel and culture, making the trip a well-rounded and extremely relevant experience for me.

After our many site visits, we generated business plans and presented them at Strathmore University at the end of our time there. We were then treated to a three-day safari in the Masai Mara to learn about the culture and natural beauty of the Mara and personally meet members of the Masai Tribe. This experience is, in my opinion, the greatest learning experience I have had the opportunity to take advantage of.

What are your long-term goals, and how do you see entrepreneurship playing a role in achieving them?

In my final semester, I will participate in the Disney College Program, an internship during which college students work in the parks and resorts to gain professional experience in the hospitality field. In the long term, I would love to pursue a career with Disney, gaining experience as a hospitality professional.

Eventually, my dream is to open my own hotel or other accommodation business, and this is exactly where entrepreneurship will come into play.

Having an understanding of the processes involved in the behind-the-scenes work of starting a business undoubtedly gives me an edge in starting my own. I absolutely love the thrill of designing a business from the ground up and the idea of starting my own business with the skills and knowledge I have gained at Nazarian College’s Entrepreneurship program makes me look forward to a bright future filled with the support of the CSUN community.

What advice would you give to other students interested in entrepreneurship and applying for this scholarship?

I truly believe that the best way for any student to gain the best possible learning experiences is to put themselves out there. Nothing of value is sitting within your comfort zone. This might mean starting by going out and networking with local professionals at CSUN events and even in their own community. When the opportunity arises, completely immersing oneself in a new culture and environment that is filled with like-minded entrepreneurs is the way to go.

As college students, we often get stuck in a rut of simply attending lectures and meeting deadlines. But in this ever-changing field, what will set a student apart from others is the work they do outside of class. For hopeful entrepreneurs like myself, taking advantage of the opportunities presented on and off campus will be greatly beneficial in building networks, skill sets, and yes, your resume. The most important part of an entrepreneur’s journey is leaping into the unknown, taking risks, and not letting fear hold you back from some of the most incredible experiences of your life.

Practicing these values alongside principled entrepreneurship will help anyone become an ambitious entrepreneur and an ideal candidate for the scholarship.