BestPrep is excited to share that two alumni of our Minnesota Business Venture program, Bezawit Leykun and Mercy Ncube, have been selected as Voya Scholars for 2025. These two students are among only five selected nationally for this honor.
As Voya Scholars, each student will receive a $10,000 scholarship as well as professional development opportunities that include networking, mentorship, resume help, interview prep, and potential internships. Alumni from Voya-supported organizations like BestPrep are eligible to apply for this annual scholarship.
[Bezawit (middle, in green top), VOYA and BestPrep employees.]
“Attending MBV influenced my plans/goals for the future in ways that made me see the importance of the business and financial field,” Bezawit shares. “Understanding the different sides and concepts of business during camp, learning from the guest speakers, and working with my team to develop a product, all while developing my communication, collaboration, creativity, and problem-solving skills, influenced me to want to continue using those skills as I continue my financial education!” In fact, Bezawit enjoyed MBV so much that she’s returning this year as a student leader.
[Mercy (middle, in black top), VOYA and BestPrep employees.]
When talking about BestPrep’s Minnesota Business Venture (MBV), Mercy shared, “MBV contributed to my success in business. Understanding the technical, financial, operational aspects of it, I can confidently say that attending MBV my freshman year helped me discover my strong suits and ambition in pursuing business.”
On behalf of BestPrep, congratulations Bezawit and Mercy! We are proud to have played a role in your education and career journey and can’t wait to see what you accomplish in the future.