Amway Endowment Enters Third Year At University

A University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UTK) student is the fourth scholarship recipient of an endowment established by Amway to support the study of demand sales forecasting at the University.

Esco Brackett, a junior from Athens, Tenn., is the winner of the 2010 Amway Endowed Scholarship in Sales Forecasting. In 2008, UTK's College of Business Administration received a $50,000 endowment from Amway to support students who either study demand sales forecasting or who have a specific interest in a sales forecasting career. One student received the inaugural scholarship that year, and two students shared the scholarships last year.

Brackett's scholarship is $2,000. He will receive special recognition for his award at the 10th annual Forecasting and Demand Management Forum Conference being held May 11-13, on the UTK campus. Amway is an annual sponsor of the event, which draws demand forecast management practitioners from companies and organizations worldwide, and helps them gain a better understanding and appreciation of sales forecasting, demand planning practices, market analysis, and improving forecasting methodologies.

"We are thrilled to honor Esco with this award," said Dave Pocklington, director of sales forecasting and analysis at Amway, who will present Brackett with a certificate at the event. "The endowment illustrates our strong commitment to helping talented students gain the financial resources that will help them achieve academic success and a potentially bright future in demand sales forecasting or a related business career."

Brackett will graduate in December 2011 with a bachelor of science degree in business administration. He is majoring in logistics, with a collateral in marketing. Brackett is a first-generation college student who has financed 70 percent of his education through employment and student loans. He also is a Hope Scholarship recipient.

"I am honored and grateful to be selected as this year's Amway Endowed Scholarship recipient," said Brackett. "This scholarship will have a tremendous impact on my educational pursuits. I would like to thank Amway and Mr. Pocklington for their generosity and kindness. Amway is helping my dreams come true."

Amway and UTK's College of Business Administration have a long-standing mutual relationship. Pocklington is a past presenter at the Forum. Most of Amway's forecast analysts have achieved Sales Forecasting Management certification through the UTK program, and the company has provided a mutually beneficial summer internship for a UTK student.

"The relationship is extremely valuable, both to the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and to Amway," said Pocklington. "UTK is the only university we're aware of that specifically includes forecasting in their business curriculum. We've been able to gain access to sales forecasting articles and research published by UTK professors and graduate students. Our demand sales forecasting unit provides strategic insight and analysis that supports the company's bottom line."

"Over the past 25 years, the UTK sales forecasting research team has helped hundreds of companies maximize their sales forecasting function," said Mark Moon, forum director. "We have found that companies with sophisticated, highly developed sales forecasting processes document returns on investment exceeding 200 percent! We are thrilled to have Amway as a partner in a program and a curriculum that provides a win-win for the demand sales forecast profession."