From left to right, Dr. Breck Harris, student Tommy C Rover and Kaysi Curtin of Sandler Training. Photo by Frank Lopez

A local college student is the recipient of thousands of dollars in scholarship funds from a local business.

Kaysi Curtin, president of Sandler Training in Fresno, presented a sales training scholarship valued at $4,500 to Fresno Pacific University (FPU) Student Tommy C. Rover Monday morning.

Rover received the award for a required class assignment—an essay reflecting on professional sales insights learned from Curtin during her guest training sessions with FPU students.

The scholarship will provide Rover with a 10-week sales course to learn professional approaches designed to boost sales success.

Along with Rover, three other students’ essays were selected for the scholarship opportunity by Professor of Business and Marketing Dr. Breck Harris’s class.

Curtin and Harris reviewed the essays and selected Rover as this year’s winner. Curtin has been a regular speaker in Harris’ sales management class for several years.

“Kaysi’s training transforms the lives of sales professionals. As a new professional in the sales field, it’s going to change everything for you,” Harris said.

Curtin said she went through the Sandler Training program herself as former Business Journal sales manager, and it transformed her as a sales professional.

“This training is going to help you in whatever you do, whether it’s sales or not,” Curtin said.

Rover said he is grateful to receive the award and for the opportunities to hear guest speakers throughout the semester.

“Whatever we do in life, we are going to have to sell ourselves or our product. That’s what I want to do, whatever industry I get into,” Rover said.

FPU student Turner Pruitt, a junior business major, came very close to being selected as the winner, with Breck and Curtin saying they were really impressed with his essay.

During a discussion after the presentation, Curtin said she would be open to providing two scholarships this year. They called Pruitt on the phone and right on the spot announced to him that he is being offered a $4,500 scholarship.