OHIO's 2025 Westin Scholar is first from the College of Business
Fletcher Holquist, a business analytics and management information systems student at OHIO, became the University’s first College of Business recipient of the Westin Scholar Award. His transition from marketing to cybersecurity, supported by faculty mentors and interdisciplinary courses, reflects the critical role of privacy expertise in modern business.
Henry Gorsuch, BSJ '26 | April 30, 2025
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Fletcher Holquist has been named the Westin Scholar. Holquist, who studies business analytics and management information systems (MIS) while also completing a business cybersecurity management certificate, is the first student from OHIO’s College of Business to receive the honor.
The Westin Scholar Award recognizes students poised to become leaders in the growing field of privacy and data protection. OHIO was approved to host the award contest last year, joining mostly law schools and some technical programs selected by the IAPP. The award includes a $1,000 prize, two years of IAPP membership, complimentary training materials and three certification exams.
For Holquist, the journey to this award began unexpectedly.
"I actually came into college studying marketing. I quickly realized that sales wasn't my thing, but I was really good at technical things in the weeds but wanted to stay in the business mindset".
A required cybersecurity course sparked a new direction.
"Professor Sam Ghawe kind of launched my interest within cybersecurity," Holquist recalled. "It piqued my interest and it's always changing." This led him to the business cybersecurity management certificate, a program combining courses from the College of Business and the Scripps College of Communication.
Cybersecurity meets business strategy
The selection process for the Westin Scholar award involved an essay contest