Junior Lee Guentert awarded Leonard and Betty Blount Scholarship

October 2, 2012

Georgia Southern University junior Lee Guentert (pictured left) has been awarded the Leonard and Betty Blount Scholarship for the 2012-2013 academic year. Currently majoring in management with an emphasis in entrepreneurship and small business and minoring in marketing, Guentert was awarded the scholarship for having the highest GPA in his major as a rising junior.

Leonard and Betty Blount began the scholarship six years ago in an effort to help students out financially through the College of Business Administration. Leonard is currently the owner of Statesboro’s Market District Center and the neighboring plaza. “The purpose of the scholarship is to give something back to Georgia Southern,” said Leonard. “Georgia Southern has been wonderful to Statesboro and the surrounding area. They have allowed entrepreneurs like myself grow our businesses and be successful while living in this wonderful community.”

More than anything, Guentert was surprised when he was awarded the scholarship. “I am very honored to be receiving this scholarship,” he said. Guentert will receive $1,000 over the course of one year which he plans to use towards school expenses.

Leonard and Betty (pictured right with their grandson) are both delighted with Guentert being this year’s recipient. “I hope this scholarship helps Lee pick a profession that will allow him to grow and learn,” said Leonard. “Then, if and when the timing is right, strike out on his own to achieve his desired vocation and be successful in his working life. At the same time, learn how to balance business success with social and family commitments.”

Originally from Lilburn, Ga., Guentert has been interested in business since he was a teenager. “I was one of the few kids that actually enjoyed having a job in high school,” said Guentert. His got his first job at age 16 at Sonic, America’s Drive-In, and kept it throughout his high school career. “I was really fascinated with how a business works. The interworkings of a business, including managing people was very fascinating to me.”

Although Guentert applied to several universities in Georgia, he decided that Georgia Southern would be the best fit for him. “I went around to all kinds of colleges in Georgia, but I liked Georgia Southern the best,” said Guentert. “When I came to visit, I really liked how beautiful the campus was.”

While he has been at Georgia Southern, Guentert has played the drums in the rock band The Orange Constant. Although the band just got started last semester, they are already scheduled to play their first event on Oct. 25 for the Sigma Nu Fraternity during their philanthropy event.

For Guentert, being a management major has assisted in operations with the band. “I would say classes that are more psychologically based such behavior in organizations definitely pay off in the band room,” he said. “You learn how a team works and being in a band is very much like being on a team and managing one another.”

In addition to his business classes, Guentert also feels his marketing minor has helped significantly when managing the band. “Marketing  the band serves as  great practice for a potential career in marketing,” Guentert said. “Using tools like social media help to get our name out there to more people.”

Besides playing the drums in the band, Guentert also enjoys spending his time drawing and creating visual art. “Art is very much like a passion and a hobby to me,” he said. “I take it very seriously.”  With his skills, Guentert is responsible for covering any artwork dealing with the band.

For the rest of his college career, Guentert wants to maintain good grades and learn as much as he can. “I feel like a lot of college students go through their college careers by just trying to get the best grades as possible,” said Guentert. “Well, I am trying to get as much information as possible, and learn as much as I can.” After graduation, he plans to get a job and see where the band and art take him. According to Guentert, if he becomes successful with the band or art he will work to build his own business.