Matthew Monson, June Yook Awarded National Scholarships

Pension Real Estate Association, Urban Land Institute recognize promising students in the Program in Real Estate

Matthew Monson ’09 is a recipient of the Pension Real Estate Association Scholarship. Monson is a candidate for a MPS-RE/MBA degree in conjunction with the Johnson Graduate School of Management. Monson received his B.A. in Construction Management from Brigham Young University and plans to pursue a concentration in real estate development. Monson applied for the scholarship in the spring, after he was accepted to the Program in Real Estate. He was notified of the award over the summer.

PREA is a nonprofit organization whose members are active in investment of tax-exempt pension and endowment funds into real estate assets. The organization serves as a model to the real estate industry and advocates professionalism and integrity in the business.

In order to provide value to its members, PREA hosts educational forums, funds research initiatives, and promotes member interaction. PREA's scholarship program has been expanded to assist college sophomores, juniors or seniors and graduate level students who plan to continue education in undergraduate and graduate programs. Scholarships are offered each year for full-time study in real estate, at an accredited four-year institution of the student's choice. Since 1994, PREA has awarded $280,000 in scholarships to 83 students concentrating in real estate studies at academic institutions in the U.S. and Canada.

June Yook ‘08 has been awarded the prestigious ULI/Kenneth M. Good Graduate Student Fellowship.

Criteria for selection are the student’s academic history, academic standing, related work experience, goals and career plans and financial need. Yook was selected from a field of 40 applicants. Recipients receive a monetary award, year-long membership in the Urban Land Institute, and free registration to the fall meeting.

Anthony J. Trella, a trustee and foundation governor of ULI and owner and president of The Meranth Company, a real estate development and investment advisory company, said that the selection committee was impressed by June’s “artistic and design skills” as well as her ability to see the “big picture of real estate development – not only the complexity, but all the separate pieces that make up the visioning, planning, creating and marketing of a project.” More than any other applicant, he said, Yook has a “clear focus on her own future and what she wants to achieve.”

“I am thrilled and honored to receive such recognition as a representative of the Program in Real Estate. Cornell has challenged me and has been a wonderful place for me to learn and develop my aspirations. I plan to continue do my best in the coming academic year, and I hope to continue to make meaningful contributions to the real estate field,” said Yook. A graduate of University of California - Berkeley’s school of architecture, Yook worked for several well-known architects in the Bay Area and is a LEED accredited professional. This past summer, she completed an internship with Toll Brothers, Inc., in their San Jose office. The Urban Land Institute is a vital part of the Cornell Program in Real Estate’s strong commitment to maintaining connections to industry and real estate professionals, opening many doors of opportunity for networking and participation by our students and alumni.