Baylor Business School Sets Internship

WITH BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU
Baylor University's Hankamer School of Business and the Better Business Bureau of Central Texas are joining forces to promote ethics in the marketplace through a new internship program. Business students will assist the bureau with its annual Torch Award program that recognizes American companies for conducting business practices in an ethical manner.
The 1999 Torch Awards for Marketplace Ethics were presented at the bureau's annual meeting on Nov. 12. Winners included A-1 Discount Tree Service of McGregor and Time Warner CableVision of Waco, who will now compete at the national level. The competition, which is open to all "for-profit" American businesses, judges a company's ethical standards of behavior toward customers, suppliers, shareholders, employees and communities.
During their internships with the Centex Better Business Bureau, Baylor business students will assist in the nomination process for the 2000 Torch Awards. They will do the "leg work" for the competition, which covers a nine-county area.
"Nominees are also judged on their ethical histories and reputations in the marketplace," says management professor Dr. Philip Van Auken. "Our students will be exposed to ethical practices in marketing, advertising, communications and sales as they impact on the nomination process, along with the effectiveness of ethics policies communicated to employees."
C. J. Pederson, head of the Better Business Bureau in Waco, says that the 2000 Torch Award for Marketplace Ethics will be expanded next year to include three categories: large (1,000 or more employees), mid-sized (100 to 999 employees), and small (1to 99 employees). The winners will be honored in the fall of 1999 during ceremonies hosted on the Baylor campus by the Hankamer School of Business.

"Business school students welcome the opportunity to interact with successful business professionals--especially when they are exemplary role models of business excellence and integrity," says Van Auken. "Torch Award winners often speak to business classes, giving students in-depth exposure to how and why local companies go above and beyond the call of duty in delivering value to consumers, employees, and to the local community. Student interns learn why good ethics pays off in business and how win-win relationships can be established between conscientious companies and their many constituents. The old adage 'a picture speaks a thousand words' is certainly true when the Torch Award winners generously share their thoughts and ideals with our students." In fact, this year's winners, Darrell McGaughy of A-1 Discount Tree Service and Johnny Mankin of Time Warner Cablevision, made on-campus presentations on Nov. 30.
Entries for the 2000 Torch Award should be mailed or faxed to Paula Gillaspie at the Better Business Bureau, 2210 Washington, Waco, TX 76701-1019 (phone 254-755-7775 or
800-759-6728). Van Auken can be reached at 710-6154. Additional information about the
Torch Award can be obtained from the internet at http://hsb.baylor.edu/html/vanauken/Torch.html .