Mark L. Madrid, University of Notre Dame Mendoza College of Business Graduate Student, Honored as 2013 National ALPFA and Hispanic Scholarship Fund Scholar

The Association of Latino Professionals in Finance and Accounting (ALPFA) and the Hispanic Scholarship Fund (HSF) recognized Mark L. Madrid as one of its 39 national scholarship recipients for 2013. PwC Michigan is funding Madrid’s scholarship, as he continues graduate school at the Notre Dame Mendoza College of Business, while simultaneously serving as Chief Operating Officer at the Houston Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. In April 2012 the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and the University of Notre Dame Mendoza College of Business announced Madrid as the inaugural recipient of a national fellowship for Notre Dame’s Master of Nonprofit Administration. The Mendoza College of Business is the only nationally-ranked business school to offer a graduate business degree designed to advance business leadership and managerial skills while keeping nonprofit leaders in their jobs.

“I feel like a million bucks,” said Madrid. “It never gets old to feel valued, especially when working like heck for as long as I can remember; all the way back to my grade school days in my farming community. When all else fails, work hard. If you work hard and rely on your faith, life will work itself out. Never, never, never give up!”

Madrid continues to thrive across multiple sectors with his unique career path and business acumen. He began his career on Wall Street, achieving a childhood dream to work in New York City, a world away from his one-stoplight community. “I visualized myself surrounded by the NYC skyscrapers, even when I was staring at corn fields and cattle. I have timeless war wounds—for which I am grateful—from my experience on Wall Street. This is why I can eat nails for breakfast.”

Madrid’s passion for civic leadership was bolstered with the Jefferson Award in 2011, the same year when the Houston Business Journal recognized Madrid as one of Houston’s 40 Under 40. In December 2012 the U.S. Army Reserve 75th Training Command bestowed Madrid the title of Honorary Colonel. This designation "is not given without weighty deliberation of those with authority to bestow it. It is simultaneously an approval of the recipient’s qualities and a lifelong obligation to uphold those qualities, as the recipient will forever more be judged as an honorary member of this proud organization."

Madrid has always placed the highest priority on education. Having graduated Valedictorian from his high school, he continued his academic excellence at the University of Texas at Austin, where he graduated in 1995 with Honors and earned designation as an Endowed Presidential Scholar. Today, he is pursuing another academic goal, to earn his Master’s degree from Notre Dame.

“I will never forget those enduring influences who have walked the talk and demonstrated their steadfast confidence in me…those, such as ALPFA, the Hispanic Scholarship Fund, and now one of the Big Four, PwC,” remarked Madrid. “To be a graduate school Fellow is an honor that astounds me every time I think about it, and I am indebted to the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and the Notre Dame Mendoza College of Business for this enormous opportunity. Notre Dame has reinforced my servant heart and my business mind to generate greater impact. I embrace the mission. My parents taught me to have an attitude of gratitude. Fittingly, I thank the Houston Hispanic Chamber of Commerce for its dedication and its support of excellence. Now, it is time to dream bigger and extend a helping hand to the up-and-comers. Not only is this my responsibility, it is my choice.”

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