MBA Announces 2025 CREF Fellowship Winners
The Mortgage Bankers Association announced its CREF Careers Student Fellowship Program winners for this year.
Click through the slideshow below to see each winner:
Kukua Andoh, a junior at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. 
Ryan Balu, a senior at the University of Southern California. 
Corey Brandon, a senior at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. 
William Castillo, a senior at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. 
Meelan Dessejour, a sophomore at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. 
Shane Faulkner, a graduate student at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. 
Nicholas Fiertek, a junior at the University of Texas at Austin. 
Chaewon Lee, a junior at the George Washington University. 
Clara Prieto, a junior at Georgia State University. 
Makia Smith, a senior at Morgan State University. 
Zain Smith, a senior at Georgia State University. 
Crystal Stewart, a senior at Georgia State University. 
Cameran Takala, a junior at Pennsylvania State University. 
Zach Talerico, a junior at Arizona State University. 
Cherry Yang, a graduate student at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
The program is open to current college and university students, and provides an inside look at the dynamic industry through:
• Monthly virtual seminars with industry leaders covering a variety of professional development topics
• Career coaching from HR professionals at leading commercial real estate firms
• Mentorship and networking opportunities with top commercial real estate finance professionals
• Attendance at MBA’s Commercial Real Estate Finance (CREF) Convention in San Diego, the largest gathering of CREF professionals in the nation (stipend for travel, lodging, and expenses included)
• Consideration for the David H. Stevens, CMB Real Estate Legacy Scholarship
Click here for more information about the program
MBA also thanks this year’s sponsors:
• M&T Realty
• CBRE Capital Markets
• Bank of America
• Northmarq
• Ready Capital
• Grandbridge
• PGIM Real Estate
• DUS Industry Talent Taskforce
