MBA Announces 2025 Commercial Real Estate Finance 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
