Scholarships ease path for TWU business students

Feb. 19, 2025 — DENTON — Crystal Filbeck and Erin Wimberly moved closer to coveted careers in the human resources industry, thanks to scholarships from the North Texas Society for Human Resource Management.

The scholarships will assist the two Texas Woman’s Merrilee Alexander Kick College of Business and Entrepreneurship students in finishing their degrees. Filbeck is working on her BBA in Human Resource Management, while Wimberly is pursuing an MBA with an emphasis in Human Resource Management. Both students are graduating in December 2025. 

TWU assistant professor Shelia Hyde, who serves on the North Texas SHRM board, presented the two Roger P. Lette Scholarships to Filbeck and Wimberly at the North Texas SHRM holiday gala in December. 

“As a single working parent, full-time student, and dedicated volunteer, this scholarship would provide essential financial assistance, helping me focus on my studies and get closer to graduation,” Filbeck said. 

“This scholarship will help to offset some of the monetary burdens that come with working full time, enrolling in college courses, and other day-to-day activities/expenses that may arise,” Wimberly said. “I am on a pretty tight budget and a scholarship like this only helps in my ambition of continuing education and career development.”  

Both students are involved with the TWU SHRM student chapter and North Texas SHRM chapter. Filbeck has also attended the professional chapter’s monthly education luncheon.

“That experience was eye-opening — I felt like I was becoming part of something much larger than just my organization,” Filbeck said. “Learning from other HR professionals and gaining insight into how different companies operate inspired me to join and grow within this network.”

While both students have some work experience with the HR profession, they are hoping their TWU degrees will help advance them in that field. 

Wimberly works on the TWU Denton campus as an assistant director of campus visits and events. She oversees campus tours, recruitment events and supervision of the student tour guides. 

“While I don’t work in an HR department, my background and current role do include aspects of HR management: payroll, job analysis, job descriptions, compensation, budgets, supervision, training and development,” Wimberly said. 

Through her experiences, she realized she wanted a career where she could increase employee engagement and provide training and development opportunities to those who might need it.

 “My goal is to complete my degree, sit for the SHRM certifications and move into a role that is more specifically in the realm of HR management.”

Filbeck began her career as an HR coordinator at Safran. She shifted into an administrative role and is currently the executive office manager, which she says has helped her grow into a leader at work and in the community. 

She decided to return to school and graduated from North Central Texas College in 2022. She partly chose TWU to finish her degree because the online programs offered flexibility she needed. 

“I chose to major in business and HR because it aligns closely with my professional experience and passion for supporting employees and fostering a positive workplace environment.”