Willis Bryant Award

The Willis Bryant Award recognizes outstanding academic achievement in MBA Education’s School of Mortgage Banking (SOMB) program and is awarded yearly to a top student graduate at MBA’s Annual Convention. To be eligible, a student must achieve a grade of "excellent" on all SOMB exams, demonstrate exceptional leadership qualities in the classroom and have made a significant contribution to the mortgage industry.

This award was established in the name of Willis R. Bryant, following his death in 1965. Bryant, a mortgage banking pioneer of the 1950s, was a former lecturer at the SOMB who authored Mortgage Lending Fundamentals and Practices, a former SOMB textbook.

The winner will have their name added to the Willis Bryant Award plaque at MBA’s Headquarters in Washington, DC. They will receive complimentary enrollment in the CMB program and waived fees for the CMB exam and a CMB prep course. The winner will also be publicly recognized across MBA online and social media platforms.

Congratulations to our 2023 Willis Bryant Award winner, Karley Bond. Read more about Karley.

2024 Award Eligibility

• Achieve final exam scores of at least 90% in School of Mortgage Banking I and II
• Successful completion of School of Mortgage Banking III between August 1, 2023 and July 31, 2024
• Demonstrate exceptional leadership in the classroom and a significant contribution to the mortgage industry

How to Apply/Application Deadlines

2024 Application Deadline: September 1, 2024

Apply Now

Application Requirements

• Describe a recent leadership experience, a substantial contribution to the industry and career aspirations
• Submit a Letter of Recommendation from a supervisor or mentor describing the applicant's talents and strengths, future in the industry and leadership abilities

2024 Award Timeline

• September 1: Applications deadline for 2024 award
• September 30: Winner is notified by MBA Education
• The winner is recognized during MBA's Annual Convention and Expo in Fall 2024

Contact
Amanda Straub
Senior Training Coordination Specialist
Mortgage Bankers Association
Phone: (202) 557-2921
Email: [email protected]  

From Past Willis Bryant Winners

"The School of Mortgage Banking helped speed up my transition from an IT-centric role to a business-centric one. It not only gave me a good perspective of the different players and activities in the Mortgage Banking industry, but also the important role that Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae, and FHFA play. The Willis Bryant Award was the “icing on the cake” and has motivated me to double-down on my commitment to the industry and the continuous learning that is needed to succeed.”

2020 Willis Bryant Winner: Frederico Pereira, CISA, CISSP, AMP, Freddie Mac

"Willis Bryant’s passion for the education of young men and women entering the mortgage business matched my priority to attract new talent to the industry and provide education to enable them to thrive.  To be selected as the recipient of his namesake award was a capstone for my work to attract, grow and retain top talent in the industry.

The curriculum of SOMB provided me with in-depth information about all facets of the mortgage industry, presented by industry leaders in their area of expertise.  Equally important were the relationships I developed with the MBA staff, instructors, and fellow students.”

2015 Willis Bryant Winner: Susan Brown, CMB, AMP, CoreSGB, LLC

"Being fortunate enough to be a Willis Bryant Award winner is extremely humbling. In all fairness it is not individual recognition. The Willis Bryant Award takes corporate backing, a great sponsor, and family support. The path to the Willis Bryant Award has given me a much better understanding of mortgage lending and our responsibility to home ownership.

The Mortgage Bankers Association does a tremendous job enlisting Certified Mortgage Bankers and industry veterans to lead the courses. Without question, the professional relationships created through the courses with peers and instructors is definitely one of the greatest takeaways from the courses. MBA sets up the courses promoting interaction and camaraderie. As a result of the Schools of Mortgage Banking, we have a national network to exchange ideas, discuss strategies, and partner our initiatives."

2013 Willis Bryant Winner: Steve Shoemaker, Synovus Mortgage

“Being a Willis Bryant Scholar helped me to better understand myself personally and professionally and helped me to develop and refine the current and future paths for my career in the mortgage industry.

Completing the School of Mortgage Banking was an amazing experience that not only assisted me in boosting my knowledge of the mortgage industry as a whole, but it helped open pathways for me in my career that I hadn’t imagined.”

2011 Willis Bryant Winner: Jodie Morgan, CMB, Wells Fargo Funding

Past Willis Bryant Award Winners

More Past Willis Bryant Award Winners