This month in HEUG Famous, we’re excited to spotlight someone who truly embodies the spirit of collaboration and innovation that defines our community—Shawn Trauntvein from Brigham Young University. With nearly three decades of experience in financial aid and student systems, Shawn has consistently contributed not only technical expertise but also a genuine commitment to knowledge sharing and community building. His reflections below are ones you won’t want to miss.
Getting Started with HEUG
“I love HEUG and the Alliance Conferences. Throughout my career, this community has provided the perfect mix of networking and knowledge exchange—both giving and receiving. The way we work together far surpasses anything I’ve seen in government or vendor-driven spaces. No other conference offers the depth of technical and functional insight that HEUG does. If you’re reading this, I imagine you’d agree.”
I’m Shawn, and I currently work at Brigham Young University as a Systems Analyst in the Financial Aid Office, where I’ve been for over 16 years. Before that, I spent 12 years at the University of Utah’s Financial Aid Office in a variety of roles, including Counselor, Loan Program Manager, and eventually Systems Manager. I even started my career in Student Financials there. It’s been quite the adventure.
Finding a Home in the HEUG Community
I got involved with HEUG back in late 2001 after stepping into the Systems Manager role. The financial aid listserv was a game-changer. Whenever someone posted a question, I’d check if we faced the same issue, work on a solution, and share what I found—if someone hadn’t already beaten me to it! That spring, I attended my first HEUG/Alliance conference and met people who represented the best of this field: hardworking, selfless, and deeply committed to student success.
An implementation leader at my school nominated several functional leads to serve on different advisory groups, and I was selected to represent Financial Aid. I was elected and began serving on the Advisory Group, where I had the opportunity to work alongside some of the incredible people I had previously met and followed. That marked the beginning of a wonderful journey.
From Presenter to Trailblazer
I started presenting at conferences and eventually became the first non-Oracle employee to present on the Equation Engine. Today, many of you could code equation circles around me—and that’s a good thing. That’s what makes HEUG special: we share what we know, others build on it, and we all grow together.
“You can’t be world-class—or even try to be—if you don’t know what other schools are doing.”
Advisory Group Involvement
The first time I joined an advisory group, I followed the track chair path—assistant chair in year one, then track chair the next. I helped coordinate presentation submissions and scheduling. It’s structured differently now, but the spirit remains the same: it’s always a group effort.
Currently, I serve as the assistant chair for the Campus Student Financial Support Advisory Group, which combines Student Financials and Financial Aid. Kristen McRoberts chairs the group. Our job is to ensure the listserv stays active, e-Academy content is relevant, and we engage regularly with Oracle on key topics. Yes, it’s extra work—but it’s rewarding, and friendships built along the way are worth every minute.
One of my favorite quotes is from Mario Andretti:
“If you have everything under control, you’re not moving fast enough.”
We’re glad you’re in this race with us.
Looking Ahead: Cloud, Innovation & Scholarships
Right now, I work a hybrid schedule—three days in the office, two remote. I get more done at home, but nothing replaces the nuance of face-to-face collaboration at the start of a new project.
Our university just moved HR and Finance to Workday, and we’re exploring cloud solutions for financial aid, student financials, and registration. We’re also transitioning from on-premises PeopleSoft servers to Oracle Cloud Infrastructure.
One big project ahead: scholarship awarding. We had a great tool built in PeopleCode that allocated scholarships based on various criteria. Rebuilding it in the cloud? Uncertain. So, we’re exploring alternatives.
Recently, we tested a small prototype using a Monte Carlo Tree Search algorithm—a decision-tree-based process that finds optimal solutions through simulation. Using dummy student and scholarship data, we created an awarding model that could efficiently match students with available funds.
I’d love to hear what other schools are exploring in this space—especially around automated or intelligent scholarship allocation.
A Community Built for You
Shawn’s story is a powerful reminder of what makes this community special—mutual learning, ongoing support, and a shared mission to improve student systems. Whether you’re decoding complex processes, innovating with algorithms, or simply grinding it out remotely, there’s a place for you here.
Thank you, Shawn, for your years of service, innovation, and enthusiasm. We’re lucky to be in this race with you.
Want to connect with Shawn? Visit his HEUG profile or connect with him on LinkedIn.
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