Tag: graduation

I had eagerly volunteered to be a student blogger last year, and had high hopes of being a [semi]regular contributor to the blog. Unfortunately, I never found (or made) the time to sit down and type out a few words…until today.

So, today, as a student-turned-alumnus, I want to talk about being grateful.

This past weekend, I graduated from Washington University in St. Louis. Graduation day was a significant and memorable event…one that will forever be etched into my nostalgic, curious brain. And on that day, I found myself swept up by feelings of deep gratitude.

I. Am. Grateful. Grateful that my parents had made the trip to St. Louis to celebrate the big day. Grateful to my wife for her incredible encouragement and support over the past two years. Grateful for a remarkable and diverse collection of classmates, who have given me a lifetime of memories. Grateful that I had the opportunity to learn from gifted, insightful professors who challenged me and pushed me to succeed. Grateful for an administration that has my best interests in mind, and worked tirelessly to provide me with a meaningful experience. Grateful for a dean who leads with purpose, and who possesses a warmth that endears him to every Olin student. Grateful for the gift of stunning new business school buildings, which have sparked even more life into an already-vibrant Olin community.

I. Am. Grateful.

Ah, but this gratitude stretches far back, having settled in long before graduation day. I am grateful that in 2012, the fine folks of Olin Business School thought I might be a good fit for the MBA class of 2014, so they offered me a spot on the roster. I’m grateful that they provided me a scholarship that enabled me to say “yes” to that offer of admission. I’m grateful that from Day 1 of GO! Week, I felt like the people around here were invested in me. The Olin community has always made me feel like “they” believe in ME…that I am capable of great things, now and in the future. And if Olin has a brand, I would argue that its brand is the ability to instill belief in its students. This belief trickles down in nuanced ways – through conversations, emails, smiles, questions, and handshakes – and it has always found a way to find me. The impact of this institutional quality cannot be overstated. Over the past two years, whenever I found myself struggling, wavering in uncertainty, or stressed and stretched thin, I found strength in Olin’s belief in me.

For all of that, I am incredibly grateful. Thank you Olin Business School and thank you Washington University. I’m going to miss your beautiful pink granite buildings and the friendly faces that have made this school such a wonderful place to call home over the past two years. How lucky I am that Wash U will forever be part of my story. I promise to come back and visit.

The Graduate Diploma and Awards Ceremony took place on Friday, May 16. The Graduate keynote speaker was James V. O’Donnell, President and CEO, Bush-O’Donnell & Company, Inc. and Chairman and CEO, Exegy, Inc. Jim earned his Olin BSBA and MBA in 1974. The student speaker was Michael Saltzman, MBA ’14.

Congratulations to all!

Charles F. Knight Scholars
Awarded to the graduate students who have earned the highest academic achievement in their program.  This award was established by the Emerson Company to honor its distinguished chairman and now emeritus, Charles F. Knight, a great benefactor and champion of Olin Business School.

Full-Time MBA
Joseph David Dominick Buicko
Anmol Chopra
Adrian Michael D’Souza
Alexander James Faught
Carl Austin French
Kristopher Klinkerman
Nishu Kohli
Nikita McKinney
Daniela Cristina Pacurar
Katherine Thacher
 
Professional MBA
Jonathan Steven Becker
Ryan Patrick Corrigan
Kathleen Theresa Domian
David Fliesher
Robert Daniel Higgins
Shaun Nordgaarden
Brian David Otto
Anil Ramachandran
Nathan Kyle Tabor
Robert Stephen Wright

Master of Accounting
Rae Nicole Lerner
Jessica Lauren Reber
Wenhao Zhang

Master of Science in Finance
Pablo M. Martinez Montes
Thomas Scott Napier
Liuqing Wang
Pingle Wang

Master of Science in Supply Chain Management
Yichen He

Abhishek Chakravarty
Dean’s Award for Corporate Social Responsibility
Recognizes the graduating MBA student or student group who has demonstrated outstanding scholarship, leadership, and/or practice in the area of corporate social responsibility.

Ryan Patrick Corrigan
Hiram and Mary Neuwoehner Prize
Awarded by the faculty to the graduating Professional MBA student who has been the most substantive addition to the evening program by way of contributions in the classroom and excellence in writing papers and taking examinations. This award was established by Mary Neuwoehner in the 1990s to honor her husband, Hiram Neuwoehner, BSBA ’41, a St. Louis advertising executive and founder of Batz-Hodgson-Neuwoehner Inc.

Miranda Katherine Davis
Milford Bohm Prize in Marketing
Awarded to the graduating MBA student who, in the judgment of the faculty, exhibits the strongest academic achievement and the most potential in the field of marketing. This award was established in honor of Milford Bohm – founder, chairman, and CEO of CPI (formerly Rembrandt Studio) from 1942 to 1973 – by his wife, Lee Bohm, and their children, Mimi (MBA ’79), David (LA ’78/JD ’84), Rob (MBA ’90), and the late Vicki (EN ’84/SI ’85).

Joëlle Marie DeVigne
Paul Cuffe MBA Award for Outstanding Leadership
Awarded to a graduating African American MBA student for outstanding leadership, academic excellence, and involvement in Olin extracurricular activities. This award is named in honor of Paul Cuffe, who was one of the most financially successful black Americans at the end of the 18th century. A builder and maritime merchant in New England, Cuffe became a successful blockade runner during the Revolutionary War and an entrepreneur during the early years of American independence.

Leigh Hunt Farah
Dean’s Special Service Award
Awarded by the Dean to recognize MBA students who have rendered extraordinary service to Olin.

Hubert C. Moog Prize
Awarded to the graduating MBA student who, in the opinion of his or her fellow students, best exemplifies the qualities of character, leadership, and service and also enjoys the respect, admiration, and affection of his or her classmates. This award is named in honor of Hub Moog, who as chairman and president of Moog Automotive, transformed his family’s St. Louis-based business into a world-renowned corporation. He served on the Washington University board of trustees and the Olin Task Force in 1980 and 1981. He and his wife, Dorothy R. Moog, were strong supporters of Washington University.

Alexander James Fought
Olin MBA Finance Award
Awarded to a graduating MBA student for achievement in finance.

David Fliesher                                 
Professional Achievement Award
Awarded to the graduating Professional MBA student who best exemplifies the qualities of integrity, loyalty, intelligence, and high moral character as judged by the faculty.

Yichen He
Outstanding Supply Chain Management Student Award
Awarded to the graduating Master of Science in Supply Chain Management student who, in the judgment of the faculty, exhibits the strongest academic achievement and the most potential in the field of supply chain management.

Priya Iyer
Outstanding Supply Chain Management Student Award
Awarded to the graduating Master of Science in Supply Chain Management student who, in the judgment of the faculty, exhibits the strongest academic achievement and the most potential in the field of supply chain management.

Rae Nicole Lerner
Nicholas Dopuch Outstanding Accounting Student Award
Awarded to the graduating Master of Accounting student who, in the judgment of the faculty, exhibits the strongest academic achievement and the most potential in the field of accounting. This award is named in honor of Nicholas Dopuch, a tenured Olin accounting professor from 1983 to 2006 and now an Olin professor emeritus.

Ryan E. Maher
Dean’s Special Service Award
Awarded by the Dean to recognize MBA students who have rendered extraordinary service to Olin.

John Wayne Latchum Memorial Award
Recognizes the graduating MBA student who best exemplifies the qualities of integrity, loyalty to friends and country, courage, intelligence, and high standards of personal conduct as judged by the faculty. This award is named in memory of John Wayne Latchum, a business student who died in 1971 while he was a senior at Washington University. It is made possible through the generosity of his parents.

Michael Patrick McLaughlin
Dean’s Award for Corporate Social Responsibility
Recognizes the graduating MBA student or student group who has demonstrated outstanding scholarship, leadership, and/or practice in the area of corporate social responsibility.

Thomas Scott Napier
Outstanding Finance Student Award, Corporate Finance
Awarded to the graduating Master of Science in Finance student who, in the judgment of the faculty, exhibits the strongest academic achievement and the most potential in the field of finance.

Brian David Otto
Peer Recognition Award
Awarded to the graduating Professional MBA student who, in the opinion of his or her fellow students, best exemplifies the qualities of character, leadership, and service and also enjoys the respect, admiration, and affection of his or her classmates.

Michael Saltzman
Dean’s Special Service Award
Awarded by the Dean to recognize MBA students who have rendered extraordinary service to Olin.

Hubert C. Moog Prize
Awarded to the graduating MBA student who, in the opinion of his or her fellow students, best exemplifies the qualities of character, leadership, and service and also enjoys the respect, admiration, and affection of his or her classmates. This award is named in honor of Hub Moog, who as chairman and president of Moog Automotive, transformed his family’s St. Louis-based business into a world-renowned corporation. He served on the Washington University board of trustees and the Olin Task Force in 1980 and 1981. He and his wife, Dorothy R. Moog, were strong supporters of Washington University.

Prasanna Shrivastava
Powell Niland Prize
Awarded to the graduating MBA student with the strongest academic achievement in the fields of operations and manufacturing management. This award is named in honor of Powell Niland, who was a tenured Olin operations and manufacturing management professor from 1957 to 1989 and an Olin professor emeritus from 1989 until 2009.

Vibha Athre Vemana
Joseph W. Towle Prize
Awarded to the graduating MBA student who, in the judgment of the faculty, exhibits the strongest academic achievement and the most potential in the area of organizational leadership. This award is named in honor of Joseph W. Towle, who was a tenured Olin management professor from 1954 to 1975 and a leader among faculty. Well known in his field, an author, and president of the Academy of Management, he established this prize to encourage excellence in the classroom.

Ji Wang
Powell Niland Prize
Awarded to the graduating MBA student with the strongest academic achievement in the fields of operations and manufacturing management. This award is named in honor of Powell Niland, who was a tenured Olin operations and manufacturing management professor from 1957 to 1989 and an Olin professor emeritus from 1989 until 2009.

Pingle Wang                                      
Outstanding Finance Student Award, Quantitative Finance
Awarded to the graduating Master of Science in Finance student who, in the judgment of the faculty, exhibits the strongest academic achievement and the most potential in the field of finance.

The Olin Undergraduate Diploma and Awards Ceremony is special for many reasons. Certainly, we share and take great pride in the triumph of our exuberant graduates – now prepared and eager to step from the graduation stage into a new phase of their lives. The ceremony is also special because it recognizes and celebrates a small number of outstanding faculty and students whose contributions truly helped define the Olin journey for this class. I am delighted and honored to share with you this year’s 2014 Undergraduate Honors and Awards.

-Dean Gupta

Undergraduate Recipients
Summa Cum Laude
Awarded to the top five percent of the undergraduate Class of 2014 as established by the end of their final semester.

Kyle Joshua Bank
Ariel Rose Berkson
Arushi Bhalla
Danielle Marie Bradshaw
Katherine Jeanne Bush
Jennifer Lauren Cozen
Lyndsey Erin Douglas
Joshua Isaac Jaffe
Se Eun Jeon
Alina Vladimirovna Key
Gregory Lee Porter
Lijia Yu

Magna Cum Laude
Awarded to the top six to fifteen percent of the undergraduate Class of 2014 as established by the end of their final semester.

Michelle Hannah Aranovsky
Bradley Mark Baskir
Nicholas Ren-Jie Brown
Marc Albert Canarick
Stephanie Wing Yee Cheng
Sean Tyler Feng
Jordan Thomas Flink
Magdalena Marie Freier
Alexandra Ludwig Frey
Jordan Bellile Gamble
Brett Jay Goldberg
Jessica Rachel Hassett
Boseura Jeong
Rebecca Joyce Kernodle
Benjamin Michael Lederman
Rae Nicole Lerner
Chun Ngai Li
Jeffrey Yihan Lin
Liya Mo
Alexandra Brooke Orlander
Natalia Lucila Ortega
Michelle Rosetta Romney
Eve Beth Sembler
Alexandra Nicole Sprague
Austin Gabriel Spurlock
Elise Elizabeth Tanner
Branden Miller Wachtel
Timothy Teh-Hsiang Wang
Justin J. Wie

Honors in Management
Awarded to graduating seniors who have completed the honors program.

Karl Bach
Yonatan Barlev
Shiv Kawamura Bery
Jordan Thomas Flink
Ze Gong
Jeffrey Yihan Lin
Liya Mo
Alexandra Brooke Orlander
Gregory Lee Porter
Eve Beth Sembler
Elise Elizabeth Tanner

Michelle Hannah Aranovsky
Powell Niland Prize
Awarded to the graduate with the strongest academic achievement in the areas of operations and manufacturing management. This award is named in honor of Powell Niland, who was a tenured Olin operations and manufacturing management professor from 1957 to 1989 and an Olin professor emeritus from 1989 until 2009.

Kyle Joshua Bank
International Business Student Award
Awarded to the graduate who shows the greatest potential for a career in international business.

Katherine Jeanne Bush
Joseph W. Towle Prize
Awarded to the graduate with the strongest academic achievement and the most potential in the area of organizational leadership. This award is named in honor of Joseph W. Towle, who was a tenured Olin management professor from 1954 to 1975 and a leader among faculty. Well-known in his field, an author and president of the Academy of Management, he established this prize to encourage excellence in the classroom.

Loeb Prize in Leadership
Awarded to a graduate who has shown leadership in undergraduate activities related to Olin Business School and who maintains excellence in scholastic achievement, as judged by his or her classmates. This award is named in honor of Isidor Loeb, who was dean of Washington University’s School of Business and Public Administration (now known as Olin Business School) from 1925 to 1940.

Timothy Hugh Cooney
Outstanding Student Athlete Award
Awarded to a graduate who exhibits strong leadership ability and sportsmanlike conduct.

Jennifer Lauren Cozen
Powell Niland Prize
Awarded to the graduate with the strongest academic achievement in the areas of operations and manufacturing management. This award is named in honor of Powell Niland, who was a tenured Olin operations and manufacturing management professor from 1957 to 1989 and an Olin professor emeritus from 1989 until 2009.

Lyndsey Erin Douglas
Delta Sigma Pi Scholarship Key
Awarded to the graduating student with the highest academic average for four years of study in business administration. The award is given by Delta Sigma Pi, America’s foremost professional fraternity for men and women pursuing careers in business.

Undergraduate Marketing Award
Awarded by the faculty to a graduate for outstanding achievement in the field of marketing.

Joshua Isaac Jaffe
John W. Bowyer Award in Finance
Awarded to the graduate who is considered to have the greatest potential for success in a career in finance, as judged by the finance faculty. The award is named in honor of the late John W. Bowyer, who was a legendary teacher of finance at Olin from 1951 to 1987.

Gregory Lee Porter
John W. Bowyer Award in Finance
Awarded to the graduate who is considered to have the greatest potential for success in a career in finance, as judged by the finance faculty. The award is named in honor of the late John W. Bowyer, who was a legendary teacher of finance at Olin from 1951 to 1987.

Michelle Rosetta Romney
Arthur M. Seltzer Accounting Award
Awarded to recognize an outstanding senior in the area of accounting. Established by Richard Wise, JD ’83, to honor his mentor, Arthur M. Seltzer, BSBA ’62, a successful accountant and financial adviser in St. Louis.

Austin Gabriel Spurlock
Dean’s Special Service Award
Awarded by the dean to recognize students who have rendered extraordinary service to Olin.

Kay Roh Memorial Award
Awarded to a graduate in recognition of his or her contributions to Washington University and/or the St. Louis community through extracurricular or volunteer activities, as judged by his or her classmates. Named to honor Kay Roh, who was awarded her BSBA posthumously in 1991. The award is made possible through the generosity of her parents, Min and Jae Roh, and grandparents Ginger and Jack Woods.

Christina Amrita Sukhu
Dean’s Special Service Award
Awarded by the dean to recognize students who have rendered extraordinary service to Olin.

The Professional MBA Diploma and Awards Ceremony takes place Saturday, December 21st at a 10:30 a.m. ceremony in May Auditorium.

Zachary Boyers

The keynote speaker will be Zachary Boyers, PMBA ’01, chairman and CEO of U.S. Bancorp Community Development Corp.; the student speaker will be David Yonce.

Awards and honors to be presented at the ceremony:

Hiram and Mary Neuwoehner Prize: Anil Ramachandran
Awarded by the faculty to the graduating Professional MBA student who has been the most substantive addition to the evening program by way of contributions in the classroom and excellence in writing papers and taking examinations. This award was established by Mary Neuwoehner in the 1990s to honor her husband, Hiram Neuwoehner, BSBA ’41, a St. Louis advertising executive and founder of Batz-Hodgson-Neuwoehner Inc.

Professional Achievement Award: Nathan Kyle Tabor
Awarded to the graduating Professional MBA student who best exemplifies the qualities of integrity, loyalty, intelligence, and high moral character as judged by the faculty.

Peer Recognition Award: Jonathan Steven Becker
Awarded to the graduating Professional MBA student who, in the opinion of his or her fellow students, best exemplifies the qualities of character, leadership, and service; and also enjoys the respect, admiration, and affection of his or her classmates.

Reid Teaching Awards
Awarded by the graduating Professional MBA students to the professor whose enthusiasm and exceptional teaching most inspire, energize, and transform our students. A longtime benefactor of Olin Business School, James W. Reid, BSBA ’28, with his wife, Marcile, established these awards in 1994. The impact of the Reids’ benevolence and commitment to Olin will continue to be felt by generations of students, faculty, alumni, and friends.

Required Course
Sergio Chayet
Director of the Master of Science in Supply Chain Management Program;
Director of the Operations & Supply Chain Management MBA Platform; and
Senior Lecturer in Operations & Manufacturing Management

Elective Course
Annette Veech (posthumously)
Senior Lecturer of Business Communications

Photo credit: graduation by Jerry Naunheim

67  students from Olin’s Specialized Masters Programs (SMP) attended a special ceremony at Whittemore House to celebrate the conclusion of their studies at Olin, Nov. 21. The December University ceremony is later this month.

Students from the Master of Science in Finance (MSF), Master of Accounting (MACC), and Master of Science in Supply Chain Management (MSSCM) programs and their guests, faculty, and staff were in attendance. The celebration included light  hors d’oeuvres, a champagne toast to the graduates, and a photo with Dean Mahendra Gupta.

Congratulations to the graduates!

Trevor Corning served as a legislative fellow this summer in the office of Representative John Lewis. He shares highlights from his experience with one of the leaders of the Civil Rights movement.

After working at Brookings Executive Education (BEE) for two and half years, I wanted to  experience first-hand the Brookings Legis Fellows experience. This summer, I had the opportunity to have a Legislative Fellowship in the office of Congressman John Lewis, the Senior Chief Deputy Whip for the House Democratic Caucus.

Rep. John Lewis.

In my role as a Legislative Assistant, it was my responsibility to cover a set of issues and keep the Congressman up to date on any proposed bill in those disciplines, how the issues affect the district’s constituents, the political environment, and act as a resource for him to decide on a course of action.

I was the primary staff member for the Congressman when drafting both a simple resolution and a standalone bill. I acted as a policy advisor to the Representative on hundreds of amendment votes, and staffed him in caucus strategy meetings regarding significant legislative action.

In addition to the nuances of maintaining a legislative portfolio, Capitol Hill is always an exciting place to work. I was particularly fortunate to work for Congressman Lewis this summer as it marked the celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the March on Washington as well as the Supreme Court’s two landmark rulings which he has been and continues to be significantly involved with: The repeal of Defense of Marriage Act and striking section 4 of the Voting Rights Act.

I am happy to now return to Brookings Executive Educationwith a new perspective on the institution to more effectively educate our audience, but I implore everyone to explore an opportunity to serve in our country’s federal legislative system.

Legis Fellows graduation.

Understanding how and why ideas and bills do or do not become law provides a baseline to begin working with our lawmakers to write and alter policy in order to make our country more free, equal, and just. I hope you will join us in some of our upcoming courses where I can share my insider’s perspective.

A number of the BEE Legis Congressional Fellows recently completed the half year term.  Senate Historian, Donald A. Ritchie, spoke and graduates received their certificates of completion at a luncheon ceremony on August 29, 2013.