College of Business Administration Students and Faculty Take Home Leadership Awards

KENT, Ohio - May 2, 2014 - PRLog -- Nineteen students and one faculty member from the College of Business Administration received awards at Kent State University’s 36th Student Leadership and Honors Awards Ceremony that took place on April 9, 2014.

The Center for Student Involvement at Kent State organized the event to honor students and faculty leaders across the Kent State Campus. Colleagues and peers make nominations for the awards.

Before handing out the leadership awards, attendees first recognized the newest leaders of the Undergraduate Student Government, including the newest Senator for the College of Business Administration Alberto Lopez.

Lopez, a sophomore finance major, said he ran because he wanted to improve teaching methods, promote the involvement of business organizations outside of the College of Business and create more interaction between existing business student organizations. He also said he wants to request more testing materials and encourage more business students to compete in regional, national and international competitions.

“I feel now as the voice of the students of the College of Business Administration that my duty is to advocate for their professional improvement and mutual benefit,” Lopez said. “I am committed to working with faculty and other authorities to improve the College of Business and I feel privileged for holding such a position.”

Senior Accounting major Lauren Romick understands what Lopez is going through, having served in Undergraduate Student Government for three terms as the Director of Student Advancement, Senator of the College of Business and Senator of Off-Campus and Commuter Students.

Romick, who is also the President of Beta Alpha Psi and the Chair of Business Professionals Roundtable and has been a Student Success Leader for College of Business FYE courses for three years, received two awards for her leadership roles across campus.

She received a Distinguished Student Leader Award, which goes to a student who exhibits outstanding campus leadership. The recipients are selected based on leadership, academics, community and social service to Kent State. Romick also received the Mary Manchester Award, which goes to a senior who exhibits strong leadership, scholarship and constructive citizenship. This award is in memory of Mrs. Mary Manchester, wife of the late Raymond E. Manchester, Dean of Men Emeritus.

“I am incredibly honored to be recognized by Kent State University for commitment to my academics, campus and leadership,” Romick said. “Leadership is very important to me. Through my leadership experiences, I have met wonderful people in the College of Business Administration and throughout campus. My experiences have helped me grow as a person, business student and student leader. I am very fortunate that I have been able to work among student leaders in the College of Business.”

Another student from the College of Business who received an award was Christopher DeSanto Jr., a senior finance major. DeSanto received the Manchester Cup Award, which goes to a senior whose leadership and citizenship has a far-reaching effect across campus.

DeSanto and Romick weren’t the only two students to be recognized at the event, 15 College of Business Students received a Leadership Excellence Award. This award goes to students who have demonstrated extraordinary leadership and dedication to their organization.

The business majors who received the Leadership Excellence Award are:

·         Taylor Augustine

·         Lauren Brinkman

·         Cody Burke

·         Ashley Carr

·         Christopher Conrad

·         Hallie D’Agostino

·         Stacy Graham

·         Rachel Hook

·         Kelsey Kloss

·         Cody Lewis

·         Anthony Maul

·         Rachel Mindek

·         Tim Ries

·         Akanksha Singh

·         Jack Veatch

·         Christine Wilkins

Two students with minors in the College of Business Administration also received specific awards. Like Romick, Allison Lenz, a senior mathematics major with a minor in business, received the Mary Manchester Award for leadership.

Kavitha Bagavandoss, a senior who is pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics and a minor in finance, received the Eric Rackham Award. This award is presented to a senior who exhibits strong scholastic achievement and shows great concern and interest in the university. Bagavandoss, who's involved in 14 organizations on campus, said leadership is more than just being in the spotlight.

“To me, being a leader is attending class on time, answering questions, participating in discussions, taking the time to ask for help when I don’t understand, being prepared and stopping to help others,” Bagavandoss said. “I try to be an exemplary student; someone who’s a role model for others in the class, aspires for more, pushes the surrounding people to raise their expectations, takes the time to help others succeed even when there’s no benefit for themselves and shares the secrets of success with freshman who often don’t have anyone or anything guiding them.”

Elizabeth Sinclair, assistant dean of the College of Business Administration, said she was impressed with the number of students from the College of Business who were recognized for their work on campus and in organizations.

“I know firsthand how hard they work, giving their time and support to advancing our college and Kent State.  We owe them a debt of gratitude for their diligence, energy and willingness to give back,” Sinclair said.

David Dumpe, Ph.D., an associate professor of finance in the College of Business Administration, said he also enjoyed seeing all of the students win their awards and hopes more faculty and staff will attend the ceremony in the future. Dumpe normally attends the ceremony but was also nominated for and received the Advisor Excellence Award for his leadership within the College of Business Administration.

Sinclair said she is happy Dumpe has been recognized for his work with the Financial Management Association (FMA), and said he deserves the Advisor of the Year Award.

“Dr. Dumpe focuses on the students’ professional development and works hard to get them ready for the real world of work,” Sinclair said. “Clearly, his students appreciate what he does for them.”

Dumpe said he is just one of many advisors on campus dedicated to helping students.

“Being recognized by students for my efforts on their behalf is something that never gets old,” Dumpe said. “I am passionate about student success, but there are many advisors in our college who do every bit as good a job every day. I hope that all advisors are aware of how much their time and effort is appreciated.”