Dr. Yiorgos Bakamitsos, Dean of the School of Business Administration, opened the event by welcoming those present and by celebrating the life of Dr. William “Bill” Jackson, Professor Emeritus, and honoring his outstanding achievements throughout his life and his time at Stetson. Dr. Jackson joined Stetson University in the Fall of 2016 to help reinvigorate and lead the Prince Entrepreneurship Program, becoming one of the most impactful entrepreneurship scholars in Florida. During the Banquet, Dean Bakamitsos presented Dr. Bill Jackson’s Professor Emeritus resolution to his wife, Mary Jo Jackson, and his granddaughter, Peyton Newby.
After honoring Dr. Jackson’s life and celebrating his legacy, each Department Representative presented their Student Awards, recognizing distinguished students that stood out for their excellence in academics and leadership at Stetson University.
Dr. Carol Dee, Professor of Accounting and Department Chair, presented the Accounting Awards:
- The Business School Foundation David M. Beights Merit Award for Accounting: awarded to a graduating senior accounting major for outstanding academic ability and performance
Recipient: Beatriz Vossen. - The Business School Foundation George and Marie Putnam Memorial Accounting Scholarships: awarded to undergraduate accounting majors or Master of Accountancy students based on outstanding academic performance
Recipients: Macy Bergsman, Melody Ma, Spencer Porter, Andile Sibanda, Benjamin Silverman, Krisztina Sipos, Nicholas Webster. - George Putnam Accounting Scholarships: recipients are selected based on communication skills, interpersonal abilities, and campus and community involvement; they must possess uncompromising ethical and moral standards and a high probability of success in the accounting profession.
Recipients: Daniel Cronje, Julia Ivashko, Tiara Oglesby Housey, Alexa Wooten, Josephine Young - Master Life Challenger Awards: awarded to Master of Accountancy students based on academic achievement
Recipients: Laura Esther Colston, Delaney Eller, Alyssa Gorman, Jim Pappalardo, Marissa Reils, Annabel Roach, Eva Weil - Roger Swanger Legacy Award: awarded to an outstanding junior or senior accounting student with excellent academic performance, as well as engagement on campus and within the community
Recipient: Nicholas Gendreau - J. Stephen and Mary Beth Pullum Scholarship: awarded to a rising accounting senior and is based on outstanding academic achievement.
Recipient: Lindsay Bartz - Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) Scholars: selected based on academic achievement, financial need, and the likelihood of the student pursuing a career in auditing
Recipients: Tiara Oglesby Housey, Beatriz Vossen - FICPA – George E. Shierling Platinum Endowment Scholarship Awards: awarded to Stetson accounting students who plan to become a CPA and practice in the state of Florida; based on both academic ability and financial need.
Recipients: Silke Flynn, Sadie Jensen, Samantha Kmetz, Michael Martinez, Matthew Pinder - FICPA – James Wilcox Endowed Scholarship: recipient is a minority student who is pursuing a graduate degree in accounting at a Florida university
Recipient: Anabelle Standish - Florida Board of Accountancy Clay Ford Minority Scholarships: based on financial need, ethnicity, gender or racial minority status, and Florida residency, this award serves to encourage minority students to remain in school for the fifth year required to obtain a CPA license.
Recipients: Silke Flynn, Stephanie Vasquez
Dr. Joseph Woodside, Department Chair, presented the Business Systems and Analytics Awards:
- Business School Foundation Kenneth Jackson Award for Decision Science: awarded to a deserving student excelling in one or more courses in Decision Science.
Recipient: Beverley Herne - Business School Foundation Theodore J. Surynt Merit Award for Business Systems Analysis: presented to a graduating senior based on academic ability and performance
Recipient: Janelle Gilyard - Business Systems and Analytics Outstanding Senior: presented to a senior for outstanding ability, service and academic performance.
Recipient: Ian Hunt
Dr. Matthew Imes, Director of the Roland George Investment Program, presented the Finance Awards:
- Business School Foundation Eugene M. Lynn Merit Award for Finance: awarded to a graduating senior selected based on outstanding academics and contributions to the Department of Finance.
Recipient: Sugeeth Sathish - Outstanding Certified Financial Planning Major: presented to a junior or senior for outstanding ability, service and academic performance.
Recipient: Jaxson Koebel-Secky - Outstanding Senior Business Award in Economics: presented to a senior in the Department of Finance for outstanding ability, service and academic performance.
Recipient: Maxwell Bennett - Outstanding Finance Student: presented to an outstanding finance student for their academic performance.
Recipients: Sydney Jenkins, Colin Weber
Dr. Jon-Michael Carrick presented the Business School Foundation Merit Award for International Business award, recognizing a graduating senior international business major for outstanding academic ability and performance. This year’s recipient was Rhainay Williamson.
Dr. Randall Croom presented the Business School Foundation E. C. Furlong Merit Award for Management, recognizing a graduating senior management major based on outstanding academic ability and performance. This year’s recipient was Isabella Convery. He also presented the Business School Foundation Merit Award for Business Administration, recognizing a graduating business administration major for outstanding academic ability and performance. This year’s recipient was Haruka Sugimoto.
Dr. Paula Miller presented the Business School Foundation Merit Award for Human Resources, recognizing a graduating senior human resource management major for outstanding academic ability and performance. This year’s recipient was Tia Deeb.
Professor Daniel Scott presented the Chris Davies Business Endowed Scholarship, recognizing a rising senior in the School of Business Administration who plans a career in small business. This year’s recipient was Jessica Nguyen. He also presented the Business School Foundation Merit Award for Prince Entrepreneurship Program, recognizing a graduating senior entrepreneurship major for outstanding academic ability and performance. This year’s recipient was Gina Papa.
Dr. John Riggs presented the Business School Foundation Merit Award for Professional Sales, recognizing a graduating senior professional sales major for outstanding academic ability and performance. This year’s recipient was Darby Nuxol.
Professor Matthew DiFebo presented the Sport Business Scholarship and Service Award, recognizing a business student for outstanding academic ability and performance in sport business. This year’s recipient was Emmalina Simonis. He also presented the Business School Foundation Merit Award for Sport Business, recognizing a graduating senior sport business minor for outstanding academic ability and performance. This year’s recipient was Yohann Dessureault.
Dr. Elizabeth Galloway presented the Business School Foundation Merit Award for Business Law, recognizing a graduating senior business law minor for outstanding academic ability and performance. This year’s recipient was Clara Wait.
Dr. Carol Azab, Department Chair, presented the Marketing Awards:
- Monique Forte Endowed Scholarship: awarded to a student, with preference to those with a major in Management, who has provided service to the School of Business Administration, the university, and the community.
Recipient: Hadilayane Silva Bandeira - Business School Foundation Merit Award for Marketing: presented to a graduating senior marketing major for outstanding academic ability and performance
Recipient: Georgia Place - Marketing Ethics and Social Responsibility Award: presented to a marketing major who has demonstrated a commitment to their academic performance and has had a positive impact on the campus and community through their civic engagement.
Recipient: Emmalina Simonis
Dr. Carolyn Nicholson, Director of Faculty Development, presented the Leadership Awards:
- Business School Foundation Paul E. Dascher Outstanding Scholar Award: the highest honor for a graduating senior based on outstanding academic performance.
Recipient: Lea Alexander - J.D. Bond and Charles E. Bradley Scholarships: presented to rising seniors based on high academic performance and excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
Recipients: Emily Haynes, Matthew Rhoads - James H. Maury, Jr. Memorial Scholarships: recipients are rising seniors majoring in a business discipline and are selected based on their academic achievements.
Recipients: Caleb Harvey, Keith Ohanian, Naissa Thelisma
Dr. Petros Xanthopoulos, Director of Graduate Programs, presented the Graduate Awards:
- Business School Foundation Outstanding MAcc Student: presented to a graduate student in the Master of Accountancy program for academic performance and character.
Recipient: Lourdes Ashamalla - Business School Foundation Outstanding MBA Student: presented to a student in the Master of Business Administration program for academic performance and character.
Recipient: Joseph Despard - Business School Foundation Top MBA Academic Performance Award: presented to graduate students in the Master of Business Administration program for the highest academic performance exhibited in the program.
Recipient: Nicole Galluccio - Business School Foundation Top JD/MBA Academic Performance Award: presented to graduate students in the Juris Doctor/ Master of Business Administration program for the highest academic performance exhibited in the program.
Recipient: Mary Baker - Business School Foundation Top MBA/MS in Pharmacy Academic Performance Award: presented to graduate student in the Master of Business Administration/Master of Science in Pharmacy program for the highest academic performance exhibited in the program.
Recipient: Jennifer Fore - Business School Foundation Top MBA/MHA Academic Performance Awards: presented to a graduate student in the Master of Healthcare Management/Master of Business Administration program for the highest academic performance exhibited in the program.
Recipients: Tracy Mull, Morgan Wang
Dean Bakamitsos presented the Faculty and Staff Awards:
- Outstanding Teacher Award: recognizes significant instructional contributions by business faculty members who develop our students as productive citizens in their roles as business professionals.
Recipient: Prof. Matthew Hurst - Outstanding Researcher Award: recognizes faculty members for significant accomplishments in scholarly activity, taking into account the significance of academic work and accomplishments.
Recipient: Prof. Shan Yan - Outstanding Service Award: recognizes significant service activity and outstanding contributions by faculty members toward the organization and administration of business and university programs, activities and committees.
Recipient: Prof. Carol Azab - Outstanding Innovation Award: recognizes faculty members who inspire students and enhance student learning through creative, engaging and innovative teaching methods and curriculum.
Recipient: Prof. Daniel Scott - Professor of the Year Award: selected by the dean, this award recognizes a faculty member who has made significant contributions to fostering the core values of Stetson University and the School of Business Administration in our students’ intellectual development, personal growth and global citizenship.
Recipient: Prof. Deana Hale - Staff of the Year Award: recognizes a staff member for exemplary service to the School of Business Administration.
Recipient: Ahn Gibson - Community Partner Award: presented to a community partner to honor and recognize their commitment and vital role in successful collaboration that brings the campus closer to the community.
Recipient: Doug and Jodi Imes
Congratulations to all the students, faculty, and staff members for yet another remarkably successful year! We are proud of your accomplishments and happy that you get to call Stetson home.
Enjoy the photo gallery!
