Congratulations to the students and faculty who received awards and those initiated into Beta Gamma Sigma at the University of Pittsburgh’s Joseph M. Katz Graduate School of Business Spring 2024 Graduate Awards Ceremony Friday, April 19, 2024, at the Rivers Club in downtown Pittsburgh.
The award winners will also be celebrated April 27 at the Petersen Events Center as business graduates of all degree levels will be recognized together in the Pitt Business commencement ceremony.
Addressing the graduates, Gene Anderson, Henry E. Haller, Jr. Dean, thanked the students for entrusting Pitt. He also recognized the faculty, staff, family, friends, and loved ones who inspired, guided, and supported the students and announced the recipients of three awards:
- Dean’s Outstanding Student Service Award – Master of Science: Nausheen Fatima
- Dean’s Outstanding Student Service Award – Part-time MBA: Caitlin Richard Renard
- Dean’s Outstanding Student Service Award – Full-time MBA: Abdoulai Jobe
Students Share Memories and Inspiration
Laura Oknefski, director of graduate programs, introduced the three student speakers.
Kelly Lu (MBA, MS ’24), the full-time MBA student speaker, asked students to reminisce about their first days on campus and acknowledged the growth they experienced while earning their degrees. “We arrived at Katz with aspirations and open hearts, eager to forge new connections and absorb knowledge. Today, we depart as leaders, innovators, and change-makers, primed to leave our imprint on the world,” said Lu.
The Part-time MBA student speaker Nina Wroniak (MBA, MS ‘24) acknowledged the need to be lifelong learners. “Even though we’re graduating, we know that our education doesn’t end here. The world is constantly evolving, presenting new challenges and opportunities that require us to continue learning and growing.”
Zhaoyang (Melody) Feng (MS ’24), the Master of Science student speaker, encouraged her fellow graduates to “step boldly into the community, to put our learning into practice, and to review the spirit and philosophy of Katz in every action we take, in every challenge we face, and in every success we achieve.”
Student and Faculty Awards
Rebecca Badawy, associate dean for MBA and specialty masters and clinical associate professor of Business Administration, announced the faculty and student award winners:
- Full-time Master’s Program Student Choice Award for Outstanding Teaching: Elena Rokou
- Part-time MBA Student Choice Award for Outstanding Teaching: Barry M. Mitnick
- Master of Science in Accounting Student Choice Award for Outstanding Teaching: Heidi Bartholomew
- Sheth Foundation Scholars in Marketing: Armani Davis, Kelsey Peart and Nausheen Fatima
- Pitt Business Outstanding Finance Graduate Student Award: Takuya Yoshida
- Outstanding Supply Chain Management Master’s Student Awards: Spandan Ghosh, Nishant Saun, and Himanshu Tyagi
- Outstanding Accounting Graduate Student Award: Ian Lyons
- Marshall Alan Robinson Prize for Excellence: Bishal Dasgupta
Beta Gamma Sigma Inductees
The Pitt Beta Gamma Sigma (BGS) chapter is one of the oldest chapters in the world. Founded in 1913, BGS is the International Business Honor Society for schools accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). The AACSB accredits just 5% of business schools worldwide assuring that BGS members belong to an organization that is synonymous with the highest standards of academic excellence.
Prakash Mirchandani, professor of Business Administration, director of the Center for Supply Chain Management, academic director of the Executive MBA Program, and vice presidentof Katz’s BGS chapter, led the initiation for the 28 students.
The following are the new BGS inductees (listed alphabetically):
Akshay Agarwal
Misbah Ahmad
Devra Becker
Denise Bergdolt
Gal Blatman
Meike Cunnion
Michael Dalsass
Corinne Day
Brian Donahoe
Changran Fan
Nausheen Fatima
Spandan Ghosh
Andrew Hornyak
Chen Jin
Theresa Kwon
Dan Liu
Feng Chi Liu
Elyssa Morissette
Daria Osiian
Kelsey Peart
Muxi Qian
Nicolas Samarkos
Madeline Scanlon
Himanshu Tyagi
Alex Vandenberg
Nina Wroniak
Philip Wubbolt
Ximiao Yu
A reception followed the awards ceremony, giving students, faculty, and guests the chance to celebrate.
Fatima, an award winner and new inductee into BGS says, “Graduate school is about the people, and one should not underestimate the power of connections. Reaching out to people and relying on those around you, such as your peers, advisors, and professors, really defines your experience.”
