Academic and Leadership Awards
Students from the College of Business Administration received 93 academic scholarships and leadership awards for the 2013-2014 academic year at Kent State University’s 36th Annual Student Leadership and Honors Awards Ceremony and the College of Business Administration’s Annual Awards Celebration.
The 36th Annual Student Leadership and Honors Awards Ceremony recognized student and faculty leaders throughout the Kent State campus, including 18 students from the College of Business Administration.
Of these students, 15 received Leadership Excellence Awards, which are awarded to students who demonstrate extraordinary leadership and dedication to their student organization.
Kavitha Bagavandoss, a senior 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 is 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, asking for help when I don’t understand, being prepared and helping others,” Bagavandoss said. “I try to be an exemplary student; someone who’s a role model for others in class, aspires for more, pushes their peers’ expectations, takes the time to help others succeed and shares the secrets of success with freshman.”
Elizabeth Sinclair, assistant dean of the College of Business Administration, said she was impressed but not surprised with the number of students from the College of Business Administration who were recognized for their work on campus and in organizations.
“I know firsthand how hard our students 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.
Kent State’s chapter of Beta Gamma Sigma welcomed 83 new inductees into the organization at the College’s Awards Celebration where College of Business Administration presented 68 scholarship and leadership awards to students, totaling more than $123,700. Incoming freshmen received $27,000 in scholarships.
In the graduate program, Jessica Peck received the 2014 Outstanding Full-time MBA Award and Kelly C. Latham received the 2014 Outstanding Part-time MBA Award.
Among those who received awards is a stand-out accounting graduate, Lauren Romick, receiving recognition for her leadership and academics at both awards ceremonies. At the College’s Awards Celebration, Romick received the Delta Sigma Pi Scholarship Key, the Arden L. Allyn Cup, and the Alumni Council Senior Leadership Award.
She received a Distinguished Student Leader Award, which goes to a student who exhibits outstanding campus leadership. The recipients were selected based on leadership, academics, community and social service to Kent State.
Romick, is the President of Beta Alpha Psi and the Chair of Business Professionals Roundtable and has been a Student Success Leader for College of Business Administration FYE courses for three years. She also received two awards at the Student Leadership and Honors Awards Ceremony for her leadership roles across campus.
“I am incredibly honored to be recognized by Kent State University and the College of Business Administration for commitment to academics, campus and leadership,” Romick said. “Through my leadership experiences, I have met wonderful people in the College of Business Administration and throughout campus. My experiences with the College of Business Administration have helped me grow as a person, a business student, and a student leader.”
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.
Accounting Awards
Students within the accounting major were recognized for their accomplishments at the 2014 Annual Awards Banquet presented by Kent State’s chapter of the Accounting Association and Beta Alpha Psi.
At the banquet, 48 students received scholarships to help them further their education in the accounting field, totaling $85,500. Many of the scholarships were awarded in honor of past students and faculty in the Accounting Department.
At the banquet Bryan Haas was awarded the Graduate Student of the Year Award, which is given to a Master of Accounting student who exhibits outstanding work within the program.
The Federation of Schools of Accountancy sponsored the award and the College of Business Administration’s accounting faculty chose the award winner. Haas graduated in May and will begin his professional career in the fall with Ciuni & Panichi, a CPA firm in Cleveland.
Hallie D’Agostino, a senior accounting major, was named the Accounting Student Organization Member of the year. Members of the accounting organization vote on three students they believe deserve recognition and the top choices are presented to a panel of faculty members who choose the recipient.
Entrepreneurship Awards
Kent State University recently launched a chapter of the Northeast Ohio Student Venture Fund. The Northeast Ohio Student Venture Fund is a student-run, independent, not-for-profit organization. The fund provides students with the opportunity to go through the financial investment process by evaluating high-tech and innovative startups to invest in.
“We are excited to establish the Kent chapter of the Northeast Ohio Student Venture Fund. This offers unique educational opportunities to students interested in entrepreneurship and venture financing,” said Sergey Anokhin interim director of the Center for Entrepreneurship and Business Innovation. “This unique experience provides close collaboration between students with different backgrounds across all stages of the university experience.”
The fund supports two types of grants. The first is the Venture Assessment Grant, which focuses on students with a proposed business. Businesses that receive this grant have a unique product or service with a clear market need. The grant’s purpose is to allow students to test the feasibility of their idea and determine whether or not they should pursue it as a venture.
Two students received Venture Assessment Grants. Kyle Holt and Haumed Rahmani both received $500 from the fund.
Holt, a senior entrepreneurship major, created his venture, Underground Axcess in the hopes of evolving the music industry. His venture would allow musicians to learn necessary skills for the music industry and network with musicians and other professionals in the industry all in hopes of furthering their career.
Rahmani, a senior computer science major and entrepreneurship minor, targeted his venture to help students with their education. Nitro Tutoring, LLC., is a one-on-one tutoring program designed to help college students with a variety of course subjects including math, science, English, history, foreign languages, computer programming, music and art.
The second type of grant in the Student Venture Fund, the Venture Growth Grant, is designed for students who have a complete business plan, which has proven to be viable and students are committed to launching their venture. This grant pushes students to pitch to additional investors, and launch their business.
The two students awarded the Venture Growth Grant, Gavin Ursich and Victor Searcy, each received $3,000 to help them begin their businesses.
Ursich, a junior entrepreneurship major, created Belle's Healing Solutions, LLC., an all-natural, vegan-friendly skin care company that provides consumers with a safer, more natural, answer to skin health.
Searcy, a senior psychology major with an entrepreneurship minor, created a venture called VickFries. Searcy’s venture focuses on specialty french-fries with various, unique sauces.
Global Scholarships
The College of Business Administration is dedicated to creating opportunities for students to develop both professionally and personally through study abroad experiences. The college offers education abroad opportunities in Italy, Switzerland, England, Scotland, Ireland, Canada, France and Germany.
To assist students with the cost of education abroad, the college awarded 58 scholarships amounting to more than $115,000.