Wake Forest School of Business graduates principled, performance-ready professionals

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C., MAY 20, 2014 – Wake Forest University School of Business congratulates the 442 master’s and 261 bachelor’s degree recipients who were recognized during the Wake Forest University Commencement on May 19, 2014.

School of Business master’s degree recipients were honored at a hooding ceremony Sunday, May 18 in Wait Chapel. Holders of a master’s degree wear a symbolic hood draped around the neck and over the shoulders, displayed down the back with the lining exposed. The hood identifies the level of degree, the field of learning and the awarding institution.

This year’s graduate business students who were invested with the hood include: 128 in the Master of Arts in Management program, 120 in the Master of Science in Accountancy program, 63 in the Full-Time MBA program, 40 in the Winston-Salem Evening MBA program, 45 in the Charlotte Evening MBA program and 36 in the Charlotte Saturday MBA program. Ten graduates received joint degrees as part of programs offered with other Wake Forest schools: six with the School of Law (JD/MBA), three with the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, (PhD/MBA) and one with the School of Medicine (MD/MBA).

Andrew Robertson, president and CEO of BBDO Worldwide delivered the hooding address. Robertson offered his “top ten” tips, which actually stopped at number seven, because, as he said, “Why write ten tips when six will do?”

“In the war between strategy and culture, culture eats strategy for breakfast,” Robertson said as his first and most important piece of advice for the graduates. “But don’t try to find a culture that’s perfect for you, find one you can work in. Find that culture and then be successful by swimming in it, not challenging it.”

Robertson also advised the graduates that grit wins, and that learning to love problems will make you a valuable employee. But if there was one piece of advice he would emphasize above all other, it is this:

“If you want a job you love, love the job you’ve got,” Robertson told the crowd in Wait Chapel.  He said going the extra mile and performing with precision, enthusiasm and energy would not only contribute to success, but also make work fun.

Students receiving class Leadership Awards for outstanding scholastic performance and integrity were:  James Edward Paine (Full-time MBA), Jeffrey Thompson Nimmer (Winston-Salem Evening MBA), Katie Lineberger Saine (Charlotte Evening MBA), Neva Maria Espinoza (Charlotte Saturday MBA), Tonya Jeanette Lee (MS in Accountancy) and Roderick Dunmore Daniels (MA in Management).

Other honorees included: Gonzalo Andres Estupinan, Stephen B. Tips Award for Outstanding Character; Krishna Chaitanya Muluguru, Luther Award; Meghan Arielle Winston, Andrea Mitchell Metzler Award; Cody Aaron Hoyt, Patel Prize in Finance; Blake Jonathan Thomas, Finance Award; Andrew Marcus Bowline, Entrepreneurship Award; James Edward Paine, Marketing Award; Christopher Allen Likens, Operations Management Award; Dana Catherine Upton, Healthcare Award; James Edward Paine, Business Analytics Award; Amit Bharatsingh Bagdee, Khoa Viet Do, Jeremy Redmond Fuller and Cody Aaron Hoyt, Robert N. White Award; Anouk Barreto, Federation of Schools of Accountancy Achievement Award; Laura Elizabeth Colavita, Outstanding Graduate Award – Transaction Services; Madison Harper Williams, Outstanding Graduate Award – Tax Consulting; Christopher John Hart, Outstanding Graduate Award – Assurance; Sarah Elizabeth Thompson, Scarritt Family Pro Humanitate Award; and Marcus Martrelle Barnes, George Raeburn Gordon, Kelly Barrett Grant, Brandon Michael Monteith, Gabrielle Inez Mortis, Lynn Chelsea Nestor, Julianna Francesca Nunnenkamp, Erica Lynne Phillips and Anna Elizabeth Vaughan, Action Learning Project Excellence Award.

“You’ve worked hard, you’re well-prepared to chase the dreams that you’ve thought about for many years.” Dean of Business Steve Reinemund told the graduating class at the hooding ceremony. “But most of all, I trust that you’re leaving here with a clear sense of true north, that your moral compass is well-tuned and calibrated so that your success will come with integrity.”

Reinemund will step down as dean at the end of the academic year to become Executive-In-Residence for the School of Business.

Bachelor of Science degrees were awarded to 261 School of Business students with majors in Accountancy, Business and Enterprise Management, Finance and Mathematical Business during the Wake Forest University Commencement ceremony on May 19, which featured former New York Times Executive Editor Jill Abramson and drew more than 30 media outlets to campus.

Abramson, who was fired from the New York Times less than a week before Commencement, spoke about grit and resilience, challenging students to overcome obstacles they may encounter along the way. “What’s next for me? I don’t know. So I’m in exactly the same boat as many of you. And like you, I’m a little scared but also excited.”

About Wake Forest University School of Business (business.wfu.edu)
The Wake Forest University School of Business offers undergraduate programs in finance, accounting, mathematical business, and business and enterprise management, and graduate programs including a Master of Business Administration, Master of Science in Accountancy and Master of Arts in Management. Our programs are consistently ranked among the world’s best in surveys by U.S. News & World Report, Bloomberg Businessweek, the Economist, Forbes, and the Financial Times.  Wake Forest MBAs who sat for a Six Sigma green belt certification exam in 2011 and 2012 had a 100% pass rate.  Wake Forest accountancy graduates earned the highest passing rate in the nation on the CPA exam last year and have maintained the top CPA exam pass rate among universities with accounting programs for 11 of the past 15 years.