Wake Forest University Schools of Business Honor Graduates (Video of Hooding Address Included)
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — The Wake Forest University Schools of Business congratulate 350 master’s and 238 bachelor’s candidates who will graduate as part of Wake Forest University Commencement on May 16.
Schools of Business Master’s degree recipients were honored at a hooding ceremony Sunday, May 15 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 received hoods included: 59 in the Full-Time MBA Program; 39 in the Winston-Salem Evening MBA Program; 48 in the Charlotte Evening MBA Program; 34 in the Charlotte Saturday MBA Program; 82 in the Master of Science in Accountancy Program and 84 in the Master of Arts in Management Program. Four graduates received joint degrees as part of programs offered with other Wake Forest schools: two with the School of Law (JD/MBA) and one with the School of Medicine (MD/MBA) and one with the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (PhD/MBA).
The hooding address was delivered by Michael A.J. Farrell, Chairman, CEO and President of Annaly Capital Management Inc. (NLY) and Chairman of the Wake Forest University Schools of Business Board of Visitors. He shared a mountain climbing metaphor to explain what the graduates can expect ahead.
“Within the next few weeks you are going to begin to climb a slope that you have had in your sights since elementary school,” said Farrell, whose son Michael earned his degree in finance from Wake Forest just last year.
Farrell said he once came upon an antique piton, a piece of mountain climbing equipment that climbers hammer into crevices to secure their ropes. He shares it with his corporate team as a symbol of accomplishment, inspiration, and a reminder of the thin margin between success and failure. “There are moments when that slim nail is all that stands between success and disaster.”
Each graduate at the hooding ceremony received a commemorative piton from Farrell.
“You are the next great generation. You are blessed by the continued sacrifices of your parents and the legacy of your grandparents. It is your time. It is your turn. It is your world. Go get it and don’t forget your piton,” he said.
Students receiving class Leadership Awards for outstanding scholastic performance and integrity were: Roy Eli Hykal (Full-time MBA), Brian Keith Patterson (Winston-Salem Evening MBA), Jonathan McEvoy (Charlotte Evening MBA), Matthew Edward Morrow (Charlotte Saturday MBA), Gillian Elizabeth Potts (MS in Accountancy) and Omar Chatila (MA in Management).
Other honorees included: Patrick Joseph Furey, Stephen B. Tips Award; Manabu Hoizumi, Luther Award and Entrepreneurship Award; Andrew Christopher John Verga, Andrea Mitchell Metzler Award; Mark Brandon Stillwell, Patel Prize in Finance; Kathryn McClure Chang, Finance Award; Joy Lynn Fuller, Marketing Award; Brian Christopher Price, Operations Management Award; Eric J. Welker, Health Award; Christopher Michael Langley, Federation of Schools of Accountancy Achievement Award and Outstanding Graduate Award – Transaction Services; Gillian Elizabeth Potts, Outstanding Graduate Award – Tax Consulting; Anneli Jennifer Browning, Outstanding Graduate Award – Assurance; Mark Patrick Bentley, Katherine Porter Knarr and Vidyuth Sukumar, Robert N. White Award; Itam Eyo Antigha, Samuel Wyatt Chocklett, Haley Rebecca David, Lucretia Dawn Hicks, Brandon Maurice Rasberry, Natasha Marie Wright, Omar Chatila, Gabrielle Sala Deathridge, Andrew Michael Hall, Mark Montes, Ashley Marie Robinson and Abby Elizabeth Rudd, Action Learning Project Excellence Award.
Bachelor of Science degrees were awarded to 238 Schools of Business students with majors in accounting, business and enterprise management, finance and mathematical business during the Wake Forest University Commencement Ceremony.
The following undergraduate students were honored by the Schools of Business: Megan Elizabeth Pettit, Delmer Paul Hylton Accountancy Award; Cari Jaclyn Wurzbacher, Lura Baker Paden Award; Benjamin Harris Goldman, Outstanding Achievement in Finance; Kristen Meredith Wood, Academic Excellence in Mathematical Business; Afton Kerry Vechery, Spirit of Wayne Calloway Award; Daniel Anthony Kiley, Levar Antwain Hairston Courage Award.
Dean of Business Steve Reinemund told the graduating class, “You have worked hard. You are well prepared to chase your dreams. I trust that you are leaving here with a sense of your true north, that your moral compass is well-tuned and calibrated so your success will come with integrity.
Wake Forest University Schools of Business Graduate Hooding Address from WFU Schools of Business on Vimeo.
