The Wake Forest University Schools of Business recently held graduation ceremonies for the Winston-Salem Evening MBA Program’s Class of 2009.
Thirty-seven students received their Master of Business Administration degree on Friday, Sept. 11. The evening included a reception and dinner at Old Town Club followed by an awards ceremony and the distribution of diplomas by Dean of Business Steve Reinemund and Associate Dean for Working Professional MBA Programs Bill Davis.
Davis commented, “I am so proud of our graduates. These high caliber individuals have been engaged in a rigorous education for the past two years and we are looking forward to how they apply this experience outside of the classroom. The Class of 2009 is sure to make a positive impact on our society.”
Recent graduates travelled to Winston-Salem from locations between Hickory and Raleigh to attend the Evening MBA program. The graduates are: Ahaz Abram Armstrong, Joshua Harrison Barwick, Jennifer Nichole Bihlmeyer, Terrance Edward Blackmon, Melissa Lynn Boos, Joseph Michael Carpenter, Thomas Stephen Carson, Graham Lee Chalk, Rajaram Chandrasekaran, R. Scott Corcoran, Andrea Lowel Davis, Allison Holt Gaither, Scott Grout, Melony Chan Hardin, Suzette Harding Jessup, Lindsay Therese Joyner, Jacob Christian Kistner, John Christopher Kwong, Carla Maria Lema Tomé, Ryan Thomas Maccubbin, Arvil Scott Marion, Anthony Neudecker Mercado, David Forrest Perkins, William Ashley Porter, Joel Scott Pruett, Christopher Thomas Rhodes, Margaret Marie Sell, Michael Elliott Smith, Marquita Monique Steele, Christopher Bain Storch, James Albert Stowe II, Allen Edward Suttle, Robert Wayne Sutton Jr., Jose Irving Torres, Billy Gray Webster Jr., Lynwood Earl Williams III, and Jeffrey Scott Wilson.
The Class of 2009 recognized Associate Professor of Marketing Derrick Boone and the John B. McKinnon Professor of Management Ram Baliga by awarding them with the Outstanding Faculty Recognition Award for their first- and second-years in the program respectively. The award is given annually by each MBA class for outstanding contributions to the education and personal development of students.
“We have some really outstanding professors in our program, so it was a huge honor, and a humbling experience, to be recognized by the class,” said Boone. “I really enjoyed my time with Winston-Salem Evening Class of 2009—they worked extremely hard but we managed to have some fun moments along the way. I had them for two courses, so I’ll really miss seeing them in the hallways and during the evening breaks. I expect great things from them and hope they’ll keep in touch.”
“It is a great honor to receive the award from the Winston-Salem Evening graduating class,” said Baliga. “The award is particularly gratifying as the students had to cope with a very challenging course in a compressed time period and they handled it with a very positive attitude. Such willingness to strive should take them far in their careers and I wish them the very best.”
The Wake Forest evening MBA program is designed for working professionals, managers, small business owners and entrepreneurs with strong job performance who want to advance into mid- and upper-level management. At least three years of full-time, postgraduate work experience is required as the program builds upon that professional career experience to sharpen students’ general management skills.