2012 Pillars of Success Banquet Awards Ceremony

[Click here to view the entire album]

Several members of the College of Business family were recognized for excellence in accomplishments, character and service on Thursday, May 10, 2012 during the 2012 Inaugural Pillars of Success Awards banquet.

The event was a complete success by all accounts, and can be directly credited to many not the least of all the sponsors, including platinum sponsor Aerotek. Gold sponsors included Northrop Grumman and the Thomas & Joyce Moorehead Foundation. Allmond & Company, LLC, along with the Cosmos Air Purification & Environmental Systems, Inc., the Reznick Group and TEK Systems were all silver sponsors. Without their financial support the Pillars of Success Banquet Awards Ceremony would not have been possible. In addition to their financial support most of the sponsors also serve on the Board of Advisors, lending further support to the College of Business’ mission to admit, educate and retain underrepresented students through graduation, launching them into successful business careers.

President Mickey Burnim, Provost Karen Shaheed and Dean Anthony Nelson welcomed the guests before Mrs. Fran Thorn (MIS) and Mrs. Gwenda Clark (Dean’s Office) presented a musical selection and the campus President of NABA Mr. Don Lewis invoked the crowd in prayer.

Chairman Emeritus of 100 Black Men of America, Inc. and Founder of the National Black College Alumni Hall of Fame Foundation, Inc., Mr. Thomas W. Dortch, Jr. motivated the crowd to continue being pillars of success and lifting up historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs). Mr. Dortch also spoke to the gathered guests from his perspective as a father of 4 HBCU graduates and as the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of TWD, Inc. He encouraged the students to seriously consider entrepreneurship as their avenue to individual and personal success.   Mr. Darren Brown of the Federal Highway Administration introduced Mr. Dortch as the keynote speaker.

Alumna Ms. Winell Belfonte, Principal of the Reznick Group, was honored for her outstanding achievements and representation of the College and University. Drs. Falih Alsaaty (MPA) and LaTanya Brown-Robertson (AFE) were also recognized for their representation of the University, as well as their individual scholarly work and so received Pillars of Success in Research awards.  Dr. Regina Tawah (AFE) and Professor Tony Yorkman (MIS) were awarded the Pillar of Success in Service for their boundless efforts to serve colleagues and students alike.

Eleven students were chosen from among many applicants. Eligibility criteria included a minimum 3.2 grade point average and between 60 and 102 total credit hours (109 maximum for accounting students). Winners completed applications, wrote essays and provided resumes for $1000 Discipline scholarships or $1500 Pillars of Success scholarships.

Students Mr. Martin Deato (accounting), Ms. Opeyemi Eboda (accounting), Mr. Thomas Blake, Jr. (banking and finance), Ms. Anisha Pollitt (management), Mr. Nosratollah Fanaeian (general business), and Mr. Christopher Domingue (business information systems) won $1000 Discipline scholarships each. Students Ms. Tylar Brock (business management), Mr. Siye Ghebreyohannes (accounting), Mr. Sean Harvey (business management), Ms. Olushola Sogbesan (accounting) won Pillar of Success awards for character, determination, professionalism, and excellence, respectfully.

Dr. Daren Conrad was also given a fond farewell. He is returning to his native country Trinidad and Tobago to serve at the University of the West Indies and will be sorely missed here in Maryland. Many students have credited him with their ability to understand, apply and enjoy economics.

The College of Business is looking forward to hosting the Pillars of Success Awards Banquet annually.