MBA Students celebrate achievement at Graduation Dinner

Thirty-seven delighted MBA students gathered for the annual MBA graduation dinner at Alamance Country Club on May 17 to celebrate the achievement of completing their MBA degrees. Joining them to celebrate were their employers, spouses, and family members.

Graduating student Katie Galbraith (pictured below) gave the toast for the evening, saluting her colleagues and fellow students for their achievement and the lifelong bonds that they established during their time in the program.

Mr. Paul Bennett, President of the Performance Group, was the keynote speaker for the evening. He congratulated the students on their achievement and exhorted them to prepare for a future replete with change and to know themselves and their values well as they approach the many crossroads they will encounter throughout their careers.

Dr. Scott Buechler, Director of the MBA program, recognized the eight students inducted into the Beta Gamma Sigma honor society earlier this month:

• Thomas Davis
• Rita Gordish
• Mary Harris
• Jason Krebs
• Scott Ray
• Bernadette Spong
• Will Staszko
• Beth Tullar

Dr. Bill Burpitt, Chair of the MBA program, awarded the prestigious Richard Behrman Award. Each year, one student is selected by the faculty as the recipient of the Behrman award, named in honor of the first director of the Elon MBA program and awarded to a graduating student who has performed well academically and contributed significantly to the experience of his/her classmates while in the Elon MBA program. This year’s award recipient was Ed Adams.

There were also several special recognitions this year:

• Judy Dulberg was recognized by the graduating MBA students for her dedicated service to the students – tireless, thoughtful, always there, always available to answer questions or provide any help needed.
• Dan Parks and Barry Phillips were recognized for 10 years of leading the SymmeTree simulation, which has been used so effectively to launch students into the Elon MBA program.
• On behalf of the faculty, Bill Burpitt recognized Dean John Burbridge for the dedication and contributions he has made to the program during his 11 years as Dean of the Martha and Spencer Love School of Business.

Left to right: Ed Adams, Judy Dulberg, Katie Galbraith

This was truly a gala event and a great lead-in to the MBA graduation the following day.