Members of the graduating class of Elon Business Fellows were presented with medallions in a ceremony in front of faculty, staff, family and friends.
The Martha and Spencer Love School of Business recognized the Business Fellows Class of 2016 in a medallion ceremony held on May 20 in the LaRose Digital Theatre.
After a welcome by program director, Professor Tina Das, Amanda Rolfes ’16 and Stephanie Tizik ’16 gave an overview of the fellows’ four years in the program. Highlights included cohort classes, the study abroad experience in Poland and Ukraine to explore global business issues, and traveling to Wall Street to talk with stock market traders and visit companies, such as Google and Bloomberg.
Rolfes and Tizik also noted how they’ve come to rely on the cohort for support and motivation since their first year at Elon.
“One of the best qualities of the business fellows program is the continuous involvement and interaction with students and faculty that push you to do better and be better,” said Rolfes.
Zoe Heiberg ‘16, Theresa Gilligan ‘16, Bryan Kozin ‘16, Alex Francis ’16 and Carly Davenport ’16 presented summaries of the fellows’ senior capstone projects. The class was split into two groups – portfolio management and business consulting.
The business consulting group worked with Glen Raven, Inc.’s Trivantage to develop a marketing penetration strategy for both Chile and Colombia. Trivantage is the nation’s largest business-to-business supplier for the awning, marine, upholstery, and shade sail industries.
“This interdisciplinary project provided hands-on learning and served as an opportunity for us to prepare for our future endeavors,” Heiberg said.
The portfolio management group managed a $250,000 portion of the university’s endowment over the course of almost three months. The group reported their portfolio outperformed the S&P 500 Index by four percent.
This experience helped further the group’s understanding of the real-world application of financial theory and the major factors that influence investment decisions and market fluctuations, Kozin said.
Associate Dean Bill Burpitt presented medallions to the fellows and Dean Raghu Tadepalli presented his remarks to the class. Tadepalli gave advice for the fellows’ “next phase of education in the world-class university called ‘The University of Life.’” He shared how to deal with uncertainty and ambiguity, noting to find an outlet outside of work, and to be tenacious as well as committed and self-disciplined.
“Much has been given to you until now, but in the University of Life, you have to earn everything yourself,” Tadepalli said.
Corey Glass ‘16 and Colleen Austin ’16 concluded the ceremony by thanking the fellows’ parents and families for their support, as well as Love School of Business faculty and staff.
“We, as students, are so fortunate to be a part of a learning community that is close-knit and personal from the moment we step foot on Elon’s campus, to the day we must unfortunately leave it,” said Glass.
“Elon is definitely a home to all of us,” added Austin.
Business Fellows Class of 2016
Colleen Austin
Wexford, Pa.
Finance major
Financial Analyst, Wells Fargo
Andrew Brazel
Belmar, N.J.
International Economics major
Analyst, BlackRock
Carly Davenport
Toms River, N.J.
Finance and Economics double major
Research Analyst, Goldman Sachs
Scott Dawson
Brookeville, Md.
Management and Marketing double major
Ticketing Coordinator, Washington Kastles
Marisa Dour
Basking Ridge, N.J.
Finance major
Financial Analyst, Wells Fargo
Alexander Francis
Lexington, N.C.
Finance major
CFO COO Analyst, Credit Suisse
Adam Gill
Whitehouse Station, N.J.
Finance and Marketing double major
Business Advisory Program, Ernst & Young
Theresa Gilligan
Port Reading, N.J.
Management major
Talent Representative, Kforce
Corey Glass
Glen Rock, N.J.
Finance major
Global Wealth Investment Analyst, Bank of America
Zoe Heiberg
Long Valley, N.J.
Marketing major
English Student Teacher, Teach Assistant Program in France
Brendan Keefe
Wrentham, Mass.
Accounting major
FSO Assurance, Ernst & Young
Michael Keenan
Rocky Mount, N.C.
Economics and Mathematics double major
Barcelona Graduate School of Economics
Daniel Kirk
Pittsburgh, Pa.
Accounting major
Tax Associate, PwC
Bryan Kozin
Philadelphia, Pa.
Finance major
Investment Banking Analyst, Bank of America
Samantha Lutz
Raleigh, N.C.
Management and International Economics double major
Finance Analyst, Credit Suisse
Michael O’Brien
Lexington, Ky.
Finance and Applied Mathematics double major
Amanda Rolfes
Cincinnati, Ohio
Finance and Marketing double major
Corporate Analyst Development Program, JPMorgan Chase
Justin Schweitzer
Townson, Md.
Economics and Finance double major
Product management analyst, GEICO
Melanie Seidman
Darnestown, Md.
Accounting major
Assurance Associate, RSM
Morgan Smith
Cary, N.C.
International Business and Finance double major
Corporate Analyst Development Program, JPMorgan Chase
Cabriel Sullivan
Chapel Hill, N.C.
Finance and International Business double major
Technical Analyst/Business Analyst, Credit Suisse
Stephanie Tizik
Basking Ridge, N.J.
Finance and Economics double major
Finance Management Associate Program Officer, Bank of America
About the Business Fellows program
The Elon Business Fellows program blends classroom learning and real-world experience to prepare emerging business professionals to take on the leadership challenges in their professions, their organizations and their communities. The program adds an extra dimension to fellows’ studies through dedicated team projects, specialized cohort classes, a Winter Term study abroad course, company site visits in New York, a four-year professional development plan, and senior seminars that involve managing a $250,000 portfolio or consulting for a company.