Finance Department Honors Outstanding Achievements

On April 7, 2010, the annual Financial Management Association National Honor Society Spring Luncheon  was held at the Martin University Center. This event provides an opportunity to recognize outstanding academic performance by finance majors, award scholarships, and honor members of the community for their accomplishments and contributions.

FMA Honor Society

Thirteen undergraduate students were inducted into the Financial Management Association Honor Society:

Stephen Washington presents the FMA Certificate of Honor to Melanie Doychak

Scholarships

Mr. Mark White, Senior Vice President Shared Services of ValMark Securities, Inc., a local financial planning firm, presented the $3,000 Valmark Securities, Inc. Financial Planning Scholarship to Kristin Hohenadel. The Department of Finance has had a long partnership with ValMark and the firm has supported the Personal Financial Planning Program in many ways, including the funding of the scholarship.

Mark White of ValMark Securities, Inc. presents the $3,000 scholarship to Kristin Hohenadel.

Another major supporter of the Department of Finance is the Finance Advisory Board, consisting of financial and legal executives from the community. Each year, the Board awards seven $1,500 scholarships to finance majors. Advisory Board members Joanne Rohrer, Frederick Cook, and Craig Welch participated in the recognition of the scholarship awards made to the following students:

Left to right, Board members Craig Welch, Fred Cook, recipients C. O’Neill, K, Hohenadel, J. Sandlund, J. Hedden, A. Hill, Board member Joanne Rohrer

Student Awards

Wall Street Journal Award: Michael Modon

This award, which is sponsored by the Wall Street Journal, recognizes the outstanding finance student.

The Banda Prize: George Skupski

Funded by the estate of Dr. A. F. Banda, Professor of Finance Emeritus, the prize is awarded to the graduate student with the highest overall GPA.

Financial Executives Institute (FEI): Vakeeshan Periyathamby

This award is presented to a student selected by the faculty for outstanding achievements.

FEI Award winner Vakeeshan Periyathamby and Wall Street Journal Award winner Michael Modon

Outstanding Student Awards

These awards recognize students who have excelled in functional areas of finance.

• Outstanding Performance in Investments: Thomas Lavalley
• Outstanding Performance in Financial Markets & Institutions: Jonathan Hedden
• Outstanding Performance in Corporate Financial Management: Kenneth Adamo
• Outstanding Performance in Financial Planning: Katie Nentwick

Recognition of Community Members

Each year, two members of the community are recognized for their contribution to their professions and their service to the community and The University of Akron. Honored this year were:

Outstanding Financial Executive: Frederick Cook, Vice President, Key Private Bank

Thirty-nine years of financial services experience; active member of the Finance Advisory Board and numerous other charities and organizations.

David Redle, Department Chair, presents the certificate of recognition to Outstanding Executive Frederick Cook

Professional Honor Society: Darren DeHaven, Attorney, McNamara, Demczyk & DeHaven

Long-time adjunct faculty member teaching business law; recently named a “Rising Star” by the Ohio Superlawyers Magazine.