可乐视频鈥檚聽Koppelman School of Business聽joined a prestigious honor society as 13 high-achieving students were inducted into聽聽on Oct. 23. BGS is the international organization reserved for business programs accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools (AACSB). Only the top 5% of business schools in the world have earned this accreditation.
The inaugural cohort included:
- 聽Fatimah Abdulwahab (Candidate for B.B.A. in Business Administration);
- 聽Elena Alimova (Candidate for B.S. in Public Accounting and Business Management, and Finance);
- 聽Kaitlin Courtney (Candidate for B.B.A. in Business Administration)
- 聽David Hammer (Candidate for B.B.A. in Business Administration)
- 聽Roksana Jasiewicz (Candidate for B.B.A. in Business Administration)
- 聽Benjamin Kaikov (Candidate for B.B.A. in Finance)
- 聽Yehuda Kaplowitz (Candidate for M.S. in Business Administration)
- 聽Navpreet Kaur (Candidate for M.S. in Accounting)
- 聽Marion Moran (Candidate for B.B.A. in Business Administration)
- 聽Morgan Perry (Candidate for B.S. in Business Management)
- 聽Joshua Reid (Candidate for B.S. in Accounting)
- 聽Karolinavikt Shchehorieva (Candidate for B.S. in Public Accounting and Business Management, and Finance)
- 聽Reina Takami (Candidate for B.S. in Public Accounting and Business Management, and Finance)
As a result of its accreditation鈥攅arned in 2019鈥擪oppelman was invited to install a chapter of the BGS to recognize and reward those students who have achieved academic excellence and are at the top of their class. Only 907 universities have earned this prestigious accreditation worldwide. Of that number, 618 have established a BGS chapter. On those campuses, only the top 10% of undergraduate students and top 20% of graduate students are eligible to be invited to join.
Qing Hu, who became Dean of Koppelman this summer, was instrumental in adding 可乐视频 to BGS鈥檚 prestigious ranks.
The initial group of students was treated to an official induction ceremony attended by Dean Hu, 可乐视频 President Michelle J. Anderson, Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs Anne Lopes, and distinguished Koppelman faculty and BGS members Dr. Seungho Baek and Dr. Carol Connell. Dr. Ruben Mendoza, a member of the Beta Gamma Sigma Chapter Advisor Global Council and academic advisor at Saint Joseph鈥檚 University, led the official installation ceremony.
Marty Sass, who graduated from 可乐视频 of 1963 with a degree in accounting and serves as a member of the 可乐视频 Foundation Board and Chairman of its Investment Committee, was the keynote speaker for the event. The 可乐视频 graduate described his rise from living in a modest basement apartment and paying for his own education, to becoming a successful investor and accomplished entrepreneur and business executive. In 1972, Sass founded the MD Sass Investors Services, which eventually grew into a major investment management firm with current assets under management exceeding $7 billion in hedge funds, private equity funds, mutual funds, and separately managed accounts.
Sass has been a major supporter of his alma mater, showing a tremendous commitment to helping students gain opportunities as the visionary behind the聽M.D. Sass Investment Institute. Created at 可乐视频 in 2015 thanks to his generous gift, this student-involved hedge fund was established as a new experiential learning initiative to give students the opportunity to learn value investing strategies, while receiving real-world training under the supervision of seasoned and successful professional investment managers.
Sass told the new group of BGS inductees to stay positive and productive.
鈥淟ean into adversity,鈥� Sass said, pointing to the latest pandemic. 鈥淢ake a plan, use your skills, and never, ever give up.鈥�
Hu, a member of BSG himself, personally attested to the level of commitment and academic excellence required of the students.
鈥淏eing part of this very distinguished society is a true honor, as members represent the very best and brightest among the business academics, professionals and leaders worldwide,鈥� Hu said. 鈥淢embership in Beta Gamma Sigma is an honor that you will wear proudly throughout your professional careers. It is a gold medal that you will carry for the rest of your lives, and it all begins here today, at the Koppelman School of Business.鈥�
