Poole College Welcomes 798 New Alumni
Nearly 800 Poole College of Management students graduated during commencement ceremonies held by NC State University and Poole College at the PNC Arena Saturday, May 11, 2013.
Poole College Dean Dr. Ira R. Weiss presented diplomas to six graduates who received doctorate degrees in economics; 256 who received master’s degrees in accounting, business administration, and global innovation management, and 536 who received bachelor’s degrees in accounting, business administration and economics.
One of the graduates, Katherine Anne Glanton, presented the students’ commencement address. She is from Waxhaw, N.C., and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in business administration, with a concentration in human resources and a minor in Spanish, and will be working as a human resources associate with Georgia Pacific in Camden, Tex. Read Glanton’s remarks.
Outstanding Student Award
Billy Troxler, an alumnus of the college and president of the Poole College Board of Advisors, had a chance to meet and talk with students prior to presentation of the Board of Advisors Outstanding Student Award during the commencement ceremony.
Troxler is president and chief executive officer of Troxler Electronic Laboratories, Inc., a worldwide leader in precision quality control and measurement equipment for the highway and construction industries based in Research Triangle Park, N.C. He received his bachelor’s in business management and is a lifetime member of the NC State Alumni Association. In addition to his role on the college’s Board of Advisors, Troxler also serves on the NC State University Foundation Board and the NC State Investment Fund Member’s Board.
“On behalf of the Poole College of Management Board of Advisors, I congratulate each of today’s graduates. You have worked hard to accomplish this milestone,” he said.
The Board of Advisors Outstanding Student Award recipient is selected from nominees submitted for the award by Poole College faculty members. This year, he said, 12 nominees had been submitted. Criteria for the award include demonstrated leadership, campus and community service, and participation in personal and professional growth experiences here at NC State.
The 2013 Poole College Board of Advisors Outstanding Student Award nominees are:
- William Dominic Allen
- George Arthur Beinhart
- Elizabeth Ellen Buchholz
- Katherine Anne Glanton
- Taylor Martin Hiott
- Zachary Michael Milburn
- William Braiden Parlier
- Kaitlin Marie Pauli
- Thomas A. Payne
- Gina Marie Sanson
- Kathering Trapp
- Meera Veni Vendataraman
“The final decision for this award was extremely difficult,” Troxler said. “Each of the student nominees is truly outstanding, but only one student can receive the award." The 2013 recipient is Zachary Michael Milburn.
Troxler noted that Milburn’s accomplishments during his collegiate career included starting several small businesses and founding a student organization highlighting his passion for international experiences, the International Business Club. He studied abroad in France and was able to travel to eighteen countries while a student.
Dr. Shannon Davis, associate dean for undergraduate programs, presented the college’s highest ranking scholars in each of the college’s three undergraduate degree programs. The following students achieved the highest grade point average in their respective programs of study and also were university valedictorians.
Highest Ranking Seniors
The honorees and their degree program are:
- William Dominic Allen, economics
- Grayson Christopher Allison, business administration
- Emily Jo Capps, accounting
- Rachael Ross Huntley , accounting
- Michael Reed Johnson, business administration
- Cody Ashton Leach, accounting
- Joshua Glenn Little, business administration
- Catherine Jeng-Chin Ma, business administration
- Meredith Ashley McDonald, accounting
- Marla S. Miller, accounting
- Ashlyn Alexandra Needham, business administration
- Paula Sujkowski, business administration
- Andre Kurepa Waschka, economics
- Sarah Elizabeth Watkins, accounting
The commencement ceremony concluded with all the graduates crossing the stage as they were called by representatives from their academic departments.
Newest Alumni Include a Father and Son who Graduated Together
Among the graduates were Philip Hurst and Jonathan Hurst, father and son who both returned to the college to complete their bachelor’s degree requirements after taking a hiatus during which they established their businesses. (Read their story.)
The commencement ceremony concluded with Poole College’s traditional pinning ceremony.
Weiss pinned an NC State Poole College pin on Glanton’s graduation gown, and then invited all the graduates at the ceremony to pin each other.
“As we conclude today’s pinning ceremony, I would like to make a few final remarks,” Weiss said.
“Graduates, I ask you to wear your Poole College of Management pin often and proudly. As you encounter other Poole alums who do not have a pin, do as we did today – take off your pin and pin them. Then let me know and we will send you another. (Poole College alumni may also send a note to the college’s PoolepackAlumni email address to request a pin.)
“Through this pinning process, we hope to unite all Poole College of Management alums, and create the strongest alumni network within the entire University. As new alumni of NC State and the Poole College of Management, you now have the opportunity to help shape the lives of future students who come to the college with the same hopes and dreams that you brought here.
“As you move ahead in your careers, I hope you will seek out opportunities to return to campus – to remain engaged with the College by attending our public events, and by sharing your professional experiences with students in our classrooms and at student organization meetings.
“Through your companies, you can give future students the kinds of experiences that helped you apply what you were learning in the classroom to real-world problems. Find ways within your companies to provide student projects, practica and internships. Return to campus to mentor our future students, and of course, to recruit our future graduates. We also encourage you to participate in our alumni events, where you will be able to renew friendships and form new ones within the larger body of Poole College of Management alumni.
“And yes, we encourage you to participate financially, as active donors to your alma mater. The financial support of alumni and friends makes possible the programs and opportunities that strengthen the academic experience for future students – and at the same time, continues to increase the value of your degree from NC State’s Poole College of Management.”
Poole College alumni are encouraged to update their contact information to receive the Dean’s Update, invitations to special events, and other announcements from the college’s development and alumni relations staff.
A professional photographer was on site taking photos of the graduates with their diplomas. Graduates who would like copies of the professional photos may contact the photography firm directly.
The Poole College communications office staff has posted casual photos taken during the college’s graduation reception on May 10 and before and during the commencement ceremonies to the Commencement Ceremony collection in the college’s Flickr account.
Photo of student commencement speaker is courtesy of PhotoSpecialties. Graduates may view the site to select photos for purchase.
