Poole College Honors 822 Graduates at Commencement Ceremony

Annette L. Ranft, dean and Stephen P. Zelnak Jr. chair at the North Carolina State University Poole College of Management, welcomed family members and friends to the 2017 Spring Commencement Ceremony, where Poole College graduates were individually recognized as they walked across the stage at the PNC Arena.

Poole College’s 822 graduates were officially recognized at the NC State University ceremony held Saturday morning. The college’s ceremony brought the graduates, family members and friends, and faculty and staff together “as a college community to recognize each of you individually,” Ranft said. “There’s always something special about welcoming you to the stage and extending a congratulatory handshake as you officially become an NC State, and Poole College of Management, alum,” she said.

Poole College’s 2017 Spring Commencement class included five who received doctoral degrees in economics; 237 who received master’s degrees in accounting, business administration, global innovation management or global luxury management; and 590 who received bachelor’s degrees in accounting, business administration or economics.

Student Address, Board of Advisors Award Recipient

Each year, Poole College selects one undergraduate student to present a student address, reflecting on his or her college experience. This year’s address was presented by Adrienne Leigh Hooper, from Greensboro, N.C. Read her remarks.

The college also recognizes one undergraduate student with the Poole College of Management Board of Advisors Outstanding Student Award. Students are nominated for the Board of Advisors award by members of the faculty, and the award recipient is selected by a committee of representatives of the college’s Board of Advisors. Criteria for this award include demonstrated leadership and engagement, and participation in personal and professional growth experiences here at NC State. Twenty students were nominated for the award this year, and Daniel Quinn Harper, from Lumberton, N.C., was selected as the 2017 recipient.

“Daniel has truly embraced our culture of “Think and Do,’ Ranft said in introducing him. “During his time at NC State, he has been heavily involved in a number of leadership roles on campus, including NC State Student Government where he chaired the Tuition and Fees Committee. He also served as a Poole College of Management Senator and NC State Student Body Treasurer. In addition, Daniel has been the Logistics Department Head for the Krispy Kreme Challenge and co-chair of the selection committee for the William C. Friday Award.

Harper graduated Summa Cum Laude with bachelor’s degrees in economics and mathematics.  He is a member of Phi Beta Kappa, a Park Scholar, a University Scholar, a University Honors student and recipient of the 2016 Environmental Mathematics SIGMAA Award. He supplemented his academic experience with a summer abroad studying at Oxford University and an NSA funded Summer Research Experience in Mathematics at Grand Valley State University. He will be pursuing a doctoral degree in economics at the University of Virginia.

Following is the full list of nominees for this award.

• Lauren N. Brommer
• Addison S. Collins
• Christopher B. Cooper
• Desislava Ivanova Dancheva
• Hunter Carson Davis
• Taylor Nicole Dill
• Allison Foster Folger
• Joshua Steven Gandy
• Wesley Gordon Haddon
• Daniel Quinn Harper
• Maria Jahja
• Arnasha Ronae Jones
• Vinod Kumar Mahato
• Matthew Michael Miller
• John Charles Rishel
• Logan Andrew Shively
• George G. Webb
• Steffen Wichmann
• Elizabethh Leggett Williams
• Morgan Elaine Wilson