Poole Honors 929 Graduates at Commencement Ceremony

Annette L. Ranft, dean and Stephen P. Zelnak Jr. chair at the NC State Poole College of Management, welcomed family members and friends to the 2018 Spring Commencement Ceremony, where Poole College graduates were individually recognized as they walked across the stage at the PNC Arena following the larger university ceremony held Saturday morning. Earlier in the week, the college honored candidates in the Jenkins Graduate Programs at the college’s inaugural hooding ceremony at Meymandi Concert Hall.

“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,” said Ranft.

Poole College’s 2018 Spring Commencement class included three recipients of doctoral degrees in economics; 251 recipients of master’s degrees in accounting, business administration, or economics; and 675 recipients of 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 Megan Coates, from Kenly, N.C.

Megan graduated Summa Cum Laude and as an NC State University valedictorian with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in operations/supply chain management, and a minor in political science.

Megan distinguished herself as an exceptional student during her time at NC State and was inducted into the Phi Kappa Phi and Beta Gamma Sigma honor societies. She also served in leadership roles across campus, including homecoming director for the NC State Alumni Association Student Ambassador Program, founding member and treasurer for the Women in Business Club at NC State, and peer leader with Poole College. Megan was also an active member of Chi Alpha Christian Fellowship.

Megan is a 2018 recipient of the NC State Alumni Association Mathews Medal, the highest non-academic distinction awarded to students. 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. Seventeen students were nominated for the award this year, and Patrick Schilling, an international student from Tuttlingen, Germany was selected as the 2018 recipient.

“Patrick has truly embraced our culture of “Think and Do,’ Ranft said in introducing him. “After growing up in Tuttlingen, Germany, Patrick came to NC State in 2016 to finish the last two years of his undergraduate career as part of Poole College of Management’s International Business Dual Degree program. In this program, students complete two years of study and an internship at their home university and two years plus an internship abroad, at a second university, in a second language. Patrick graduates today with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in entrepreneurship and honors in business analytics. Patrick also receives a Bachelor of Science degree in International Management from ESB Business School in Germany.

Patrick has made a meaningful impact on the NC State community in just two years. He founded and served as president of Digital ShapRs, a student organization dedicated to educating students on the complex nature of artificial intelligence and other digital innovations. He was also involved in the Society for Politics, Economics and Law and NC State’s Student Government.

Patrick completed internships at SAP America, as well as bookingkit and Miller & Meier Consulting in Germany. Following graduation, Patrick will join Google at their European Headquarters in Dublin and plans to further explore potential entrepreneurial ventures that allow him to follow his passion for public speaking and public policy. A testament to his leadership and vision, Patrick was selected as the NC State University spring 2018 commencement speaker.”

You can read more about Patrick’s story here. 

Following is the full list of nominees for the Outstanding Student Award.

• Madison Anne Bell
• Jessica Lilly Carter
• Sean Adam Cherlinczuk-French
• Megan Lynette Coates
• Kevin Anthony Craig
• Christopher William Eagan
• Elijah Daniel Jones
• Kaley Madison Moffitt
• Kevin Ohuoba
• Daniel Anthony Plautz
• Luis Gabriel Pizarro Roman
• Patrick Schilling
• Joseph Andrew Smedberg
• Amber Jordan Smith
• Gabriela Elizabeth Snow
• Olivia Margarete Taylor
• Madison Alexandra Thomas