Class of 2008 Profile
The CBA class of 2008 consists of 444 graduates receiving their Bachelor of Science degree. The grouping of graduates by majors/concentrations is:
35% Finance
29% Marketing
25% Accounting
6% Management
3% Information and Communication Systems
2% Other
Mean Salary: $56,800
Class of 2008 Honors Thesis Program Students
Four seniors have completed the prestigious and challenging Honors Thesis Program. With the assistance & encouragement of Honors Thesis Program Co-Directors Dr. Marcia Flicker and Dr. Patricia Ramsey and their thesis advisors, these students authored original research in a variety of fields.
Cristina Garcia: Indulging in Consumers’ Luxury Consumption: The Effect of Individualist & Collectivist Cultural Orientation on Consumers’ Luxury Product Consumption. Thesis Advisor: Dr. Michael Chattalas
Jillian Hastings: Mass Customization and The Fashion Industry: Studying The Effects on Women’s Consumer Behavior and Swimsuit Buying Patterns.
Thesis Advisor: Dr. Brian Maruffi
Brynn Moynihan: An Integrated Model of Consumer Acceptance of SMS Advertising. Thesis Advisor: Dr. Sertan Kabadayi
Josephine Simolacej: The Impact of Debt Policies on Outside Director Compensation and Incentives. Thesis Advisor: Dr. Emma Peng
Senior Awards Night
Seniors were recognized for their exceptional academic and extracurricular achievements during the annual Senior Awards Night held on Thursday, May 15 in Keating Hall. The following awards were announced during the ceremony.
Valedictorian Award
Honors the highest grade point average among the graduating class
John Hausler
Salutatorian Award
Honors the second highest grade point average among the graduating class
Elena DiMichael
CBA Alumnus of the Year Award
Roger Anerella, CBA 1989; Managing Director & Chief Operating Officer for Global Markets, Merrill Lynch
CBA Alumni Association Award
Awarded to students who exemplify the best in the College of Business and represents an outstanding new entrant into the alumni body
Natalie Cordera, Ronald Guartatanga, Sean Kennedy, Robert Kraemer, Christina Luzzi, Rory Shaw, Matthew Vacca
Honors Thesis Program Outstanding Thesis Award
Josephine Simonlacaj
Academic Medals
Accounting Medal - John Hausler
Applied Accounting & Finance Medal - Shera Abella
Business Economics Medal - Emily Wilant
Finance Major Medal - Elena DiMichael
Finance Concentration Medal - Michael Gil
Human Resource Management Medal - Lena Paxos
Information & Communications Systems Medal - Brian Fahy
Information & Communications Systems Medal - Devin Duzdevich
Management Systems Medal - Robert Jorgensen
Marketing Major Medal - Ysabel Leong
Marketing Concentration Medal - Joshua Samples
Senior Gold Medal
Seniors who had a perfect 4.0 for their senior year
Meghan Brady, Samantha Chance, Linda Dionisio, Angela Djolevic, Cristina Garcia, John Hausler, Michael Slagus, John Yuan
Benedict T. Harter Award
Senior athlete with the highest grade point average
Eric Reese
CBA Leadership Award
Seniors whose outstanding efforts promoted and advanced the educational and social programs of CBA
Theresa Dean, Carl Majette, Bryan Reilly
Hugh J. O’Reilly Plaque
Awarded by the Catholic Accountants’ Guild of Brooklyn to a senior for outstanding work in Accounting
Robert Kraemer
New York State Society of CPA’s
Awarded for outstanding scholarship in Accounting
Dominique Severino and Michael Slagus
Beta Gamma Sigma Scholarship Award
Presented to a Beta Gamma Sigma member with exceptional scholastic abilities, outstanding character, the promise of future business leadership and will enroll in post-graduate business studies in the fall
Elena DiMichael
Beta Gamma Sigma Bronze Medal
Presented to a Beta Gamma Sigma member with exceptional scholastic abilities, outstanding character, and the promise of future business leadership
Elizabeth Palmeri
Angela Lopez Higher Education Opportunity Program Award
Recognizes the highest cumulative academic achievement attained in the College of Business by a student in the HEOP Program
Christine Huot
CBA International Humanitarian Award
Celebrates an extraordinary student who by strength of character and gentleness of spirit was always working towards helping others
Emily Wilant
Entrepreneurship Award
Awarded to the student who exhibits creativity, drive and flexibility in operating their own business
Jillian Hastings
Senior Leadership Award
Presented to seniors who made outstanding contributions to the Fordham University community
Theresa Dean and Emily Wilant
Community Service Awards
Recognizes students who have shown leadership qualities and have made contributions to the College of Business and the surrounding community
Jordan Allen, Sonya Genesius, Megan McCabe, Dominique Severino, Michael Slagus, Emily Wilant, Philip Wang
Student Government Leadership Award
Presented to seniors who held a position in USG and has shown outstanding leadership during their college years
Theresa Dean and Bryan Reilly
CBA ‘Go Green’ Award
Celebrates the outstanding efforts by a student to helping the College of Business ‘go green’
Michael Campana
Nicholas Brandemarti Award
Awarded to a senior athlete concentrating in Finance who successfully balanced academics and their athletic commitment to Fordham University
Lauren Dickerson
Kareem El-Rafei G.L.O.B.E. Program Award
Awarded to a senior in the G.L.O.B.E. Program who has achieved the highest grade point average and for service to the G.L.O.B.E. Club
Kelly Zhang
Global Leadership Award
Presented to a student with exceptional skills in the international arena
Kawaii Yonemari
CBA International Service Learning Award
Awarded to a student who has served as a ‘person for others’ on an international scale
William Byrne
Angela R. Mozilo Future Distinguished Alumnus Prize
Presented to a student who has demonstrated excellence in all areas of the undergraduate experience
Carl Majette
CBA Dean’s Award
Recognizes singular commitment to the Fordham University community
Theresa Dean and Bryan Reilly
CBA International Awareness Award
Presented to a faculty member or administrator who advanced the international initiatives of the College of Business
Bernard Barry, S.J.
CBA Appreciation Award
Presented to the administrator or Fordham friend who fosters the initiatives of CBA and goes the extra mile for our students, faculty or administration
Kevin Munnelly
Faculty Service Magis Award
Awarded to the professor who exemplified the Jesuit principle of Magis (more)
Professor Travis Russ
Faculty Service Cura Personalis Award
Awarded to the professor who exemplified the Jesuit principle of Cura Personalis (care for the whole person)
Professor Jackie Volkmann
CBA Dean’s Award for Teaching Excellence
Awarded for teaching excellence based on nomination by the Class of 2008
Professor Kevin Jackson (Full-time Faculty)
Professor Dennis Cappello (Part-time Faculty)
CBA Students Make Finals in Goldman Sachs Competition
Four CBA students competed in the Goldman Sachs Private Equity Case Competition in Philadelphia: Carl Majette, Matthew Flores, John Gibbons, and Nick Holderness. They met for weeks discussing potential leveraged buyout targets and finally selected Jack Henry & Associates Inc., a software company supplying mid-tier banks, as their buyout target. The strategy was successful, as they made it to the final round of seven teams with all Ivy League competition. Congratulations!
Survey of Graduates
Graduating seniors will utilize their Fordham University degree in a variety of ways. Some will be serving our country in the United States Army. Others will be continue their studies in graduate school. Many students are entering the business world immediately after graduation.
CBA graduates will be represented in a diverse array of fields and a number of well-known companies including: Benzel-Busch Mercedez Benz, CitiGroup, Deloitte, Ernst & Young, Goldman Sachs, Hard Rock Café International, JPMorgan Chase, KPMG, Lehman Brothers, Marvel Entertainment, Merrill Lynch and PriceWaterhouseCoopers.
Dual Degree Program Students
The Class of 2008 will be well represented in the CBA/GBA Dual Degree Program (BS/MBA, BS/MS). While a number of May 2008 graduates are awaiting an admissions decision from GBA Admissions, the following students have previously been accepted into the Dual Degree Program:
BS/MS – Amanda Kovaleski, Andrew Leonardi
BS/MBA – Elena DiMichael, John Hausler, Megan McCabe, Richard Ohanian, Elizabeth Palmeri, Anthony Seufer, Michael Slagus, Anthony Troia
Beta Gamma Sigma Induction
On Thursday, May 8th, the Zeta Chapter of Beta Gamma Sigma inducted its newest members during a ceremony held at the Princeton Club in midtown Manhattan. Membership is open to juniors and seniors in the top 10% of their class.
Class of 2008 Members:
Kelly Amable, Elena Anankova, Angela Barril, Dana Beierle, Meghan Brady,
Michael Bucella, Xavier Chan, Samantha Chance, Elena DiMichael, Caleb Gandara, Justin Giamanco, Michael Gil, Jessica Green, Justin Harter, Robert Jorgensen, James F. Kelley III, Matthew Lai, Ysabel Leong, Megan McCabe, Meghan McParland, Lenore Mezquita, Richard Milcetic, Megan Mina, Richard Ohanian, Elizabeth Palmeri, Thomas Pereguda, Matthew Pollakusky, James Quattrone, Bryan Reilly, Joseph Renna, Joshua Samples, Jonathan Sauer, Josephine Simolacaj, Svetlana Smith, Anthony Troia, Chi Wai Tsui, Vatana Tung, Jeffrey Wen, Mitchell Westenberg, Adam Wiater, Dyan Wijaya, Kelly Zhang.
Class of 2009 New Members:
Jonathan Allocca, Cameron Arnold, Amanda Avellino, Kathleen Balestrino, Maria Betances, Patrick Blaney, Adrienne Boykin, Kristina Carroll, Anthony Constantine, Amy Cretella, Christopher DeStefano, Jessica Farrenkopf, Charles Gedge, Jeannette Gonzalez, Yu Huang, Catherine Huvane, Nicole Hynds, Allison Kim, Andrew Kramarczuk, Gregory Lemone, Loren Macchiaroli, Daniel Mcelroy, Anna Olech, Christopher Paolino, Eric Porter, Adrienne Rukavina, Navjeet Sandhu, Kate Schweighardt, Gina Sirna, Peter Spano, Jody Tropeano, Michael Turturro, Carolyn Ugolino, Denise Vlasica, Thomas Vullo, Sean Wise
CBA Students and Professor Excel in Stock-Picking Contest
Three CBA students finished in the top 1 percent of the Barron’s Challenge, a national collegiate stock-picking contest that featured nearly 2,000 competitors.
In addition, James Russell Kelly, M.B.A., a lecturer of finance on Fordham's business faculty, finished fourth among professors.
The object of the five-month contest was for participants to generate the most revenue on hypothetical $100,000 stock portfolios. CBA freshman William Mansour came in fifth, having generated a net return of 31.22 on his portfolio. Ronald Guartatanga, a CBA senior who is joining the analyst-training program at Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. after graduation, finished sixth with 31.03 percent and Hayk Oksun, a junior, earned a 13th-place finish as he managed to produce a 20.47 percent return in his portfolio.
"The results of the Barron's Stock Challenge are yet another example of the extraordinary talents our students and faculty possess," said Dean Donna Rapaccioli, "We are especially proud to see that Will (Mansour), who is a freshman, got involved in the contest so early in his academic career. Professor Kelly has done a wonderful job building a community of young investors who will hit Wall Street with a running start."
Only 8 Openings left for South Africa and Spain Study Tours
Registration is now open for these limited openings in the South Africa Study Tour, spring break 2009 and the Spain Study Tour, Jan. 3-11 2009. Both are 3 credit courses that can be used as your free elective, business elective, or for your marketing or management concentration. To receive syllabus & registration information, email Prof. King: King4@optonline.net
