The Economics and Business Administration Department held its annual Society for the Advancement of Management (SAM) banquet on Monday, March 25 in the Mabry-Smith-Yonce Center.

The banquet honors seniors, SAM members, and scholarship recipients and celebrates the closing of the academic year.

Margaret Ellen Pender ’97, chief operating officer at Anchor Investment Management, provided the keynote address at the event.

“It’s a huge honor to be asked back on campus and certainly to speak to this group. They are a very accomplished group of young people,” Pender said.

“I think for all of us who have that background of servant mentality is you desire to be a conduit and to share your life experience in hopes that some person has had a similar experience,” she continued, “or just to help them lock in to some truth that’s been rattling around their heads they maybe they haven’t put words to.”

Pender, who shared she wanted to play basketball in college but ultimately attended PC on an academic scholarship, talked about how the PC experience and community shaped her career and life.

“I think probably the biggest takeaway that may resonate with them tonight just becauseof the season we’re in — March Madness — is to be a warrior even when you’re not a winner,” Pender said. “I think that carries people through professional life and personal life.”

2019 Scholarships and Awards

The department presented the following scholarships and awards during the banquet:

• Jonas Ha received the Carl J. Arnold Scholarship, established in 1991 upon the retirement of Dr. Carl J. Arnold, who was the Dana Professor of Economics at PC. The scholarship was established by alumni, colleagues and friends in his honor. The scholarship is given to rising juniors or seniors who possess an exemplary work ethic and show promise in the field.
• Banner Plumb received the W. Fred Chapman Jr. Scholarship, established in 2001 in honor of Dr. Fred Chapman, who was the Robert M. Vance Professor of Economics at PC. The scholarship was established by alumni, colleagues and friends in his honor. The scholarship is given to rising juniors or seniors who possess an exemplary work ethic and show promise in the field.
• Jennifer Freeman received the Robert E. and Francis P. Bunnell Scholarship, which is given annually to a student who shows future promise and aptitude in both business and the humanities.
• Garrett Jones and Reighley Pitts received the Joseph E. and Geraldine A. Patrick Scholarships, which are awarded to two rising seniors who show great promise in the field of Business Administration. The Patrick Scholarships were given by Mrs. Patrick and the late Mr. Patrick. Mr. Patrick served on the Board of Trustees.
• Hunter Del Valle received the Jim C. Oleand Scholarship, which is given annually to a student who shows promise in both the field of accounting and business. The Oleand scholarship is given in memory of Mr. and Mrs. Oleand by their children.
• Breanne Goldfarb, Rylie Marchman and Zoe Montague received the Ouida Cox Bailey Scholarship, which is awarded to business administration majors who have shown outstanding achievement at PC. The award was established by Mrs. Bailey.
• William Haigler and Josh Urwick received the Kenneth N. Baker Scholarship, which is given annually by the department to students who have shown outstanding achievement.
• Christen Cody and Matthew Haigler received the P.S. Bailey Scholarship, which is given by Mrs. P.S. Bailey in memory of her husband and is awarded to students who have shown outstanding achievement.
• Kelsey Yeager received The Wall Street Journal Award, which is presented to a graduating senior who has shown outstanding academic achievement at PC.

Outstanding Senior Awards

The Department of Economics and Business Administration’s Outstanding Senior Award is traditionally given to the senior who has demonstrated outstanding achievement in his or her work in the department based on academic record, initiative and achievement in the department, commitment to excellence and potential for success.

This year, the department presented three awards to outstanding seniors in each of the majors and concentrations in the department.

• The Outstanding Senior in Economics is Caroline Dyar.
• The Outstanding Senior in Accounting is Danielle Nunnery.
• The Outstanding Senior in Management is Hannah Davidson.

Sigma Beta Delta Honor Society invites the top 20 percent of economics and business majors as measured by GPA who have earned at least 60 hours. The following students were recognized as members of the Sigma Beta Delta Honor Society:

• Robert Bacon
• Hannah Davidson
• Hunter DelValle
• Breanne Goldfarb
• William Haigler
• Burke Long
• Ryne Maness
• Rylie Marchman
• Collin McKinnon
• Zoe Montague
• Cody Montgomery
• Danielle Nunnery
• Sergio Pinto
• Caroline Stone
• Joshua Urwick
• Linhui Wu
• JiaJia Xie
• Kelsey Yeager
• Garrett Yoder

Prepare for the Business World

SAM is one of the organizations that help prepare PC students for the business world. Check out the Economics and Business Administration Department’s Student Organizations page for more ways that business students get involved.