Congratulations to the Class of 2020!
First, I’d like to congratulate you on this tremendous achievement. You’ve spent the last few years working toward this very moment—graduating with your Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA) degree.
I know this isn’t the way you wanted your academic career to end. While I could never pretend to understand exactly what it feels like to be in your position—being afforded even less time to enjoy what was left of college—I’d like to remind you that our entire Pitt Business community is here with you. We’re here to acknowledge the time we’ve ultimately lost together in Pittsburgh, but here to celebrate all you’ve accomplished during your time with us.
You’ve put in the work—journeyed From the Classroom, To the City, To the World. The world presents us with obstacles to overcome throughout our lifetime and, unfortunately, this is one of them. I truly believe that each and every one of you is ready to tackle the ever-changing and complex world that you are graduating into.
You are graduating as the best class in the history of Pitt Business. During your short time with us, we’ve grown alongside you and climbed the ranks for three straight years as one of Poets&Quants’ Top 15 Public Business Programs. Your contributions to our school have been outstanding and we look forward to the significant impact you’ll have in the business world and as Pitt alumni.
While no one can predict the future, and understanding that we will continue to follow any national guidelines related to the pandemic, we are dedicated to holding a proper graduation ceremony for the Class of 2020 in the future. However, I do acknowledge that you may be moving forward with your career and returning to campus for a ceremony might not be possible.
I know this isn’t the same as having your moment on stage and being handed your diploma, but your accomplishments deserve to be recognized in the meantime.
During a traditional graduation ceremony, we recognize the Student Impact Award, which is presented to the full-time faculty members who received the most votes from students in terms of their impact inside and outside of the classroom in supporting student knowledge and their professional and personal development. This year’s winners are Eugenia Wu and Ray Jones.
I also want to recognize the outstanding student award winners for each major. These students were selected by the faculty that represent each major at Pitt Business for their outstanding contribution to the program.
- Outstanding Business Information Systems Student Award: Krishna Subramanian
- Outstanding Finance Student Award: Desiree Paige Rose
- Outstanding Global Management Student Award: Daniel Penney
- Outstanding Human Resources Management Student Award: Alaina Donnelly and Kelsey Swimkosky
- Outstanding Marketing Student Award: Zachary Passalacqua
- Outstanding Supply Chain Management Award: Sarah Broughton
- PICPA Senior of the Year Award for Accounting: Kenneth Stetson Fenster
Each year, Delta Sigma Pi, one of our professional business fraternities, provides an award to the graduating student who has the highest cumulative grade point average as of the term before graduation. This year’s award goes to Alex Keough and Desiree Paige Rose.
Finally, I would like to announce the recipient of the Pitt Business Alumni Leadership Award. This award recognizes one graduating senior who has exemplified outstanding leadership qualities and represented Pitt Business in a positive light. This year’s recipient is Sarah Braza.
I want to reiterate that we are dedicated to recognizing you properly and an announcement will be communicated to you as soon as we nail down the details.
Commencement is one of the high points for our school, but this necessary postponement does not lessen our pride in our graduates.
I continue to be exceptionally proud of how the Pitt Business community is persevering in these unprecedented times. You are amazing representatives of this program and I have no doubt that you’ll accomplish great things moving forward.
Congratulations on your graduation, and Hail to Pitt!
Sincerely,
Anthony F. Rodi
Interim Associate Dean