MBA Program Honors Graduates During Inaugural Awards Gala
Georgetown’s McDonough School of Business honored the Full-time and Flex MBA Class of 2024 during the inaugural MBA Awards Gala on May 10 to recognize graduates who had made outstanding contributions to the school and community.
The MBA Awards are given to individuals who exemplified the core values of Georgetown McDonough, excelled during their time in the program, and went above and beyond to enhance the experience for others in the MBA community. The winners were nominated by students, faculty, and staff and recognized during the event’s awards presentation.
“One of the core aspects of the Georgetown MBA experience is the cura personalis tenet of caring for the whole person, and we were thrilled to honor our students, staff, and faculty who have exemplified our Jesuit focus and made exceptional contributions to the greater community,” said Sudipta Dasmohapatra, senior associate dean of MBA programs at Georgetown McDonough. “The MBA Awards and Gala is a highlight of the MBA experience, celebrating our graduates’ accomplishments and anticipating the next chapter of their professional careers as they continue to innovate and inspire others.”
During the event, the graduating class came together to reflect on their time on the Hilltop and celebrate their accomplishments as a cohort before they crossed the commencement stage on May 17. MBA students heard remarks from program leadership and faculty, as well as from alumnus Kofi Sakyi (MBA’23), account manager at PIMCO and 2023 recipient of the Daniel Walker McNeal Award, who shared well wishes and advice with the graduating class. The event concluded with a farewell message from Student Government Association president Mac Johnson (MBA’24) and executive vice president Wesley Warughese (MBA’24).
The awards and honorees included the following students, faculty, and staff. To view the full list of honors, including the Leadership Fellows, Community Fellows and Advocates, and Dean’s Citation Awards, visit the gala website.
Academic Honors*
Valedictorian Award
Full-time MBA: Jeffrey Garner
Flex MBA: Curran O’Connell
Salutatorian Award
Full-time MBA: Divya Gupta
Flex MBA: Stephen Golden
McDonough Scholars (top 10% of the Full-time and Flex MBA classes)
Marlee Baucom
Daniel Bishop
John Callaway
Rishi Choubey
Isaac Chua
Michael Coniglio
Michael Connolly
Ryan Culberson
Jillian DeSimone
Ethan Finkelstein
Sarah Gadsden
Jeffery Garner
Allen Gersky
Stephen Golden
Garrett Greensmith
Divya Gupta
Daniel Hanower
Emily Hunt
Lamia Kalam
Mizna Kanafani
Allison Kibby
Samuel Laforet
Joshua Michael Linhart
Joshua MacGregor
Peter McGee
Edward Mobus
Renzo Miraval
Ian Mullican
Anthony Nader
John O’Connell
John Rurka
Phoebe Sanderson
Taso Scilaris
Sumner Smith
Victor Tang
Gilbert Watson
Qing Yan
*Academic awards were recognized as students crossed the stage during commencement exercises on May 17.
Community Awards
Community Builder Award (recognizes outstanding leadership skills of those who worked to build a sense of community and a supportive environment beyond the classroom)
Mario Castro
Jill DeSimone
Tony Mena
Priyanshi Manya Tiwari
Creativity and Innovation Award (demonstrates exceptional creativity and innovation in their efforts to improve processes, solve problems, or create opportunities in support of the MBA program)
Marian Asuncion
Dumi Mabhena
Daniel Walker McNeal Award (recognizes a student who exemplifies the characteristics of the McDonough MBA program, including Jesuit values, ethical standards, a drive to excel, dedication to academic excellence, a service mindset, and community involvement)
Christian Bordoli
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Award (recognizes leadership and dedication to creating a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive community)
Kilandra Bass
Nishant Makhijani
Daniela Zuluaga
Global Leadership Award (recognizes individuals who have made substantial contributions to global business and/or intercultural appreciation)
Renzo Morales Miraval
Outstanding MBA Student Organization Award (recognizes an MBA student organization for their leadership and service to the McDonough community)
Out@MSB
Sustainability Award (demonstrates an exceptional commitment to sustainability initiatives)
Mizna Kanafani
Tarun Thomas Philip
Faculty and Staff Awards
Excellence in Teaching Award
Allison Koester, associate professor of accounting
Lee Pinkowitz, associate professor of finance and associate director of the Psaros Center for Financial Markets and Policy
Ronald L. Smith Distinguished Service Award (demonstrates an exceptional commitment to support students’ academic, professional, or personal success)
Vishal Agrawal, Henry J. Blommer Family Endowed Chair in Sustainable Business and academic director of the Business of Sustainability Initiative
Rachel Smith, associate director of career curricula and communications at the McDonough Career Center
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