UB School of Management students honored at commencement

By Matthew Biddle

BUFFALO, N.Y. — Fifteen University at Buffalo School of Management graduates received awards during the school’s graduate and undergraduate commencement ceremonies on May 19 and 20.

The graduates and the awards they received during graduate commencement were:

• Venkata Sai Rama Raju Bidarkoti of Hyderabad, India, the Charles H. Diefendorf Award in Finance, presented to the student who has made the greatest contribution to the finance discipline.
• Junghan Kim of Seoul, Korea, the Paul E. Green Award in Marketing, presented to a School of Management doctoral student who has exemplified excellence in marketing research.
• Kim also received the PhD Student Achievement Award, which honors a doctoral student who has demonstrated scholastic excellence and rendered outstanding extracurricular service to the school and university.
• MarcAnthony Liggieri of Roslyn, the Eddy Lin Memorial Award, presented to a graduate student focusing on an accounting career with a mid-size public accounting firm. The recipient must actively mentor others, exhibit scholastic excellence and a passion for learning, and have a caring and fun attitude.
• Niharika Malik of Meerut, India, the Drs. John and Arlyn Myers Award, presented to a student who has excelled in the marketing field during the MBA program.
• Malik also accepted the Dr. Marcel and Mrs. Kathryn Vinokur Award to Promote Global Understanding, given to a graduating School of Management student born outside of North America who has contributed to promoting global understanding among MBA students.
• Alexandra G. Mcleod of Cannes, France, the Magnus Award for Greatness in MBA Student Leadership, presented to a student who demonstrates greatness in all facets of the MBA program, including academic performance, leadership, innovation and generosity of spirit.
• Mcleod also earned the MBA Student Achievement Award, which honors an MBA student who has demonstrated scholastic excellence and rendered outstanding extracurricular service to the school and university.
• Christopher Miano of Buffalo, the Dr. Jerry and Mrs. Dina Wind Award to Promote International Understanding, presented to a U.S.-born student who has contributed to promoting international understanding among MBA students.
• Brittany A. Popovski of Orchard Park, the Master of Science Student Achievement Award, presented to an MS student who has demonstrated scholastic excellence and rendered outstanding extracurricular service to the school and university.
• Austin R. Trainor of Schuylerville, the Sidney N. Kahn Memorial Award for Excellence in Sales and Marketing, presented to the MBA student who has made the greatest contribution to the sales and marketing field.

During undergraduate commencement, the following graduates received awards:

• Jacob P. Schupbach of East Aurora, the State University of New York Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence, presented to the student who has best demonstrated and been recognized for the integration of academic excellence with accomplishments in leadership, athletics, community service, creative and performing arts, campus involvement or career achievement.
• Schupbach and Anirudh Ojha of New Delhi, India, were co-recipients of the Adriana Ilyse Thaler Memorial Senior Award in Marketing, presented to the senior marketing students who have best demonstrated academic excellence, leadership, marketing professionalism and personal motivation.
• Kudakwashe T. Kaseke of Mount Airy, Maryland, the Undergraduate Student Achievement Award, presented to an undergraduate who has demonstrated scholastic excellence and rendered outstanding extracurricular service to the school and university.
• Ryan P. Thompson of Point Lookout, the UB Accounting Association Michael S. Dockery Memorial Senior Award, presented to a senior accounting student who has contributed in a superior way to the Institute of Management Accountants, the accounting profession, fellow students and the School of Management.
• Candace L. Unger of Depew, the William H. Wendel Memorial Award for Student Excellence in Human Resources Management, presented to the undergraduate who has made the greatest contribution to the field of human resources management.
• Caroline R. Vilardo of Kenmore and Emily A. Wheeler of North Tonawanda were co-recipients of the Delta Sigma Pi Scholarship Key, presented to the full-time undergraduates who compiled the highest management grade point average of all eligible graduating students.