School of Business Recognizes Students for Academic Achievement

The Fairmont State University School of Business honored students for their academic achievement at the Delta Mu Delta Induction Ceremony and Scholarship and Award Presentations at the end of the spring 2017 semester. Dr. Richard Harvey is Dean of the School of Business. Dr. Gina Fantasia and Dr. Rebecca Giorcelli are Associate Deans.

Six awards were presented to students for academic achievement:

• Jordan Smith was named the Outstanding Senior in Accounting. Jordan has been recognized multiple semesters for academic achievement, earning Dean’s and President’s List recognition.  He also volunteered for the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program of the IRS.
• Grant Holbert of Fairmont was named Outstanding Senior in Business. A 2013 Fairmont Senior High School graduate, he is the son of Steve Holbert and Paula Beard. A senior Business Administration major with a concentration in Management, he is a member of Delta Mu Delta business honor society, a peer mentor in business statistics and served on the Student Leadership Board for the School of Business
• Marissa Abe of Hedgesville was named Outstanding Senior in Information Systems Management. A 2013 graduate of Hedgesville High School, she is the daughter of Mark and Jaymee Abe. A senior Information Systems Management major, she is a member of Delta Mu Delta and has been on the Dean’s List and President’s List.
• Breanna Gower of Fairmont was named Outstanding MBA Student. A 2012 graduate of Ritchie County High School, she is pursuing an MBA with a concentration in Human Resources. She is a member of Delta Mu Delta and a graduate assistant.
• Kasie Buckley received the ACBSP Student Leadership Award. She was also recognized as a Peer Mentor in the School of Business, served as President of the Student Accountant Society, and has volunteered for the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program of the IRS. 
• Christopher Alico received the Bloomberg Businessweek Excellence in Writing Award (Team Leader).

Delta Mu Delta Honor Society, an international society in Business Administration, encourages higher scholarship and recognizes and rewards scholastic achievement in business administration programs. Invitation to membership in Kappa Omicron, the local chapter of Delta Mu Delta at Fairmont State, is an honor indicative of earnest, intelligent purpose and rewarding achievement. Faculty advisors are Dr. Rebecca Giorcelli and Robert Weaver. Students invited to membership include juniors, seniors and graduate students who are in the School of Business, in the top 20 percent of their college class in cumulative average grades with a minimum GPA of 3.5 (juniors and seniors) and 3.6 (graduate students). The following students were inducted: Carlos Alexander, Jacob Anderson, Michael Barnes, Derek Barnett, Sean Berry, Yen Dang, Silvia DeAnda Reyes, Bethany Friend, Alexandro Gialone, Brandon Jackson, Melanie Jackson, Ninetta James, Travis Kirtner, Matthew Leach, Lauren McCauley-Hixenbaugh, Tyler McGee, Simon Poling, Ethan Ratkovich, Sean Riggleman, Brittany Strother, Jordan Utt. Inducted as honorary members were Cannon Wadsworth, Director of State and Commercial Programs for GST, and Dr. Joseph Kremer, Assistant Professor of Finance.

The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program of the IRS provides income tax assistance to low income and elderly taxpayers who cannot afford professional income tax help. The students who volunteer are required to pass an IRS certification exam. Once certified, the student volunteers complete at least 40 hours of community service at our various VITA site locations in Marion, Harrison, Preston and Tucker counties. The faculty advisor for the program is Dr. Jean Engebretson. The following students who participated in the VITA program were recognized: Clint Aikins, David Brownfield, Kasie Buckley, Adrianna Constable, MacKenzie Cox, Maggie Dotson, Bethany Eskridge, Kristen Fetty, Ninetta James, Sam Lacaria, Mikala Mays, Cody Palmer, Destiny Sharpless, Savannah Smith, Erica Taylor, Mary Frances Yankie, Jing Yin.

The Peer Mentors facilitate group study sessions for traditionally difficult courses. Their purpose is to use active learning techniques to demonstrate student strategies that have proven to help students become successful independent learners. Students who attend a mentoring session each week for the entire semester tend to earn a full letter grade higher than students who do not attend. The Mentor program is part of the U.S. Department of Education Title III Strengthening Institutions grant awarded to FSU in 2012. Dr. Ashley Tasker is director of the program. The following students served as Peer Mentors: Michael Barnes, Kasie Buckley, Grant Holbert, Tyler McGee, Angelina Triplett, Thomas Wagner.

The following students received scholarships:

Mason Milkovich of Fairmont received the Stanley and Mary Beafore Scholarship. A 2017 graduate of Fairmont Senior High School, he is the son of Rick and Cassy Milkovich and a freshman Information Systems Management major.

Cameryn Ciresi received the Frank and Florence Sansalone Scholarship. A graduate of Northwestern High School in Springfield, Ohio, she is a member of the Fairmont State University Women’s Soccer team, earning recognition on the All-MEC Academic Commissioner’s Honor Roll for the Fall 2016 semester.

Denzil Graham III of Albright received the Emily Leaf Nichols Alumni Scholarship. A 2015 graduate of Preston High School, he is the son of Denzil Jr. and Shelley Graham. A sophomore Information Systems major, he is a PROMISE Scholar and plays intramurals soccer.

Sarah Haddix of Salem received the Dream, Succeed and Lead award. A 1999 graduate of Liberty High School, she is the daughter of Dana Mark Godfrey and Marguerite Dawn Godfrey and has three children, Jacob, Emily and Kolton. She is a junior Accounting major.

Andrew Harris of Kerens received the Conley CPA Group Accounting Excellence Award. A 2016 graduate of Elkins High School, he is the son of Danny and Regina Harris. A freshman Accounting major, he is a member of the Student Accountant Society and has been on the Dean’s List and President’s List.

Alex Petry of Barrackville received the WesBanco Business Graduate Degree Endowed Scholarship. A 2012 graduate of Fairmont Senior High School, he is the son of Boyd and Tina Petry. A graduate student, he earned a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Human Resources. He was a member of the Men’s Swim Team and has been a graduate assistant for Student Activities, Student Organizations and Greek Life.

Victoria Harper of Fairmont received the WesBanco Bank Fairmont Inc. Endowed Scholarship. A 2014 graduate of Fairmont Senior High School, she is the daughter of William and Maria Harper and is a junior Business Administration major.

Trinite Klamadji of Fairmont received the John and Nancy Raley School of Business Scholarship. A 2015 graduate of Lycee Louis Pasteur High School in France, she is the daughter of Nanyenguem Klamadji and Fatoumata Amadou Ibrahim. A sophomore Information Systems Management major, she is a member of the Women’s Tennis Team.

Daniel Nolte received the Dustin M. Burdoff Foundation Scholarship. A 2014 graduate of Buckhannon Upshur High School, he is the son of James Nolte and Samantha Davis and the husband of Sarah Nolte. A junior Business Administration major with a concentration in Finance and Marketing, he is the Fairmont Chapter founding father of Sigma Omega Beta and has been pledge master for two semesters. He has been on the Dean’s List and the President’s List.

MacKenzie Cox of Grafton received the Glenn A. Harman Accounting Excellence Scholarship. A 2015 graduate of Grafton High School, she is the daughter of Tyler Lee and Brenda Denise Cox. A sophomore Accounting major, she has been on the President’s List and the Dean’s List, has been an SAS member, an accounting intern at Glenn A. Harman, CPA, and a member of the Women’s Golf Team.

Heather Fridley of Philippi received the Mary B. and Edgar N. Jaynes Endowed Scholarship. A 2015 high school graduate, she is a sophomore Business Administration major with a concentration in Marketing. She has worked for FSU as a lifeguard and a front desk associate in the Falcon Center and received the William White Scholarship.

Tyhesia Butcher of Zanesville, Ohio, received the George E. Lambert Family Endowed Fund for Education scholarship. A 2014 graduate of Zanesville High School, she is the daughter of Talisa Crawford. She is also a graduate of Mid-East CTC. She is a junior Accounting major and a member of Chi Alpha campus ministry.

Alexis Allen received the Donald L. Hoylman Impact Scholarship. A Kingwood native, Alexis is a member of the Acrobatics & Tumbling team at Fairmont State. She has also received Dean’s or President’s List honors in each of her semesters enrolled at Fairmont State.

Brianna Evans of New Cumberland, Md., received the Donald L. Hoylman Impact Scholarship. A 2015 graduate of Oak Glenn High School, she is the daughter of Cory Evans and Tami Evans and a sophomore Business Administration major with a concentration in Marketing.

Francisco Guerrero of Fairmont received the Donald L. Hoylman Impact Scholarship. A 2015 graduate of Fairmont Senior High School, he is the son of Francisco Guerrero and Silvia Patricia Alilano and is a sophomore Finance major.

Matthew Leach of Bridgeport received the Donald L. Hoylman Impact Scholarship. A 2012 graduate of Bridgeport High School, he is the son of David and Adrienne Leach. A senior Business Administration major, he is a Delta Mu Delta nominee.

Alexis Lindsay received the Donald L. Hoylman Impact Scholarship. A Bridgeport High School graduate, she is also a member of the Women’s Soccer team at Fairmont State.  A junior Information Systems Management major, she also earned Dean’s list during the past academic year.

Takewira Tatenda Ushendibaba of Fairmont received the Donald L. Hoylman Impact Scholarship. A 2013 graduate of Lomagundi College in Zimbabwe, he is the son of Adonis and Gertrude Ushendibaba. A junior Accounting major, he is a member of Chi Alpha campus ministries, the Student Accountant Society, Delta Mu Delta, the School of Business Student Leadership Board and has been a resident assistant.

Cody Palmer received the Woodrow A. Potesta Scholarship of Accounting. A senior Accounting major, he graduated from East Fairmont High School.  He also received Dean’s List recognition during the Spring 2017 semester.

Lauren Heflin of Summersville received the Woodrow A. Potesta Scholarship of Accounting. A 2016 graduate of Nicholas County High School, she is the daughter of Scott and Julie Heflin. A freshman Accounting major, she is a Chi Alpha Life Group Leader, a member of the Honors Program, a Welcome Weekend Leader and has been on the Dean’s List.

Jason Jolly received the Robert (Buck) Thompson Family Scholarship. A junior Business Administration major, son of Tammy and Jason Sr., he graduated from Stone Bridge High School in Ashburn, VA. He also is a member of the men’s basketball team, representing Fairmont State at the NCAA Division II National Basketball Championships title game this past Spring.

Emily Chen received the LeDonne Family Accounting Scholarship. A dual major in Accounting and Information Systems Management, she is a junior and plans on completing the Certified Public Accountant exam.

Adrianna Constable of Fairmont received the LeDonne Family Accounting Scholarship. A 2014 graduate of Fairmont Senior High School, she is the daughter of Jacqueline Constable. A junior Business major and Accounting minor, she is president of the Student Accountant Society, vice president of finance for Alpha Sigma Tau Sorority and a member of Phi Beta Lambda and the School of Business Student Leadership Board.

Darby Petersen received the LeDonne Family Accounting Scholarship. A 2016 Ripley High School graduate, she is a member of the Women’s Softball team at Fairmont State. She has earned both Dean’s and President’s list honors during her first year.

Michael Barnes of Clarksburg received the Louis Schoolnic Endowed Scholarship. A 2008 graduate of Notre Dame High School, he is the son of Randy and Bets Barnes. A junior Accounting and Finance major, he has been on the Dean’s List and President’s List. He is a VITA tax preparer, a peer mentor, vice president of the Student Accountant Society and a member of Delta Mu Delta and the School of Business Student Leadership Board.

Yen “May” Dang of Fairmont received the Louis Schoolnic Endowed Scholarship. A 2014 graduate of Bridgeport High School, she is the daughter of Dan Dang. A junior Finance and Marketing major, she is treasurer and co-chair of finance for Phi Beta Lambda (Future Business Leaders of America) and a member of the Student Leadership Board.

Harold Fair of Chesapeake received the Louis Schoolnic Endowed Scholarship. A 2015 graduate of Riverside High School, he is the son of Sheila Fair. A sophomore Business Administration major with a concentration in Finance, he is a PROMISE Scholar and a recipient of the Woodrow A. Potesta Scholarship and the Bloomberg Businessweek Excellence in Writing Award.

Bethany Eskridge of Petersburg received the Louis Schoolnic Endowed Scholarship. A 2014 graduate of Petersburg High School, she is the daughter of Donald and Pam Eskridge. A senior Accounting and Business Administration major with a Finance concentration, she is a member of Delta Mu Delta, the Student Accountant Society, a VITA volunteer and has been on the Dean’s List.

Drew Hetzel received the Louis Schoolnic Endowed Scholarship. A 2013 graduate of Washington High School in Charles Town, WV, he is a pitcher on the Men’s Baseball team at Fairmont State.  The son of Don Brent Hetzel II, he is double majoring in Accounting and Business Administration with a concentration in Finance and earned Dean’s List recognition during Fall 2016.

Travis Kirtner of Bridgeport received the Louis Schoolnic Endowed Scholarship. A 2014 graduate of Bridgeport High School, he is the son of Joseph Kirtner and Heidi Tharhe. His fiancé is Marshal Sherry. A junior Business Administration major with concentrations in Management and Marketing, he is a member of Delta Mu Delta business honor society and is on the Student Leadership Board for the School of Business.

Mary Frances Yankie of Barrackville received the Louis Schoolnic Endowed Scholarship. A 2013 graduate of East Fairmont High School, she is the daughter of Terry and Holly Yankie. A senior Accounting and Business Administration-Management major, she is a member of Delta Mu Delta and the School of Business Student Leadership Board. She has been on the Dean’s List and President’s List.

Carlos Alexander of Fairmont received the Anthony J. and Josephine Pitrolo Endowed Scholarship. A 2014 graduate of East Fairmont High School, he is a junior Business Administration and Information Systems Management major.

Samantha Tate of Weirton received the Anthony J. and Josephine Pitrolo Endowed Scholarship. A 2015 graduate of Weir High School, she is the daughter of Scott Tate and Gwen Tate. A sophomore General Business major, she has been on the President’s List and a student employee for Residence Life. She has been treasurer, chaplain, historian and alumni chair for Delta Zeta Sorority.

Victoria Stevens received the Anthony J. and Josephine Pitrolo Endowed Scholarship. A 2015 graduate of Hundred High School, she is the daughter of Steve and Karen Stevens. A sophomore Business Administration major with a concentration in Finance, she is a PROMISE Scholar and has been on the President’s List.

Nathan Wilkerson of Fairmont received the Anthony J. and Josephine Pitrolo Endowed Scholarship. A 2013 graduate of the Adult Learning Center, he is the son of Duff Wilkerson and Theresa Vlk. A junior Business Administration major with a concentration in Management, he is a member of the Honors Association and the Student Leadership Board.

Molly Talbert of Fairmont received the Nicola and Carmella Fantasia Family Scholarship. A 2015 graduate of East Fairmont High School, she is the daughter of Lynn Talbert and a sophomore Business Administration major with a concentration in Management.

School of Business