NEWS BRIEFS –JUNE 2007

Marge Connelly Chief Operating Officer and President Businesses Services Group Wachovia Securities Trustee, School of Business Foundation

COMMENCEMENT SPEAKER MARGE CONNELLY URGED 2007 GRADUATES TO ALWAYS CONSIDER CHOICES

The theme of Ms. Connelly’s talk was about choices.
“The choices that you make today can have impacts for not years, but literally generations. Particularly when it comes to education.

“. . .now, your accomplishments have given you options you otherwise never would have had.  In essence, you’ve earned the right to have greater choices.   Some of these choices will seem obvious while others will feel confusing and obscure.  And sometimes it will feel that you don’t have many choices – that all you can do is go with the tide and hope for the best. Don’t let that happen.  Always remember that you do have a choice, and that you have proven to the world and to yourselves that you are capable of making good ones.  You’ve made thousands so far and I know you will make thousands more.

Now, everyone has to find your own unique path and I encourage all of you to do so, but there are a few choices that I do encourage you to make.”

Read all of Ms. Connelly’s commencement presentation at http://www.bus.vcu.edu/news/commencement_2007.html 

Sam Kornblau

EDWARD A. WAYNE MEDAL PRESENTED TO SAM KORNBLAU

Three individuals were presented with the Edward A. Wayne Medal at commencement by Dr. Eugene Trani, VCU President. They were Sam Kornblau, Richmond real estate developer; Henry Becker, president of Qimondo North America; and Baxter and Elaine Perkinson, long time supporters of VCU. The Edward A. Wayne Medal, recognizes individuals who have made outstanding contributions or exemplary service to VCU.

In October 2006 Mr. Kornblau made a $2.5 million gift to establish a real estate institute in the VCU School of Business.  Read more http://www.news.vcu.edu/news.aspx?v=detail&nid=1756

JUNE 30 IS LAST DAY TO DONATE TO CAMPAIGN FOR THE SCHOOL OF BUSINESS

Give to the Campaign for the School of Business.  We’re almost to goal, but we need the support of all our alumni and friends to take us over the top!  Pledges may be paid over a period of up to five years.  Make your pledge online http://www.egiving.vcuf.org/  or call Katherine Oliver at 804-828-6576 or Doug Knapp at 804-827-1805 to receive more information or make your gift by phone.

RECENTLY RELEASED - "It's VCU: Connecting the Dots"

Virginia Commonwealth University and NBC12 teamed up to produce a series of television programs, "It's VCU," which showcases how VCU’s diverse students, faculty and programs, superior teaching, steady growth and groundbreaking research are shaping Richmond, the state and the region.

Recently released is the fourth in the series called "It's VCU: Connecting the Dots."  VCU has emerged as a hotbed of education, science, medicine, the arts and research, not by doing things the same old way. Instead, VCU is connecting the dots, blurring the lines between disciplines and departments – believing that the world’s next great discoveries, creations, ideas and innovations will spring from these connections. It’s listening to the students. It’s listening to businesses. It’s bringing the world to our doorsteps. It’s continuing traditions and forging new ones.

Watch “It’s VCU” and see why VCU is one of the most innovative, entrepreneurial universities in the country … and what we’re doing for Richmond.  Shows available online at http://www.vcu.edu/itsvcu. 

HELPING CHILDREN DISCOVER ECONOMICS

You can learn to play the stock market step-by-step with “Adventures in the  Stock Market” by Suzanne Gallagher, and Martha C. Hopkins. This is the fourth book in their series of economics books targeting K-5 students, their teachers and parents.

Children learn about economics through games, puzzles and other charts. This new book is supported by 30 years of career experience by Gallagher and Hopkins. Gallagher directs the VCU Center for Economic Education at the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Business.  Hopkins is Director of Outreach Programs at the Gus A. Stavros Center for the Advancement of Free Enterprise and Economic Education at Florida State University.  Both work in train-the-teacher programs using this or similar materials.  Gallagher recently used many of these principles in the Mini-Economy Market Day program that drew over 700 students and teachers from 13 counties to the Siegel Center.

“Adventures in the Stock Market” and their other books are reviewed at www.econ.fun.com.

RAMS HEADS BEING PAINTED ON THE STREETS

Virginia Commonwealth University Sports Center graduate Bryan J. Banning has taken his school pride to the streets.

During Banning’s undergraduate term at VCU he came up with the idea to paint ram heads — the VCU mascot — on streets near the Monroe Park Campus to increase school pride.

"’Ram the Streets’ helps VCU by increasing school pride and spirit among students, faculty, staff and alumni,” Banning said. “It gives the city more of a college campus look and feel and it also illustrates the great partnership that VCU has with the city and surrounding communities in allowing a project like this to happen.”

Read more about how the project came together at http://www.news.vcu.edu/vcu_view/pages.aspx?nid=2102 

UPTON RECEIVES HONORS

The VCU Office of Multicultural Student Affairs (OMSA) presented Dr. David Upton, Chairman of the Department of Finance, Insurance and Real Estate, with a certificate of appreciation for his services in developing and presenting the “Dollars and Sense” workshops in understanding basic personal finance. Seven different topics were offered weekly September through April. The series was facilitated by members of the Certified Financial Planners Association.  

Dr. Upton also received two other certificates in March for service to the Partners for the Future program, Second Annual Career Roundtable and as student chapter vice president, Financial Planners Association of Central Virginia.

MBA INFORMATION DAYS CONTINUE

The Graduate Studies Office has two more  Information Sessions. They will be held in the Student Commons:
June 11, 2007 - 12:00 PM - Richmond Salon IV
June 11, 2007 - 6:00 PM - Richmond Salon IV
For further information call (804) 828-4622

Over 90 students attended this year’s CARMA Short Course held in the VCU School of Business computer labs.  The students, many of whom were visiting VCU for the first time, had the opportunity to view an exhibit on our new School of Business building and the Monroe Park Campus Addition.

CARMA DRAWS LARGEST ATTENDANCE

Two consecutive sessions of CARMA’s 2007 Short Course Program were held May 14 and May 19 drawing more than 90 students in attendance. The discussions covered research methods and data analysis topics.  Each of the short courses included an equal balance of lecture and computer lab time with hands-on experience, and an emphasis on the application of the methodology.

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