SPRING 2005
VOL. 6 NO. 2

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The 7th Annual Strategy Board Competition, held on December 9, 2004, at the Smith School, was a chance for 74 freshman College Park Scholars to make strategic recommendations to real-world companies. But it was also something of a reunion event for Smith alumni. Many judges for the event are Smith alumni and represent companies that have been involved with the competition since it started in 1998. This year, four alumni who participated in the Strategy Board Competition when they themselves were freshmen College Park Scholars returned as judges: Michael Rettinger ’02, American Express; J.D. Fielder ’02, The Pepsi Bottling Group; Nony Odum ’03, Hecht’s; and Rachel Lovelady ’02, Booz Allen Hamilton.

Rettinger, who was also a judge last year, was impressed. “Some of the recommendations from the American Express team, we are just in the beginning stages of implementing at American Express. They have a good vision,” he said.

The Ryan Homes team won the 2004 competition; team members included freshmen Clara Abdurazak, Joe Green, Sohail Itani, Zachary Mellman, and Surya Shivakumar. Congratulations to all of the College Park Scholars for their excellent work!

Bill Longbrake, PhD ’76, urged students to seek out a wide variety of experiences in his December commencement remarks.

More than 300 students graduated from the Robert H. Smith School of Business on December 19, 2004. William Longbrake, PhD ’76, vice chair at Washington Mutual, addressed graduates during the commencement ceremony, held at the Cole Student Activities Building. The school awarded approximately 250 bachelor's degrees, 80 master's degrees, and five doctoral degrees.

"For most of you, your lives will take twists and turns that you can hardly imagine today," said Longbrake in his keynote address. "Seek out a wide variety of experiences and learn from each of them. They will prepare you to deal with the unexpected. They will prepare you to take on enormous challenges. And they will give you the ability to become successful and remarkable leaders."