Three Smith School Seniors Recognized as Philip Merrill Presidential Scholars

Three graduating seniors from the Robert H. Smith School of Business were among 18 top undergraduate students recognized as Philip Merrill Presidential Scholars by the University of Maryland on Friday, Nov. 7, 2025.

The three Smith School representatives included Urszula Cieslak ’25, James Miller ’25 and Victoria Rush ’25.

The program, named after the university supporter and Washington-area publisher, highlights the students’ achievements while also honoring the mentors and educators who profoundly impacted their success by providing them with stipends.

“The program started by Philip Merrill and continued by his family is an excellent reminder of how mentorship is at the center of everyone’s educational journey,” said UMD President Darryll J. Pines. “We are proud to celebrate the students who are striving to take on the grand challenges of our time as well as the teachers who have nurtured their abilities in pursuit of improving the public good.”

Miller, an accounting and management double major, dedicated the distinction to Smith’s Christine Schaaf, a full-time lecturer in the management and marketing departments, and to Michael Philip, a teacher from Severna Park Middle School in Severna Park, Md.

“I have been incredibly lucky to have amazing mentors who have helped me academically, professionally, and personally,” said Miller. “Having a teacher who believes in you and pushes you out of your comfort zone, even if it’s in a silly and ridiculous way, can really help you grow.”

Miller, in particular, noted Schaaf’s guidance on his and his peers’ food insecurity project that ultimately garnered interest from the Maryland Food Bank.

“At first it seemed like a daunting problem I never had the chance of solving as just a sophomore in college,” he said. “The support, resources and guidance that Professor Schaaf offered was a huge part of us realizing our potential and working on something that could help mitigate such a massive problem.

Cieslak, an accounting and finance double major, recognized Joseph Bailey, Associate Dean of Undergraduate Programs at Smith, as an influential figure in her college experience. This marked the sixth time Bailey has been honored by Merrill Presidential Scholars.

“Professor Bailey encouraged me to explore unfamiliar ideas and helped me gain confidence in my academic and personal goals,” said Cieslak, who completed two capstone projects and served as a teaching assistant for two courses in the Interdisciplinary Business Honors Program. “These experiences significantly strengthened my critical thinking and leadership skills.”

Below is a complete list of Smith students and their mentors recognized during the event:

Victoria Rush (Marketing and Operations Management & Business Analytics)

1. Teacher Mentor: Ola Gerald, Eleanor Roosevelt High School, Greenbelt, Md.
2. Faculty Mentor: Bo (“Bobby”) Zhou, Department of Marketing, who was also named a faculty mentor by a Merrill Scholar in 2015-16.

Urszula Cieslak (Accounting and Finance)

1. Teacher Mentor: Maria Cavallini, Walter Johnson High School, Bethesda, Md.
2. Faculty Mentor: Joseph Bailey, Department of Decision, Operations and Information Technologies, who was also named a faculty mentor by a Merrill Scholar in 2011-12, 2019-20, 2021-22, 2022-23 and 2023-24.

James Miller (Accounting and Management)

1. Teacher Mentor: Michael Philip, Severna Park Middle School, Severna Park, Md.
2. Faculty Mentor: Christine Schaaf, Department of Management & Organization and Marketing

Read more: “Top Undergraduates Honored as Philip Merrill Presidential Scholars,” in Maryland Today.