RCB students, some 545 strong, head off to bright futures

On a picture perfect day on the University Green, 545 students walked off to sunny futures as they earned their degrees from the William G. Rohrer College of Business at Rowan University on Tuesday, May 8.

In doing so, RCB Dean Sue Lehrman said the graduates impacted the college in substantive ways. The class was the first to enjoy a full academic year in Business Hall, which opened in January of 2017.

(To view photos of the ceremony and all Commencement activities this week, check out Rowan on Facebook.)

“In our short time in Business Hall, you have done so much to make it not just a building, but a living, breathing space brimming with your enthusiasm and your activities,” Lehrman said.

Additionally, students stood out for their academic accomplishments through induction into prominent honor societies, such as Beta Gamma Sigma, the honor society for AACSB-accredited business schools, Lehrman said.

“Through AACSB, the world’s most highly esteemed business accrediting body, your Rohrer College of Business degree has international recognition for quality,” Lehrman noted, adding that 163 undergraduates were inducted into the honor society. Another three students were inducted into the New Jersey Collegiate Business Administration Honor Society, placing them in the top 1 percent of the state’s business students.

Lehrman also noted that more than 280 students earned academic credit for internships with organizations including, PWC, Vanguard, KPMG, Lockheed Martin, the Department of the Navy and the Federal Reserve Bank. Moreover, students in the class were committed to community service. Thirty-five graduates logged nearly 800 hours in the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program preparing federal and state income tax returns for residents of area communities, Lehrman said.

Members of the class also contributed to the University community, Lehrman added.

“Over time, you have held more than 60 percent of the top leadership positions in the University’s Student Government Association,” she said.

In recognition of his commitment to RCB students, 2005 alumnus Angelo Pinti, the first graduate of RCB’s entrepreneurship specialization received the Medal of Excellence for Distinguished Service. A wealth management advisor for TIAA, Pinti serves on the college’s Alumni Advisory Council and has been a guest lecturer and competition judge for RCB’s Business Plan and Elevator Pitch competitions.

“Even though we may not be acquainted, our fates are connected through our success. As each of us succeeds individually, we strengthen the RCB brand to open doors for others who represent this school,” PInti told the graduates.

Representing the class, Antonia Nuzzolo, president of the Bureau of Business Associations, urged her classmates to embrace their fresh starts as they leave Rowan.

“Work on creating a life you love. Take the job that energizes you, cut out the activities that you do not feel passionate about and continue learning to make your tomorrow better,” Nuzzolo said.

The RCB Class of 2018 included 39 MBA graduates.