The best-of-the-best students crowded into the University Club ballroom with family and friends, eager to meet scholarship donors and be recognized for their success at the 2008 UofL College of Business Awards Day.
     Entering the ballroom, an estimated 250 attendees did not find the traditional formality of the awards day set up, but a cocktail-like reception full of friendly faces.  A new format dedicated 20 minutes to presentations, with the rest of the afternoon a light, social atmosphere focused on facilitating introductions of donors to recipients.  Each was identified in a PowerPoint presentation that was projected continuously during the event.

     The event highlighted 130 recipients who received scholarships, honors and awards valued at more than $340,000.  Recipients included Accountancy senior Stephanie M. Loper, who received five awards including the College of Business Alumni Award for Outstanding Senior and the Federation of Schools of Accountancy Award.
     “The informality was fantastic,” commented Kevin Sproul, a senior Accounting and Management double major who received the Louis A. Grief Scholarship.  “Getting to see the donors and really talk to them, to learn why they even began giving in the first place, was great.”
     Following remarks by Dean Moyer, short comments were made by scholarship donor and college alumnus Rose Mary Rommel Johnson, and sophomore Accountancy major Kerry Griesinger, who received the William G. McGowan Scholarship.  Each shared thoughts on what giving and receiving meant to them respectively.
     “When they asked me why I support a scholarship, I couldn’t immediately think why,” Rommel Johnson admitted.  “Then I received this letter from Rachel Thomas, the student recipient.  After reading it I thought, ‘This is why I give.  So a young woman as deserving as Rachel can benefit."
     Another enhanced feature of the new awards day format was a photo-opportunity station where recipients and donors were encouraged to be photographed together, and/or with family or faculty.

   List of awards and recipients:     Awards Day 2008 Program
   To view or download photos from the event, please click here.