October 23, 2009 Volume 1, Issue 1

Special Interest Articles:

SBI places 2nd in 2009 National Selling Competition

Spring Break 2009 Tour of China

SBI Inaugural Hall of Fame

SBI Gentlemen’s Homecoming Kick-Off Cook-Off

Upcoming sbi events:

Sbi Open House – Friday, November 6, 2009, 4:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m., G12 SBI North Wing

Sonia Miles, P&G Forum, Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Richard Dent, Victoria secret pink forum, Thursday, December 3, 2009

Florida A&M University School of Business and Industry (SBI) Dr. Shawnta Friday-Stroud, Interim dean Dr. Charles Evans, Associate Dean www.famu.edu/sbi

As the Interim Dean of Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU) School of Business and Industry (SBI), I am excited about this academic year. This year is sure to be filled with a myriad of opportunities and accomplishments for our students, faculty, staff, alumni, and corporate partners. The SBI environment encourages all to maximize their potential within and beyond the walls of SBI. Our competitive and collegial spirits are evident in our student case study competition entries, and our First Annual SBI Gentlemen’s Homecoming Kick-Off Cook-Off Competition. We

Interim Dean’s Message

SBI Places 2nd in the 2009 National Selling competition

Congratulations to Dr. Roscoe Hightower and the 2009 National Selling Competition Team for placing Second in the National Team Selling Competition at Indiana University, Kelley School of Business, October 9, 2009. The team members are: Darriel Brown, Nicole Crowell, Ashley Alfred, and Daniel Murff. This was SBI’s first time entering the competition. Michigan State University was the first place winner and Penn State University won third place. Among the remaining 14 schools that

SBI Illuminations

strive for academic and professional excellence, as demonstrated by Dr. Joycelyn Finley-Hervey joining the ranks of SBI faculty awarded the University’s Teacher of the Year Award. We also strive for excellence in meeting the needs of our students and corporate partners. Visit us at www.FAMU.EDU/SBI or contact us at 850-599-3565. Make sure to keep your eyes on SBI as we continue to soar to higher heights!

Shawnta Friday-Stroud, Ph.D.

competed were Kansas University, Indiana State University, University of Missouri, Indiana University, Ball State University, and 6 other majority universities with well-known Selling Programs. Thanks to Altria for sponsoring the competition. The four students received job offers from Altria in addition to the $1,500 second place award. Thanks to the team and Dr. Hightower for bringing home a trophy!

“no academic pain, no

professional gain”

Shawnta Friday-Stroud

In March of this year, nine SBI students and three faculty members traveled to Shanghai and Beijing, China for an international spring break tour. Dr. Charles Evans, Associate Dean, one of the faculty members that accompanied the students, shared that the first four days were spent visiting Cigna, Owens Corning, and the U.S. Consulate. The tour also consisted of a visit to the Forbidden City, the Summer Palace, the Great Wall of China, and Tiananmen Square. International visits like this tour enable our students to maintain a competitive advantage as they compete for jobs in today’s global marketplace.

SBI 2009 Spring Break Tour to China

Simply put, the experience changed my life completely. I was the only non-Indian working in the office. I was surrounded by some of the sharpest people I have ever encountered in my life. It was a humbling experience in that although I was an SBI superstar, I was put in a position where I had to chart unknown territory. It took me about three months to get the hang of the culture, long hours and lifestyle. The next thing I knew I was learning Hindi and cooking Indian food, while building complex financial models. The relationships I built while working in India helped to change my perspective of

My Experience Abroad in India

SBI was well represented at the National Association of Black Accountants (NABA) regional conference in Atlanta, GA. A total of 30 SBI accounting majors attended the conference. William Crapps was named “NABA Student of the Year.” William, along with Melkevia Morris, Alicia Smith, and Kendra Walker were

SBI Students: Awards & Recognition

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the world and enhance my personal and professional horizons. I would highly recommend that students take advantage of international internship and employment opportunities. The primary benefit from an international experience is that one is able to understand interconnectedness of the world. SBI students must actively seek to chart new paths abroad. Those who are able to study or work abroad find themselves in a special place with global clarity and the insight to be international change agents.

By Adeleke Omitowoju

awarded scholarships.

Antoinyce Eaton was a finalist for the Microsoft Innovation Award. The award is designed to recognize technology innovations within the accounting profession.

SBI Illuminations

Page 3 of 3

The gentlemen of SBI showcased their culinary skills during the 1st Annual SBI Gentlemen’s Homecoming Kick-Off Cook-Off. The collegial competition led to Dr. Charles Evans winning the appetizer category with his salmon croquettes. Professor Andre Holmes won the entree category with his grilled salmon, while Drs. Bobby Davis and Ira Bates received honorable mentions for their Mississippi-style gumbo and macaroni and cheese, respectively. Dr. Roscoe Hightower won the dessert category with his sweet potato pie. Drs. Janet Sermon and Makola Abdullah served as judges.

Other dishes that the judges sampled included seafood pasta medley (Professor Derek Holloman), smoked turkey (Dr.

In April 2009, SBI inducted seven (7) individuals into its newly created SBI Hall of Fame. The inaugural inductees were Dr. Sybil Collins Mobley, Dean Emeritus, along with P.J. Benton (CEO, PJJD Enterprises), Albert “Al” Fuller (CEO & President, Integrated Packaging Holdings), Arthur “Art” Collins (CEO & President, Public Private Partnership, Inc.), Lyle Logan (Executive Vice President and Managing Director, Institutional Sales and Client Services, The Northern Trust Company), Keith Clinkscales (Senior Vice President,

SBI’s Inaugural Hall of Fame

SBI’s Gentlemen’s Homecoming Kick-off Cook-off

PATHWAYS TO A GREAT

CAREER BEGIN HERE!

visit us on the web

at www.famu.edu/sbi

“support the sbi legacy”

Content Development & Enterprises, ESPN) and Malcolm Robinson (Senior Portfolio Manager, Avenue Asia Capital).

Amos Bradford), specialty rice and collegial special (Dr. Hudson Nwakanma), crab stuffed deviled eggs (Attorney Bill Ravenell), candied yams (Ira Bates), fried rice (Dr. Mazhar Islam), Bean Salad (Dr. Paul Nkansah) and banana bread (Dr. Daaim Shabazz).

We thank the gentlemen for their vigor, zeal, and esprit de corps. Additionally, we thank the members of the campus community for joining us and supporting our event. Lastly, special thanks go to Mrs. Barbara Jones, Ms. Rebecca Colett, Ms. Lashaun Stevenson, and Mrs. Kenyatta Rosier for all of the preparation, set up, and clean up work, as well as Dr. George Clark for capturing the moment through photography.