Awards

Selected and voted on by their peers, this award honors graduating students who have made outstanding contributions to the Columbia Business School community.

Class of 2024 Winners: Samer AlRayess, Wilson Darko, Michael Fagan, Stephanie Jean Guo, Kensley Hickman, Aaron Mbakwe, Raghav Sardana, and Veronica Rawlett Sherrard

Class of 2023 Winners: Aparna Bagade, Lauren Bender, Delaney Ilene Shanley Chambers, Sean Michael Conley, Ethan Corcoran, Nadee Ghosn, Ash Poddar, Ana Magali Rosenzvit, Tejasvi Subramanian, John Galloway Townsley, and Josh Ulino

Selected by the first-year class and given in recognition of a student’s outstanding skill, care and involvement in the tutoring program. This tutor has shown consistent commitment and dedication to the program and their fellow students with a minimum of 20 hours of service to the first-year students completed. This student exemplifies compassion, respect, and the ability to accurately represent course material.

Class of 2024 Winner: Jean-Remy Escobar

Class of 2023 Winners: Marloek Hoogewoud and Indrayan Ghosh

Presented annually to the faculty member or administrator who most clearly demonstrates commitment to students through accessibility and an overall contribution to the improvement of student life. Established by the Graduate Business Association in 1982 and named in honor of executive in residence Robert W. Lear.

Class of 2024 Winner: Avram Friedman

Class of 2023 Winners: Professor Brian Lancaster, MBA

Selected by the first-year class and given in recognition of a student’s outstanding skill, care and involvement in presenting class material.

Class of 2024 Winner: Archit Gadhok

Class of 2023 Winner: Prerna Kohli

Selected by the graduating students and awarded to a full-time faculty member who exemplifies excellence in the classroom, based on his or her dedication to teaching and ability to communicate knowledge and encourage students.

Class of 2024 Winner: Dan Wang, Ph.D.

Class of 2023 Winner: Dean Glenn Hubbard, Ph.D. and Professor Tano Santos, Ph.D.

Given to graduating students who have made outstanding contributions to the operations of the School working “behind the scenes,” as selected by the administration.

Class of 2024 Winners: Jennifer Morgan Burdick, Wilson Darko, Yussre Thabet ElBardicy, Mahesh Chandra Ganesh Babu, Mac William McCann, Jeffrey McClellan, Boiketlo Mphahlele, Eva Elisabeth Paelinck, Ritika Pareek, and David Reese Russell

Class of 2023 Winners: Nine Chantawasinkul, Delaney Ilene Shanley Chambers, Silvia Gelonch Fernandez, Leon Modolo Galhardo, Hudson Hoyle, Rebecca Susan Richman, Reneé Sewell, GT Svanikier, Alexa Trujillo, and Josh Ulino

Selected based on outstanding character, scholastic achievement, participation in School affairs and potential for civic, business and professional leadership.

Class of 2024 Winner: Michael Fagan

Class of 2023 Winner: Samuel J. Rude

This award was established by the University Trustees and the Board of the Columbia Alumni Association (CAA) to celebrate all who build Columbia University’s Spirit. The Campbell Award is presented by the CAA to a graduating student at each School who show exceptional leadership and Columbia spirit as exemplified by Bill Campbell ‘62CC ‘64TC, chair emeritus of the University Trustees and CAA co-founder.

Class of 2024 Winner: Minhas Ali Wasaya

Class of 2023 Winners: Martavius Leonard

The Theodora Rutherford Inclusion Award highlights students who have centered inclusiveness in their student experience at Columbia Business School. Selected students will have demonstrated a commitment to the values and experiences that were central to Theodora Fonteneau Rutherford, the School’s first Black graduate student. Theodora, who earned a master’s degree in accounting in 1924, was one of the first Black individuals to graduate from a top business school in the United States and later, became the first Black woman Certified Public Accountant in West Virginia.

Despite facing over 30 years of discriminatory laws and regulations in her field, Theodora built a distinguished career as an educator by leveraging her exceptional education and aptitude. She appreciated immersing herself in different cultures, and was an important mentor to her students. Selected students must articulate how they embrace the values and experiences that defined Theodora and how they’ve supported the School in becoming a more inclusive space for their peers:

Diverse Experiences: From being immersed in different cultures to exploring unconventional pathways, diverse experiences are fundamental to shaping perspectives and supporting self-reflection.

Professional Perseverance: Challenges are a part of every journey, particularly ones around careers. Pathways are never linear and challenges often become catalysts for change. How individuals overcome challenges help define who they are as a person.

Leading Inclusively: There are many different ways to be an inclusive leader. Such leaders use their voices to advocate for change and encourage their peers to support various initiatives that drive their organizations toward being a more inclusive space for all students.

Application

The application is open to all graduating Columbia Business School students (MBA, EMBA, MS, PhD). Interested students can submit their application online from February 18, 2025-March 7, 2025.

Recipients

Four (4) Award recipients will be invited to an exclusive dinner with a distinguished alumnus in the Spring semester and will receive a $500 stipend per person.

Class of 2024 Winners: Saron Bizuayehu, Maya Jones, Toke Soyebo, and Elaine Zuo

Awarded to a graduating woman who has shown overall academic excellence in the area of Marketing.

Class of 2024 Winner: Carlissa King

Class of 2023 Winner: Myriam Bettina Nitsche

Presented annually to a graduating student who has demonstrated outstanding work in the field of Decision, Risk, and Operations.

Class of 2024 Winner: Chi Liu

Class of 2023 Winner: Jason Francis Cincotta

Presented annually to a graduating student who has demonstrated outstanding work in the field of Management.

Class of 2024 Winner: Michael Fagan

Class of 2023 Winner: Myriam Bettina Nitsche

Presented annually to a graduating student who has done outstanding work in the field of Economics or Human Resources.

Class of 2024 Winner: Akshay Gupta

Class of 2023 Winner: Kathit V. Kothari

Presented annually to a graduating student who best demonstrates dedication to the public and non-profit sector and who exemplifies inner strength and personal integrity.

Class of 2024 Winners: Jennifer Morgan Burdick and Ray Lu

Class of 2023 Winners: Lacie Pierre and Hudson Hoyle

Awarded for superior skills in the area of Tax theory, practice, or research.

Class of 2024 Winners: Imade Motunrayo Iyamu

Class of 2023 Winners: Nneoma Enyi Nwankwo

Awarded for excellence in the area of Accounting.

Class of 2024 Winner: Eric Christopher Guerci

Class of 2023 Winner: Guillermo Herrera

Recognizes a graduating student with an outstanding record in the study of Marketing who shows promise of future contributions to the field.

Class of 2024 Winner: Susana Aldonza Barrena

Class of 2023 Winner: Alexa Trujillo

 Presented annually to a graduating student who has demonstrated outstanding work in the field of Finance.

Class of 2024 Winner: Ivan Radojicic

Class of 2023 Winner: Ma Lang