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ALUMNAE
Natalie Jakopin ('14) & Sarida Muslow ('14)
A pair of red, Team Canada Olympic mittens and a hug is all that Sarida Muslow remembers about the day she first met fellow University of North Texas student Natalie Jakopin.
It was January and had recently snowed. The drive into campus was cold and icy, and Sarida was jet-lagged from her plane ride from Israel. But there was Jakopin, essentially a stranger, wearing those red mittens made famous by her native country and patiently waiting to greet a new swim teammate with a hug. They didn’t know it at the time, but that gesture nearly eight years ago would start a friendship that would last long after their final swim meet – and through their next athletic conquest: the TCS New York City Marathon this November.
Now, rather than trying to win a race, the women are helping win the fight against cancer. In particular, they’re running for Muslow’s aunt, who was recently diagnosed with Glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer.
“Running has always cleared my mind, so when my aunt was diagnosed I went for a long walk and I said to myself, you know what, let’s try running again,” said Muslow, who lives in New York City. “I said to myself, I know the person I can call four months before the race and she’ll agree to it.”
Their run will help raise money for cancer research, and it will honor the many individuals in their lives who are still fighting the disease, have survived cancer or who have lost a loved one. Their goal is to raise at least $7,000 to support brain cancer research at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.
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ALUMNA
Maranda Johnson ('18)
In high school, teachers told Maranda Johnson that she was not “college material” and she “shouldn’t bother applying,” but four years later, she has defied the odds set against her.
Coming to college with only the savings she earned from working through high school, the application process was nothing less than a challenge to navigate and afford.
“My mom wanted me to go to college, but she didn't know how I would get there, financially, because through my entire experience the most she could contribute was groceries,” said Johnson.
She did not let the financial constraints of earning a degree stop her from pursuing her passion though. Instead, Johnson used her obstacles to fuel her ambitions.
In addition to qualifying for Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and earning a scholarship for being among the top ten percent in her field at UNT, Johnson earned a $3,000 Chartered Property and Casualty Underwriters Loman Foundation Scholarship and a $2,500 Insurance Council of Texas scholarship. For two consecutive years, she also earned the Joe D. Heffner Award in Insurance—a notable honor given to just one UNT insurance student a year, based on merit and faculty recommendations.
The drive and ambition Johnson embodied throughout her academic career ultimately enabled her to not only afford college, but also graduate completely debt-free with a double major and full-time job offer.
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Each year, Southwest Airlines donates twenty airline tickets to the UNT College of Business, in support of student case competition travel. Southwest Airlines' generosity is equivalent to an annual $10,000 gift, which enables students to network with those in their field and take advantage of industry learning opportunities.
Most recently, three competing team members (Elisabeth Bernat, Ashleigh Allison and David Breedon), along with seven observers (Miranda Robertson, Carlos Castro, Conner Shinners, Collin Burton, Synthia Jones, Alyssa Wellisch and Megan Houston), were able to attend the Intermodal Association of North America case competition in Long Beach, California because of this donation.
Many board member companies and industry partners also contribute to the case competition travel fund through the annual Logistics Scholarship Breakfast, which is also hosted by Southwest Airlines.
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CPA exam pass rates exceed expectations and UNT records
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The UNT Department of Accounting has a reputation for preparing its students for success. Now, the most recent release of CPA exam pass rates serves as a clear indicator that students are more ready to launch their careers than ever before.
This year, UNT students held an 81.8% pass rate for those taking the CPA exam with an advanced degree. In 2016, this rate was only 47.9%, which represents a drastic increase of more than 30 percentage points, year-over-year.
“Students are increasingly beginning to think that it’s expected that they pass all four parts of the exam before starting their full-time jobs,” said Don and Donna Millican Chair in Accounting Dr. Ananth Seetharaman.
Students opting to take the exam for the first time within one year of graduation could be one of the reasons for this sudden surge in success. Exams within that timeframe saw 15 percentage points higher than those who waited longer to take the exam. Students taking the Auditing section of the CPA exam also did particularly well, with an 80% pass rate, ranking them among the top schools in the state of Texas.
The UNT accounting program is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) and continues to set the bar high for its students in preparing them for their professional careers. In addition to unprecedented CPA exam pass rates, rigorous coursework, resume assistance, student organizations, networking events and mock interviews all play a significant role in student success.
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Delta Epsilon chapter of Delta Sigma Pi receives regional and provincial recognition at annual conference
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This October, the Delta Epsilon chapter of Delta Sigma Pi spent two days at the annual Southwest Regional Leadership and Excellence Academies for Deltasigs Conference, where they not only brought home additional professional development skills, but also several regional awards and recognitions.
The chapter was presented with the 2017-2018 Outstanding Alumni Relations award for the Southwestern Region, the 2017-2018 Outstanding Alumni Relations award for the South Central Province, and the 2017-2018 Chapter of Excellence through participation in the Chapter Management Program award.
In addition to these regional and provincial honors, faculty advisor Erin Welch was also presented with the regional Faculty Advisor of the Year award. “I'm extremely proud of the Chapter. These students go above and beyond in coordinating professional, community service, alumni, and social events, and they do an excellent job of representing UNT at the regional conferences and other events,” said Welch.
The chapter also successfully raised $1,400 through merchandise sales and donations at the conference. Members are continuing to fundraise in support of their scholarship fund, so that other students will have the privilege of experiencing professional growth through Delta Sigma Pi. To help support their efforts, please click the “Make a Gift” link below. |
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Class project allows UNT students to develop insurance for their grades
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A special course at the College of Business is giving students the opportunity to underwrite and “sell” grade insurance in their classroom.
Yu-Luen Ma and Nat Pope, professors in the risk management and insurance program, developed the award-winning "Grade Insurance” project to increase student interest in the classroom while also giving students an opportunity to actually apply insurance concepts in a meaningful way.
“As an educator, it’s often difficult to establish relevance between abstract course content and the actual lives of the students,” said Ma, who teaches the course as part of her Principles of Risk and Insurance Management class at UNT. The project emerged as an instructional tool to help make otherwise abstract insurance concepts more understandable.
“In the end, a successful insurance contract indemnifies a student who may have experienced unexpected adverse circumstance leading up to the exam, such as the sudden on-set of an illness, something over which the student does not have control,” said Ma. “A properly constructed policy will not artificially elevate a student’s score above its pre-final exam level or allow an insured student to escape from his or her usual exam preparation routine.”
To Ma, the real value of the project is in the team’s creation of the contract – rather than the insurance protection the policies might provide.
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College of Business Alumni recognized at UNT Distinguished Alumni Achievement Awards
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College of Business alumni represented all but two award recipients during this year's Distinguished Alumni Achievement Awards reception.
A long-standing university tradition, the Distinguished Alumni Achievement Awards is an annual event that recognizes outstanding achievement, service and support of UNT alumni and friends. From the College of Business, award winners included:
DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI AWARDS
First presented in 1965, this is one of the university’s most prestigious awards. It is awarded to individuals who have achieved prominence in their profession and significantly contributed to society and the university.
- Jim McIngvale ('18)
- Laura Wright (’82, ’82 M.S.)
DISTINGUISHED YOUNG ALUMNI AWARD
Created in 2011, this honor was established to recognize alumni under 40 for distinguished career achievement and contributions to society and the university.
OUTSTANDING ALUMNI SERVICE
First presented in 1974, this award honors individuals who have provided exceptional volunteer service to UNT and the community.
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Justin Finn selected as 2018 Emerging Leader in Internal Audit
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UNT alumnus and Bank of America Assistant Vice President, Senior Auditor Justin Finn was selected as a 2018 Emerging Leader in Internal Audit.
Each year, the Internal Auditor magazine recognizes emerging leaders in the internal audit profession for their display of innovation, business acumen and passion for accounting. The distinction is a testament to the work ethic and skills embodied by those chosen.
Senior Vice President and Audit Director at Bank of America Jim McCole describes Finn as “the auditor of the future, possessing both audit and analytical skills.”
Of the six years that the Internal Auditor has been recognizing professionals in the field, a UNT alumnus has made the list three times. Krystal Pond Aguirre ('13), Senior IT Auditor at Southwest Airlines, was recognized as an emerging leader in 2015, and Chris Eidd ('10), Manager of Internal Audit at Builders FirstSource/Probuild, received the honor in 2016.
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PHILANTHROPIC OPPORTUNITIES AT THE COLLEGE OF BUSINESS
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$10,000
STUDY ABROAD SCHOLARSHIPS
Your gift will enable and empower College of Business students to be more marketable in the workforce and have a well-rounded educational experience. In today’s world, business is a global field that requires an international perspective in order to be successful.
Increasing the number of students that receive a diverse, international outlook will help the College of Business become a more competitive resource for future employers. In addition to providing a global perspective, studying
abroad also helps students understand the influence that meaningful relationships can have on one’s future.
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$5,000
DELTA SIGMA PI SCHOLARSHIPS
Delta Sigma Pi is a professional business fraternity in the UNT College of Business that instills professionalism, the importance of service, and brotherhood between its members. The organization's purpose is to further a higher standard of commercial ethics, integrity, and professional growth within the community. Your gift will allow the college to distribute additional scholarships to business students at UNT to support their educational efforts and continue to encourage future business professionals.
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$1,000
EAGLE BUSINESS NETWORK
The Eagle Business Network provides alumni, friends, students and community members with the opportunity to connect with one another and often times learn from guest speakers. Admission prices do not always cover the costs to host each event, so additional support is critical to our programming. With your help, we can continue offering these valuable alumni networking events.
Click here or the "Make a Gift" link below to learn more
and solidify your support.
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