Monmouth’s Leon Hess Business School (LHBS) announces that four of its business undergraduates will be inducted into the New Jersey Collegiate Business Administration Association (NJCBAA) Honor Society on Friday, May 6. Those four students are Casey Blake, Nathan Heisey, Taylor Rupprecht, and Nancy McGrath— all of whom are graduating seniors.
Admission into the NJCBAA Honor Society is open to all students studying at a 2–4-year colleges pursuing a bachelor’s or associate’s degree in business administration or another traditional business discipline, such as accounting, finance, and marketing. All students who, by their grade point average, are in the top 1% of the total population of business students at their institution and have met most of their degree requirements will be invited into the honors society.
Dean of the Leon Hess Business School, Raj Devasagayam, Ph.D., commended the students on their accomplishments, saying, “On behalf of the Leon Hess Business School faculty and students, I am delighted to congratulate Casey, Nathan, Taylor, and Nancy for this stellar recognition of their scholastic achievements.” He emphasized that this honor is indicative of the LHBS’s mission to prepare its students for such opportunities and honors. “Academic excellence is at the heart of our mission, and these students have proven their excellence through achieving distinctions that require consistent hard work and discipline,” Devasagayam ended.
The inductees felt similarly about the LHBS. Heisey, an Accounting and Finance major, said, “The Leon Hess Business School has challenged me in so many ways, allowing me to grow both professionally and personally. I was challenged to not just complete an item on a syllabus, but to truly comprehend all course content.” He added, “In my finance and accounting work, I was encouraged by my professors to critically think, retain information, and apply what I learned in the classroom to the real world.” Heisey looks forward to beginning his career as an Audit & Assurance Staff at Deloitte this coming fall.
Blake, also an Accounting and Finance major, attributed part of his success to the faculty of the LHBS. “Each professor’s background has allowed me to explore the different fields within the accounting and finance industries.” He continued, “Faculty members have prepared me for the business profession by assigning real-world assignments, encouraging collaboration between peers, and providing opportunities to hear from guest speakers.” Blake will start as a Staff Accountant this fall with WithumSmith + Brown, in Red Bank, NJ.
In addition to being exceptional students in the classroom, some of the inductees are also heavily involved on campus. For example, Rupprecht, an economics and finance major, is the President of Beta Gamma Sigma and Women’s Club Soccer, a Leon Hess Student Advisory Council Member, the Marketing Chair for Enactus, and an Honors School Peer Mentor. Rupprecht said, “When I started my journey at Monmouth University four years ago, I never imagined being in the top 1% of business students in the state, let alone holding the positions I do now. This award shows the countless hours I put into being the best student I can be, and I am just so proud to be inducted in a few weeks.” Rupprecht was able to propel one of her internships with Prudential Financial to a full-time position as an Investment Operations Associate in PGIM.
Likewise, McGrath, a Marketing major, is on Monmouth’s cross country and track and field teams, as well as Social Media Director for the University’s chapter of Beta Gamma Sigma. “I am truly honored to be recognized at such a high level. I worked very hard to get here, and I am proud of myself for achieving such an honor,” said McGrath. However, like the other inductees, McGrath credits her success to the University, “I didn’t do it alone; Monmouth has given me the tools to succeed.”
McGrath continued, “It is important to believe in yourself and trust the path you are on. There will be some bad days, grades that disappoint, and projects that may not go as planned. Nonetheless, don’t let those small moments discourage or distract you from the larger picture at play.” Rupprecht agreed, “It is essential to get out of your comfort zone and try something new. You never know what the future awaits.”
