Graduating Senior Recognition Awards
The graduating Orfalea College of Business students who exhibited academic excellence, offered exceptional service to the community and made contributions to the public image of the college and the university.
Academic Excellence
Tia Bentivegna
This award is often granted to students with the highest GPA in the college. Participation in special projects or research that exemplifies academic excellence might also be considered. Tia Bentivegna was selected for the Academic Excellence award because she is the only graduating senior in the Orfalea College of Business with a 4.0. She was also part of a student delegation that presented its research on taxation in front of the U.S. House of Representatives. She is a business administration major with an Accounting concentration and serves as a peer advisor.
Contributions to the Objectives and Public Image of the College
Miriam Abdoh & Leanna McMahon
This award considers participation in departmental and college-wide clubs, committees, special projects and activities related to representing the college at the state or regional level through competitions or presentations. Service to the college is of greatest emphasis. This year, the award was presented in a two-way tie to business administration students Leanna McMahon and Miriam Abdoh. Abdoh is the president of the Orfalea College of Business Ambassadors, a member of the coed professional business fraternity Delta Sigma Pi, a lead career peer advisor in OCOB’s Career Readiness Center and sits as the student representative on the OCOB Dean’s Advisory Council. McMahon is an OCOB peer advisor, a member of the Cal Poly Women in Business Association and serves on the board for the Cal Poly Accounting Club.
Contributions to the Objectives and Public Image of the University
Morgan McIntyre
This award is given to a student who has made an outstanding contribution to the university as a whole, with primary emphasis placed on involvement in university wide organizations, committees and projects. Business administration student Morgan McIntyre has worked as a WOW orientation leader and as an OCOB first year mentor. She also sits on the Women in Business Association’s Defining Her Future Committee and is a Disability Resource Center student manager. Additionally, she volunteers with the Arthritis Foundation, San Luis Obispo Animal Services, San Luis Obispo Food Bank and is in-home aid for children with autism.
Service to the Community
Minami Kawamoto
Service to the off-campus community is of greatest emphasis in this award, accounting in part for the individual’s efforts to involve other students in service, the difficulty of the service performed, the impact on the off-campus community and the amount of time contributed. Business administration student Minami Kawamoto is an active member on the board of the Cal Poly Accounting Club, the president of the International Students Club and has served more than 100 hours of community service through various social service agencies.