25 Under 25 recognition program

Anyone who has spent time around them knows that the students in WSU's Mike Ilitch School of Business are some of the brightest and hardest working around. For the second year, the best of the best will be recognized for all they do – in and out of the classroom – through the 25 Under 25 awards. 

Dean Robert Forsythe created the Mike Ilitch School of Business 25 Under 25 program to recognize students who have demonstrated success in at least two of the following four categories: academics, leadership, professional development, and campus/community service.

2018 winners

The 2018 winners are:

• Brian Boeskool, finance and accounting
• Carli Burczyk, management
• Robert Calimente, finance
• Nina Cedro, marketing and information systems management
• Leif Clark, management
• Rachel Cullon, finance
• Rachel Cyranski, global supply chain management
• Jeffrey Frederick, accounting
• Joseph Haddad, global supply chain management
• Christopher Haley, finance
• Rachel Jones, global supply chain management
• Marta Kopania, finance and information systems management
• Sara Marker, MBA
• David Michail, accounting
• Jessica Murphy, global supply chain management
• Nicholas Mutebi, management
• Mackenzie Queen, finance and information systems management
• Michael Rachwal, global supply chain management
• Mahmoud Saleh, finance
• Anchita Sanam, finance and information systems management
• Troy Saruna, marketing
• Taylor Smith, finance
• Aaron Spencer, MBA
• Brent Steinacker, global supply chain management
• Christina Winkler, MBA

Business students were invited to apply earlier this year, and a panel of executive judges from the Dow Chemical Company, Fifth Third Bank, OpTech, Nexsys Technologies and UHY LLP reviewed and ranked the submissions.

Honorees will be presented with a special award on March 22, 2018, at the Gem Theatre in Detroit. A select group of potential hiring managers from local employers will also attend this special, invitation-only event.

Application process

To be selected for this program, students complete an online application and submit a résumé and, in some cases, reference letters to demonstrate their accomplishments to a panel of judges comprised of executives from the business community. The deadline to apply is Jan. 31, 2018. Previous winners are not eligible for the current award year.

Qualifications, required documentation and recognition are outlined below. Students are encouraged to have their resumes reviewed by the Mike Ilitch School of Business Career Planning & Placement Office before submitting them.

If you would like to nominate a student, please send their name and contact information to ilitchbusiness@wayne.edu. Friends and alumni of the Mike Ilitch School of Business who are interested in serving as a judge or event sponsor should contact Steve Townsend at smtownsend@wayne.edu.

25 Under 25 program requirements

Qualifications

All applicants must:

• Be fully admitted to and currently enrolled in the Wayne State University Mike Ilitch School of Business as an undergraduate, graduate or doctoral student
• Undergraduates must have completed at least 30 credit hours of coursework toward a BS/BA degree including a minimum of 15 credits at Wayne State University
• Have a minimum 3.0 overall GPA
• Be able to demonstrate excellence in at least two of the following areas at the college level:
  • Academics
  • Leadership
  • Professional development
  • Community/campus service
• Be no older than 25 on March 22 of the award year.
• Have not been recognized with 25 Under 25 honors in a previous year.

Recognition

Students chosen for the 25 Under 25 recognition program:

• Will be selected by a panel of judges comprised of industry executives.
• Will have professional headshots taken by a WSU photographer. These headshots will be used for a recognition booklet, website and social media campaign. Headshots will be shared with students for personal use.
• Will receive an award at a special networking reception.
• Will be profiled on the Mike Ilitch School of Business website and highlighted in news releases, social media and other channels.

Required documentation

When completing the application, students should be prepared to:

1. Describe (using no more than 750 words) your accomplishments in at least two of the following areas: scholarship, leadership, professional development, and community/campus service activities.
2. Submit an updated résumé in PDF format.
3. Although not required, students may also submit PDF files of up to two reference letters that provide proof of significant community service, leadership, or professional development.

While students must fill out the application themselves, others are welcome to suggest students for participation by sending their name and contact information to ilitchbusiness@wayne.edu.

2017 winners

• Justin Adsitt-Weiner, Global Supply Chain & Accounting
• Zara Akhter, Global Supply Chain & Information Systems Management
• Lila Al-shwaf, Global Supply Chain
• Hajar Al-wahabi, Global Supply Chain & Marketing
• Maria Arpino, MBA
• Charles Ashton, Finance
• Alex Atanasovski, MST
• Trent Brodbeck, Global Supply Chain
• Cosmin Dordea, Finance & Accounting
• Jack Floyd, Global Supply Chain
• Donald Glazier, Accounting & Finance
• Julia Hurley, Global Supply Chain
• Dung Huynh, Marketing
• Brianne Lambrecht, Accounting
• Lindsey Mason, MBA
• Jack Mazur, Global Supply Chain
• Andrew McAnelly, Accounting
• Robin Nickell, Information Systems Management
• Krystal Robinson, Marketing
• Revanth Selvaraj, Global Supply Chain
• Idon Shaman, Information Systems Management
• Viswanath Swamy, Global Supply Chain
• Troy Tanzy, Finance
• Andrew Timlin, Finance
• Loren Townes, Marketing