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Student of the Year | Distinguished Service Award | Tax Award | Insurance Award | Snead Scholars | Dean's Scholars | Dean's List | Honor Societies | Past Award Recipients

2025-2026 Departmental Awards

Departmental Awards are selected by each academic department in the School of Business. Award recipients are honored at an annual School of Business award ceremony.

Student of the Year

Awarded to a senior or graduate student from each academic department who has demonstrated outstanding accomplishments in scholarship and leadership.

Emma Ryder
Department of Accounting

Emma will graduate with a double major in accounting and economics and plans to continue her studies in graduate school. A four-year member of the VCU cheer team, she balanced the demands of collegiate athletics and team leadership while maintaining a 3.92 GPA as captain. Her academic achievements have been recognized through the PCAOB, John B. Sperry, Markel, H. Davis Willis and VCU Provost's scholarships, and she was the 2025 recipient of the Distinguished Service Award for Economics. She also completed competitive internships in taxation with The Rosaline Group and in auditing assurance with EY.

Student of the Year - Department of Accounting

Marshall Jones
Department of Economics, School of Business

Marshall has built an impressive record in economics, maintaining a 3.88 GPA while already taking on graduate-level work through VCU's accelerated master's program. Having successfully completed multiple graduate courses, he is on track to finish his master's degree in economics next year. He has also worked as a teaching and research assistant for Dr. Peter Savelyev. In class, Marshall is known for bringing thoughtful insight to discussion and hopes to use his economics training in the filed of public policy analysis.

portrait of male student smiling at the camera

Jason Dresen
Department of Economics, College of Humanities and Sciences

Jason is completing dual degrees in economics and political science, with a concentration in international relations, while maintaining a 3.94 GPA. Over four semesters, he has served as the teaching assistant for Macroeconomic Theory and has also worked as a tutor in economics, political science and Spanish at the Campus Learning Center. He is a member of the Student Economics Association and received the Department of Economics Distinguished Service Award in 2025. After graduation, Jason will serve in the U.S. Peace Corps in Sri Lanka.

student smiling at the camera

Natalia Rooks
Department of Finance, Insurance and Real Estate

Natalia has been actively involved in the School of Business throughout her time at VCU. Her honors include first place in the 2023 Robinhood ETF Pitch Case Competition, second place in the 2024 Robinhood ETF Pitch Competition and serving as co-moderator for the 2025 Investor Circle speaker event with CNBC's Guy Adami. She has also served as vice president of the Student Managed Investment Portfolio at VCU and a Bloomberg Terminal Lab Assistant. Through internships, faculty mentorship and campus involvement, Natalia is known for her global and contrarian thinking which has prepared her for a career in finance and investments, including an upcoming internship with the Artemis Fund.

portrait of a student smiling at the camera

Jessica Glecy Groyon
Department of Information Systems

Jessica will graduate this spring with a B.S. in information systems and a minor in business analytics, capping off her undergraduate career with a 4.0 GPA. Along the way, she balanced a full course load with leadership as vice president of Beta Alpha Psi and built experience through internships with the Gardner Institute, Rappahannock Electric Cooperative and the U.S. Department of Energy. She also studied ecotourism in Costa Rica and fashion merchandising in Milan through VCU's Global Gateway programs. A Charles G. Thalheimer Scholarship recipient, Snead Scholar and Dean's Scholar, Jessica is preparing for a career in data analytics.

Jessica Glecy Groyon portrait with gold

Tristan Montero
Department of Management and Entrepreneurship

Tristan has earned an exceptional 3.91 GPA while completing the rigorous curriculum of VCU's Honors College, where expectations exceed the traditional undergraduate level. He has also brought innovation into his academic work, earning a certificate in Product Innovation through the VCU da Vinci Center for Innovation. Tristan is known not only for academic excellence, but for his style of leadership that lifts people around him and strengthens the VCU community.

Tristan Montero portrait with gold

Alexandria Davis
Department of Marketing

Alexandria is a marketing major at VCU who will graduate with a 4.0 GPA. A Brightpoint Community College alumna, she is also a small business owner and advocate for students with foster care backgrounds, drawing from her own experience in foster care. Her work and story have been featured by VPM, NPR, VCU News and the Richmond Times-Dispatch. As a TEDxVCU speaker, Alexandria has used her platform to speak about expanding access and support for foster youth in higher education. She plans to use her marketing education to support mission-driven organizations and help create meaningful, foundational change.

Alexandria Davis portrait with gold

Kaia Fagan
Department of Supply Chain Management and Analytics

With a 3.92 GPA, Kaia has been one of the top students in the supply chain management program while taking on a wide range of leadership roles across campus. She helps organize expos and serves as an undergraduate project manager for Project Ram Re-X. Kaia also leads the Sustainable Supply Chain Society as president, where she has expanded engagement with industry partners, professional organizations and students. Her involvement also includes serving as vice president of membership for Alpha Kappa Psi, president of the VCU Women's Rugby Club and student liaison for the Association for Supply Chain Management. She plans to fully transition into VCU's accelerated Master of Supply Chain Management program upon completing her undergraduate degree.

Kaia Fagan portrait with gold

Distinguished Service Award

Awarded to a student from each academic department who has provided distinguished service to the department, university and community.

Brianna Cook
Department of Accounting

Brianna is a double major in accounting and business management with a concentration in entrepreneurship. She has distinguished herself through her leadership, academic success and service to the VCU community. She serves as treasurer for both Beta Alpha Psi and NABA and is also an active Army ROTC cadet. Her accomplishments have earned her recognition on the Dean's List and as a Controllers Executive Roundtable Scholar. After graduation, Brianna plans to pursue CPA licensure and begin a career in public accounting.

Brianna Cook portrait with gold

Andrew McCauley
Department of Economics, College of Humanities and Sciences

Andrew is a dedicated economics student with a 3.87 GPA and currently serves as president of the Student Economics Association. Alongside the SEA leadership team, he has helped organize events featuring guest speakers and discussion. He has also worked as a teaching assistant for Dr. Shannon Mitchell, Dr. John Mullin and Dr. Minchul Yum. In class, Andrew is known for bringing an informed perspective to conversations about economics.

Andrew McCauley portrait with gold

Kameron Wachter
Department of Finance, Insurance and Real Estate

Kameron has been an essential member of the Student Managed Investment Portfolio at VCU for the past three years and currently serves as technology sector lead and vice president of media and alumni relations. She has also served as a Lester Summer Fellow and taken part in the Department of Finance's Washington, D.C. and New York trips. Through the Robinhood Research Fellows program, she and her team won first place after presenting to Robinhood's chief risk officer. Kameron also earned a CFA Student Scholarship. She completed a financial analyst internship with Morgan Stanley and represented VCU as the first student to attend the UNC IM4A Conference and UNC Alpha AI Challenge. She is also an active student member of 100 Women in Finance. After graduation, she will join AllianceBernstein in Nashville, Tennessee.

Kameron Wachter portrait with gold

Ahmed Hedia
Department of Information Systems

Ahmed is a senior majoring in information systems with a 3.63 cumulative GPA. On campus, he serves as secretary of the Information Systems Organization and community outreach chair for the Black Muslim Collective, while also representing the program at VCU Open Houses and Preview Days for prospective students. Outside of class, he works as a resident assistant and as a research analyst at IT Depot LLC in Leesburg, Virginia. He also attended the AfroTech 2025 conference in Houston, where he expanded his technical knowledge and career network. After graduation, Ahmed plans to remain at IT Depot while pursuing business analyst opportunities.

Ahmed Hedia portrait with gold

Greyson Deker
Department of Management and Entrepreneurship

Greyson has made leadership and service a defining part of his time at VCU. As a founding member and developmental coach of the Sales Club, he teaches SPIN selling methodology and leads club meetings. He is also a founding member of Visionary Leaders of America, supporting philanthropic efforts locally and on campus. His involvement has also included service on the presidential committee of Pi Sigma Epsilon, where he facilitated professional development workshops, and worked as a business student ambassador, leading tours of Snead Hall and taking part in VCU Preview Days for incoming students.

Greyson Deker portrait with gold

Madison Silcox
Department of Marketing

Madison is a marketing major with a minor in media studies and serves as president of VCU's American Marketing Association chapter. Under her leadership, the chapter welcomed more than 80 new members and established its three pillars: knowledge, opportunities and community. She has also worked for three years as a student worker in the VCU Office of the President, served on the Professional Selling Team and spent two years as social media chair for VCU Active Minds, a mental health organization. Madison dedicates her work to her grandmother, Judy, a 1966 graduate of VCU, then known as Richmond Professional Institute.

Madison Silcox portrait with gold

Kaia Fagan
Department of Supply Chain Management and Analytics

With a 3.92 GPA, Kaia has been one of the top students in the supply chain management program while taking on a wide range of leadership roles across campus. She helps organize expos and serves as an undergraduate project manager for Project Ram Re-X. Kaia also leads the Sustainable Supply Chain Society as president, where she has expanded engagement with industry partners, professional organizations and students. Her involvement also includes serving as vice president of membership for Alpha Kappa Psi, president of the VCU Women's Rugby Club and student liaison for the Association for Supply Chain Management. She plans to fully transition into VCU's accelerated Master of Supply Chain Management program upon completing her undergraduate degree.

Kaia Fagan portrait with gold

Ann G. and Barney Roland Freasier, Sr. Tax Award

Awarded from the Department of Accounting to an outstanding student who has taken at least six hours of taxation courses at VCU and has demonstrated the most promise in the field of taxation.

Josh Adkins
Department of Accounting

Josh has maintained a perfect 4.0 GPA at VCU. His academic performance has earned him recognition as a PCAOB Scholar and recipient of the H. Davis Willis scholarship. In 2025, he completed two internships with Brown Edwards, one in taxation and one in audit. He has also worked as an accounting tutor for the Campus Learning Center and has been involved with NABA and VCU's cross-country and track club. After graduation, Josh plans to pursue a career in public accounting and obtain his CPA license.

Josh Adkins portrait with gold

Davis Ratcliffe Insurance Award

Awarded by the Risk Management and Insurance Program in the Department of Finance, Insurance and Real Estate, this honor recognizes a full-time undergraduate business student who has completed two or more insurance courses offered by the School of Business, excluding summer and evening classes. Selection is based on academic achievement, character and initiative, with preference given to a student pursuing a career in property and casualty insurance. The award is named in memory of Davis Ratcliffe, a former insurance executive who established VCU’s insurance program in 1969.

Dane DiEugenio
Risk Management and Insurance Program,
Department of Finance, Insurance and Real Estate

Dane has distinguished himself in the Risk Management and Insurance program through his academic performance, leadership and representation of the program. He serves as president of Gamma Iota Sigma, the student organization for RMI, and has been an ambassador for the program. Dane completed the Spencer Fellows internship program and is currently interning with Greenhouse Specialty, a newly formed managing general agency. He has also accepted a full-time position in the insurance industry. Faculty describe him as bright, motivated and hardworking, and as one of the most outstanding students they have worked with at VCU.

Dane DiEugenio portrait with gold

Snead Scholars

Snead Scholars are distinguished seniors selected by each academic department in the School of Business for their exceptional scholarship, leadership and service. One student from each department is honored annually with this recognition.

Kameron Samuel
Accounting

Kameron Samuel portrait

Courtenay Houston
Finance, Insurance and Real Estate

Courtenay Houston portrait

Jessica Glecy Groyon
Information Systems

Jessica Glecy Groyon portrait

Ella Henderson
Management and Entrepreneurship

Ella Henderson portrait

Victoria Adams
Marketing

Victoria Adams portrait

Fenix Camarillo
Supply Chain Management and Analytics

Fenix Camarillo portrait

Dean's Scholars

Dean’s Scholars are recognized for achieving academic excellence by maintaining a 4.0 GPA through their junior or senior year. Honorees are celebrated annually at the VCU School of Business award ceremony for their exceptional academic achievement.

Class of 2025 (December) Dean's Scholars:
  • Tyler Albeck
  • Lea Canselo
  • Elizabeth Lees
  • Belinda McDowell
  • Natasha Romero Moskala

Dean's List

This honor is awarded to students each semester in which a minimum of 12 semester credits are earned, and a GPA of at least 3.5 is attained with no grade below a “C.” This designation appears on students’ academic transcripts.

Honor Societies

Beta Gamma Sigma (BGS)

BGS has honored academic achievement in the study of business since 1913. Membership in BGS is the highest academic recognition a business student can achieve. Each year only 10% of the juniors and 10% of the seniors may be admitted into Beta Gamma Sigma.

To learn more about Beta Gamma Sigma, visit their website. Only business schools accredited by AACSB International may have local BGS chapters and may induct students into Beta Gamma Sigma.

Pi Kappa Phi

Pi Kappa Phi is the nation's oldest and most selective multidisciplinary collegiate honor society. Membership is offered to students, faculty and others who demonstrate outstanding academic achievement. 

Visit VCU's chapter of Pi Kappa Phi's website to learn about membership and scholarship opportunities.

 

Past Departmental Award Recipients

To view each recipients' biography, please visit the respective department or program page. 
Accounting | Economics | Finance | Information Systems | Management and Entrepreneurship
Marketing | Risk Management and Insurance | Supply Chain Management and Analytics