VCU Business

Sebine Scaria
Student of the Year, Business

Sebine is an outstanding and hard-working student who continuously seeks new challenges to enrich her academic experience. She previously worked as a tutor at the Campus Learning Center and as a research assistant for Dr. Peter Savelyev. She currently contributes to a research project on COVID-related schooling disruptions with Dr. Minchul Yum and Dr. Christopher Herrington through the underrepresented minority (URM) pipeline project. Sebine maintains a 3.89 GPA and takes graduate-level econometrics courses to strengthen her quantitative skills. She plans to pursue a career as a business analyst or data scientist.

Adam Funge
Student of the Year, Humanities and Sciences

Adam is an exceptional student, maintaining a 3.96 GPA while pursuing a degree in economics with minors in information systems (IS) and sociology. He contributed to a project with the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services, implementing differential privacy to protect individual health data. Adam has also volunteered with Clean Virginia Waterways and the DC Central Kitchen, as well as helped distribute essential supplies during the Richmond water crisis. He is considering a master’s degree in cybersecurity and plans to pursue a career in AI, cybersecurity, IS or economics. He hopes to study abroad and travel the world.

Emma Ryder
Distinguished Service Award, Business

Emma is a standout business student pursuing double majors in economics and accounting. She attended VCU on a Provost Scholarship and has also been honored with the Markel Scholarship and the 2023-2024 School of Business Dean’s Scholar Award. Even as a VCU cheerleader competing at the national level, she has found time to serve as a teaching assistant for Microeconomic Theory and volunteer with the Richmond SPCA. This summer, Emma has secured an internship at The Roseline Group, a Richmond-based tax firm. After graduation, she plans to earn CPA licensure and pursue a career in auditing. 

Jason Dresen
Distinguished Service Award, Humanities and Sciences

Jason is a stellar student pursuing dual degrees in economics and political science with a concentration in international relations while maintaining a 3.92 GPA. He has served as a teaching assistant for Macroeconomic Theory and as a tutor for economics, political science and Spanish courses at the Campus Learning Center. Additionally, he co-leads a weekly Spanish conversation group, serves as treasurer for the VCU Men's Ultimate Frisbee Club and is a member of the Student Economics Association. After graduation, Jason hopes to serve in the Peace Corps as a prelude to joining the U.S. Foreign Service. 

Nathan Thomas
Student of the Year, Business

Nathan is an exceptional student! He is currently in the Economics Accelerated M.A. program, which means that he is completing graduate economics courses during his senior year in the undergraduate program. Despite the added challenge, he has skillfully upheld a flawless 4.0 GPA! He is also working as a research assistant under the mentorship of Dr. Christopher Herrington, who praises his capabilities and contributions. Additionally, Nathan is a member of the VCU Student Managed Investment Portfolio (SMIP), and has participated in the Federal Reserve Challenge team, placing first in the 2023 Altria Analytics Competition.

Mattias Varjun
Student of the Year, Humanities and Sciences

Mattias is an outstanding student and athlete at VCU. He has managed to achieve an impressive GPA along with strong performances for the VCU golf team. His unwavering commitment and exemplary scholarly performance have garnered widespread admiration from faculty members across a spectrum of courses, who unanimously consider him a brilliant student. Mattias has also been named an All-American Scholar by the Golf Coaches Association of America. After graduation, he aspires to be a top 50 golfer in the world.

James Melton
Distinguished Service Award, Business

James has played many important roles in serving the Department of Economics and VCU. He is currently the teaching assistant for Principles of Macroeconomics, one of our largest courses, and has been a member of the Federal Reserve Challenge team at VCU. He also works at the Campus Learning Center as a tutor for mathematics and economics. Additionally, he is the president of the Student Economic Association, which organizes several events, networking sessions and tutoring services. After graduation, he hopes to become a research assistant at the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond.

Lily Buysse
Student of the Year, School of Business

Lily combines an outstanding GPA with extraordinary service to VCU, and both faculty and students sing her praises. She was a member of the VCU Fed Challenge Team, is the current president of the Student Economics Association and was previously their communications director. She is also serving the economics department as a teaching assistant for macroeconomic theory and has worked as a tutor for the Office of Student-Athlete Support Services. Lily is currently doing an internship at RCG, a local accounting firm, and is planning on doing the master's program in economics at VCU.

Giovanna Winning
Student of the Year, Humanities and Sciences

A double major in economics and environmental sciences, Giovanna has shown excellence in the classroom and beyond. She has ranked among the top students in her economics courses, participated in the Neo Environmental Organization on campus and currently serves as president of the VCU Indoor Climbing Club. Last summer, she interned with the Virginia Economic Development Partnership and is currently applying to a variety of environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) and corporate sustainability-focused internships for the coming summer. After graduation, she hopes to work in environmental economics or corporate sustainability.

Sarah Cuba
Distinguished Service Award, Business

A dual major in Music and Economics, Sarah has a strong academic record and an exemplary history of service to VCU. She has participated in the VCU Fed Challenge Team and is now the vice president of the Student Economics Association. She is a member of Kappa Kappa Psi, a music service organization, and was a group leader with InterVarsity, a non-denominational Christian student ministry. Sarah is applying for the accelerated master's program in economics and plans to pursue a career related to data analysis.

Dorian Philpot
Student of the Year, School of Business

Dorian has demonstrated exceptional scholarship, with an excellent GPA overall, as well as in her extensive economics coursework. In 2021, she was selected for the Timothy R. Sizemore Endowed Scholarship in Economics, as well as an externship with the Economic Policy Institute. Dorian has also served as a teaching assistant for Principles of Microeconomics. She plans to pursue graduate school in public policy in preparation for a career in social and financial policy.

Kai Amado
Distinguished Service Award, School of Business

Kai demonstrates excellence in the classroom and beyond. She has provided valuable service to the Department of Economics as a teaching assistant in Principles of Microeconomics, a grader for Managerial Economics, and a volunteer at VCU School of Business open houses. Kai has served the university as Vice President of HR and Recruitment and Sector Lead for VCU's Student Managed Investment Portfolio. She plans to continue those positions, in addition to being elected as President of the Student Economics Association for the upcoming academic year. Kai plans to pursue graduate school in Economics and a career in public policy and government.

Shreeyas Satish Kumar
Distinguished Service Award, Humanities and Sciences

Shreeyas is an outstanding student, with an excellent GPA and an exceptional record of service. He was selected for the Eleanor C. Snellings Scholarship in Economics in 2021 and has served as a teaching assistant for Macroeconomic Theory, as well as an economics tutor at the Campus Learning Center. Shreeyas also owns a nonprofit, Cure4All, and participated in the VCU LEAD program. After graduation, he plans to work as a medical scribe and then pursue medical school.

Maddie Berghuis
Student of the Year, Business

Maddie is receiving a dual degree in economics and finance. She has achieved a high standard of excellence both in and out of the classroom, with an outstanding GPA and an exceptional record outside of coursework. Maddie was a member of the VCU Fed Challenge Team and was selected for and completed four internships. She has also served the Department of Economics as a teaching assistant for ECON 210. Maddie has served in leadership roles in several student organizations, including president of Business Student Ambassadors and treasurer of Alpha Phi Omega. In 2020, she was selected as a Sizemore Scholarship recipient.

Niranjana Harikrishnan
Student of the Year, Humanities and Sciences

A double major in economics and political science, Niranjana has demonstrated excellence in the classroom and beyond. She combines an outstanding GPA with extraordinary service to VCU and the community. Niranjana was a member of the VCU Fed Challenge Team, is president of Heroes at VCU and UNICEF at VCU, and senior advisor for the H&S Leadership Council. She has served the community as an intern for U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine and the Virginia Council on Women and Virginia Asian Advisory Board through the Secretary of the Commonwealth, and won the Department of Economics H&S Distinguished Service Award in 2020.

Michael Portillo
Distinguished Service Award, Business

Michael has a strong academic record and an exemplary history of service to the VCU and Richmond communities. He has served as an economics teaching assistant and research assistant. Michael has also served as vice president of the VCU Student Economics Association and helped re-charter the VCU chapter of Omicron Delta Epsilon, the national economics honor society. He has contributed to the community through the Ampersand Pantry Project, providing necessities to Richmond neighborhoods heavily impacted by the pandemic, and has volunteered with undocumented students in Richmond’s ESL classrooms. After graduation, Michael will begin his career with the U.S. State Department.

Jonathan C. Campbell
Student of the Year, Business

Jonathan is an outstanding student with a 4.0 GPA. His active engagement in the classroom demonstrates a keen interest in and understanding of economics, enriching the learning environment for both fellow students and instructors. He has also provided excellent service to the Department of Economics at VCU as a teaching assistant for Macroeconomic Theory, including tutoring fellow students outside the classroom.

Benjamin R. Alpern
Student of the Year, Humanities and Sciences

Benjamin demonstrates excellence in the classroom and beyond, combining an excellent GPA with exceptional achievement in economics outside of his regular coursework. In fall 2018, he was a member of the College Fed Challenge team that won their local and regional competitions and earned an honorable mention in the national competition at the Federal Reserve Board of Governors in Washington, D.C. He was selected for an externship at Tesla in spring 2019 and is currently interning with the Virginia Employment Commission.

Niranjana Harikrishnan
Distinguished Service Award, Humanities and Sciences

A double major in economics and political science, Niranjana combines excellent scholarship with outstanding service. She has served as public relations chair and now vice president of Heroes at VCU and UNICEF at VCU, organizations focused on helping children in the Richmond area and around the world. She is also a member of the Leadership Council and vice president of the Notochords a cappella ensemble at VCU. Niranjana has served the broader community as an intern for U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine and for the Virginia Council on Women and Virginia Asian Advisory Board through the Secretary of the Commonwealth.