School of Business holds first induction ceremony for Sigma Beta Delta Honor Society

NEW PALTZ — The School of Business at the State University of New York at New Paltz inducted 24 students into the Sigma Beta Delta Honor Society during the first annual induction ceremony at the College Terrace Restaurant recently. Membership in Sigma Beta Delta is the highest recognition a business student can receive at a college or university with a Sigma Beta Delta chapter.

In order to be nominated for membership in the honor society, undergraduate students must have a cumulative GPA of 3.4 and have fulfilled specific credit requirements. Graduate students must have a cumulative GPA of 3.67 and have completed 18 credits toward their graduate degree.

The School of Business inducted the following students: Kristin Diane App, Kimberly Bellarosa, Jacquelyne Cummings, Erica DiNobile, Michael DiTrapani, Erika Fodor, Cherette Furr, Nicole Giordano, Ryan Harter, Kari Kus, Jaime Lee, Joshua Liff, Steven Marin Jr., Gary D. Motz Jr., Erin Nelligan, Meredith Phelan, John Potts, Elasha Salzgaber, Preeti Singh, Sean Soliva, Fatima Turner, Maria Vignogna, Elizabeth White, and Huimin Xu.

In addition to the inductees, the School of Business inducted two honorary members, Dr. David Lavallee and Robert Miniger. Lavallee, provost and vice president for academic affairs at SUNY New Paltz, has continually supported the School of Business in all of its educational activities. Miniger, vice president of human resources of the Balchem Corporation based in Slate Hill, has volunteered his time as the chairperson of the Internship & Job Opportunities Committee for the Business Advisory Council for the School of Business.

“The School of Business is proud to be a chapter of Sigma Beta Delta and hopes to stimulate academic success through its participation,” said Hadi Salavitabar, dean of the School of Business.

The creation of the Sigma Beta Delta follows a 200-year tradition of honoring scholastic achievement in higher education, beginning with the establishment of Phi Beta Kappa in Williamsburg, Va., in 1776. The purpose of Sigma Beta Delta is to recognize scholarship and achievement among students of business, management and administration, and to encourage professional development and a life distinguished by honorable service. As members of the honor society, students are expected to perform 30 hours of community service per year.

The Dean’s Student Advisory Board (DSAB), a student-centered team committed to act as a confidential liaison between the students and the dean, initiated the petition for Sigma Beta Delta to charter a chapter on the SUNY New Paltz campus during the Spring 2003 semester. Notably, Bill Dabroski, George Blaurock, and Ryan Harter of the DSAB worked in conjunction with the honor society’s headquarters and current officers in order to establish a chapter on the SUNY New Paltz campus.

For photos and more information about the School of Business Honor Society, visit www.newpaltz.edu/schoolofbusiness/about_honorsociety.html.