Students

Travis Tipton ('17) and Hameeda Saleem create a website for an annual Computer Information Systems competition.

Integrated Marketing and Management students of Melodie Phillips presented findings from consulting projects with Stones River Veterinary Hospital, the Green Dragon, Restorative Health Services, Jazzmatazz New Orleans Style Restaurant, and Tennessee Mental Health Hospitals. Joshua Aaron’s Management students presented strategic plans for Keller Williams—Ann Hoke and Associates and First Tennessee Bank. Winners included Suhib Alshawi, Frank DeJesus, David Edwards, Kaitlynn Fivecoat, Caryn Lowe, Jerry Onwu, Dana Potter, and Renkai Tuo. Events

Global Entrepreneurship Week featured 15 guest speakers, 600 attendees, and a high school entrepreneurship fair and competition. Laura Buckner, Marketing, hosted an Internship Fair with 24 employers and 90 students participating. Leadership Forum The ATHENA Leadership Forum hosted over 50 invited female students for networking with area businesswomen from Rutherford Cable. The Real Estate student team ranked seventh among 39 teams from various universities in the national 2017 Real Confidence Investment Challenge. Economics Ph.D. student Abul Hasnat Muhammed Salimullah placed first in the Jones College graduate Scholars Week competition. Paula Thomas took seven students to the regional Beta Alpha Psi meeting in Raleigh, NC, where Russel Legreid, Brandon Taylor, and Sarah Ford placed third in the strategic planning competition. Sandy Benson’s Master of Accountancy students' mock advocacy project, a healthcare grant competition, was judged by attorney Graham Baker. Research

Economics Ph.D. student Abul Hasnat Muhammed Salimullah won the Dean’s Distinguished Essay Award. Muhammad Yadudu presented papers at annual meetings with Mohammad Saeed

(Midwest Economics Association) and Nour Kattih (Southern Economic Association). M.S. in Management student Soochan Choi (’16) presented a paper at the 2016 annual meeting of the Decision Sciences Institute. Summit The Nonprofit and Social Innovation Student Summit, funded by the Jennings and Rebecca Jones Foundation, drew 300 students from 52 majors, plus 42 businesses for the Nonprofit and Internship Fair. Leigh Anne Clark and Deana Raffo, Management, with Janet McCormick, Organizational Communication, coordinated the event.

The Jones College Advising Center and Ascend Federal Credit Union sponsored Bounce Out Games, allowing students to relieve exam stress and meet their advisors.

Darrin Lucas (’16) gives his final presentation in the capstone course for the M.S. in Management.

New Student Organizations in Jones College Student Center for the Public Trust—promoting business ethics Blue Spark—the Entrepreneurship student group Accounting Connections—geared toward Accounting Principles students Managerial, Auditing, and Accounting—combining meetings of the Institute of Internal Auditors and Institute of Management Accountants Collegiate DECA Chapter—enhancing business career preparedness Conferences

The Economics Club attended Asian and Middle East Scientific and Multidisciplinary and Leadership, Ethics, and Urban Issues conferences. Tim Greer and Nita Brooks took students to InfoSec Nashville for sessions on topics and trends in network and data security. Paula Thomas and four students attended the Beta Alpha Psi annual meeting in Baltimore. Brandon Taylor was chosen to compete in Project Run With It, an event that provides financial advice to nonprofits. Dave Wood, Martin Chair of Insurance, and Gamma Iota Sigma students attended the Extreme Risk Takers Symposium in Chicago. At the TVA Investment Challenge regional conference, Finance students presented the performance of the $500,000 portfolio they manage. Students met the chief strategic officer of one of the world’s largest hedge funds (Bridgewater Associates, founded by Ray Dalio), TVA officers, and other university teams. Kevin Zhao is the faculty advisor. Field Trips

Economics Club students toured the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis with faculty advisor Michael Roach. Steve Morris and Carlos Coronel took students to CAT Financial for a tour and sessions allowing students to learn about the company’s IT processes. Cliff Welborn’s supply chain and distribution center management students visited the Ingram Content Group printing facility, Under Armour distribution center, and General Mills Yoplait plant. Maria Kahn took promotion students to meet with Nashville General Hospital executives about multiple marketing campaigns. Philip Seagraves led Real Estate students on a behind-the-scenes tour of Hilton Garden Inn with its general manager and the Asian American Hotel Owners Association’s regional director. Blue Raider Realty members toured the in-patient facility of Alive Hospice and donated to the nonprofit. Beta Gamma Sigma The Jones College BGS chapter was named a 2016 –17 Honors Chapter. BGS membership is the highest academic honor available to business students at AACSB-accredited business schools. Sandy Benson, Accounting, serves as the faculty advisor.

The Professional Sales team (Laura Buckner and Lucy Matthews, faculty advisors) participated in the Ball State University Regional Sales Competition. Jeremy Weaver won third place in the competitive track. Mia Griggs and Ivy Blackmon placed in the top four in the developmental track. The sales team also competed in the invitation-only State Farm Marketing and Sales Competition at the University of Central Missouri. Eighty-two students of Lucy Matthews and Maria Khan applied their skills in a speed-selling event with representatives from 13 companies.

The MTSU AITP chapter held internal competitions in web development, business intelligence and analytics, office solutions, and security. Mary Shotwell and Michael Murphy took 12 students to the AITP National Conference in St. Louis. The team won the banner contest, and Derek Harper and Hameeda Saleem placed third in Business Analytics. Noted game developer and cryptographer Elonka Dunin, considered the “leading Kryptos expert in the world” by NOVA scienceNOW, spoke to the Association of IT Professionals students about her career.

Bounce Out Games, sponsored by Ascend Federal Credit Union, gave students a chance to take a study break and meet their advisors.

Fall competition winners for Coca Cola Bottling Co. were first place, Kristina Jones, Amy Lindley, and Trilce Maddle ($600 each); second, Bianca Whitehead, Kendra Northcutt, Jonathan Henegar, and Jonathan Renner ($312.50); third, Keaton Davis, Brittney Hill, and Timothy Reece ($300). Spring competition winners for United Way of Rutherford and Cannon Counties included first place, at $1,800 for the team, Rikki Grecco, Michaela Upchurch, and Cori Jones; second place for $1,200, Tanner Rowland, Amber Knight, Mary Alison Capps, and Pattie Taylor; and third for $600, Brette Motlow, Joseph Kremer, Ben Platt, and Chance Cansler.

Four undergraduate and 14 graduate students completed an inaugural International Accounting Study Abroad program in London and Paris with Tammy Bahmanziari and Jeannie Harrington. Twelve business majors took Kenny Jih’s International Business Leadership Experience at Chung Yuan Christian University in Taiwan. Laura Buckner accompanied nine students to Finland, Sweden, and Estonia for her International Business course. Kim Sokoya led seven MTSU students in lectures and discussions at China’s Hangzhou Normal University and on visits to area multinational corporations.

Computer Information Systems students network with prospective employers at IT Connect.

First Place ($7,500). Protective Innovations—Chris Perrine (’05); Tim Mathisen, Aviation Safety and Security Second Place First Tennessee Bank Award ($5,000). Smells Don’t Sell—Brooke Greene, Organizational Communication Third Place ($1,000). Accoa—Thomas Harris Jr. (’14); Kirkland Atkins, Accounting Social Entrepreneurship Award. The First Hello—Logan Elmore, Graphic Design Special Recognition Award. Groovly—Jesse Rivelis and Lucas White, Recording Industry with a concentration in Music Business Elevator Pitch Judges Award. Bongo Beverage—Rajarshi Ghosh, Christopher Davis, and Brock Arivett, Molecular Biosciences Trade Show Judges Award. Tri-Star Sports—Tyler Burnett, Management; Connor Slane, Plant and Soil Science, Entrepreneurship Corporate Innovation Award. Citadel Security—Zachery Dunn, Management, and Samuel Shepard, Unmanned Aircraft Systems Wil Clouse Technology Award. Drones iVue—Jacob Andrews, Jacob Crawford, and Justin Andrews, Unmanned Aircraft Systems Wil Clouse Agriculture Technology Award. Volunteer Roots— Graeme Young, Accounting

Kedron Hilario ('16) participates in a panel discussion on the Master of Accountancy program at a Beta Alpha Psi meeting.

Brooke Greene ('17) competes in the final round of the Business Plan Competition sponsored by the Pam Wright Chair of Entrepreneurship.

Juan Tellez-Moreno, Michelle Cochran, and JaKira Neal study on the balcony overlooking the South Lobby.

Donuts with the Deans. Free donuts and coffee plus an opportunity to network with the deans Lunch on Us. Free pizza for business majors and minors Perk-Up. Free refreshment break during finals Pop-In. Free popcorn plus advising appointment scheduling Scholarships

Andrew C. Rambo Scholarship. Michelle Rathbun received $16,000 as a member of the 2017–18 Accelerated Cohort MBA. Society of Industrial and Office Realtors. SIOR sponsored scholarships for Real Estate students. Women in Technology of Tennessee with CTS and Tractor Supply. Stephanie Henry and Itasca Liddell received scholarships and internships. Construction Financial Management Association. Ashley Shank and Abby Bumbalough earned scholarships. Veterans Scholarship Reception. Kyle Taylor (Aetna Excellence in Insurance Scholarship) and Marcos Tadeo (Jones College Service and Scholarship Award) each received $500. Computer Information Systems paired upperclass CIS majors with freshmen to facilitate general mentoring and communication on events and scheduling. Professional Development Meet the Firms. The annual Accounting event hosted 35 employers and 164 students.

Graduate Student Career Fair. Nine major employers from diverse industries in middle Tennessee were represented. BEST Career and Internship Fair. The Management and Marketing Business Exchange for Student Talent was attended by 54 employers with 154 students. IT Connect Career Fair. The event raised $8,000 for scholarships with a total of 200 students and 25 employers participating. Tennessee Department of Treasury. Officials recruited M.B.A. students for summer internships. LinkedIn. Don Roy gave a presentation for graduate students. Jones College Executive in Residence. John Boyens facilitated a soft-skill development seminar for M.B.A. students. Hankook Tires. Laura Buckner coordinated interviews for Accounting and Finance students. Scholarships Tennessee Society of Certified Professional Accountants scholarships were awarded to 21 Accounting majors. Joshua Beaty and Kevin Benderman each received the highly coveted $25,000 King Scholarship.