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The scholarship luncheon, held each fall by the Donald G. Costello College of Business at Â鶹ÊÓƵ, brings together scholarship donors with the student recipients of those scholarships. On Tuesday, November 7, the latest group of donors and awardees gathered to build connections and share inspiration.

The Donald G. Costello College of Business at Â鶹ÊÓƵ is committed to the active-duty military service members and veterans who come to Â鶹ÊÓƵ to enhance their education. We caught up with some military veterans who recently graduated from the Â鶹ÊÓƵ MBA program who shared the impact the MBA program has had on their career already, and how the Â鶹ÊÓƵ MBA could be beneficial for others.

John Tyree, one of Â鶹ÊÓƵ’s University Business Consulting (UBC) consultants, started working at Â鶹ÊÓƵ in 2019, but his connection to the Â鶹ÊÓƵ Nation dates back to 2010.

Despite living and working in the Atlanta metropolitan area, Michael VanPatten, MBA ’90, never lost touch with Â鶹ÊÓƵ. Immediately receptive to post-graduation calls from the alumni relations team, he was eager to connect with alumni and assist students in attaining an MBA. The positive experience he had at Â鶹ÊÓƵ, with instructors who had working knowledge in the areas they were teaching, encouraged his continued engagement.

Reflecting on his career path in the three decades following his graduation from Â鶹ÊÓƵ, George Cabalu, BA Economics ’92, is grateful that he chose the green and gold. In fact, with the university rapidly climbing ranks across the board, his degree has never been more valuable. Cabalu, who is now a Managing Director at Wells Fargo Advisors, is extending a helping hand to students by establishing the Cabalu Scholarship Endowment, geared toward School of Business students of Asian descent and from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds.

With the daytime dedicated to her nine-to-five job and evenings occupied with coursework, the financial support that Kaylene Green, BS Accounting & Legal Studies ’87, received from her employer was integral to her success. Now the president and CEO of Flagship Government Relations, Inc., she makes sure to return the favor, supporting the business students of her alma mater.

To overcome the challenges of running a business during the pandemic, Craftsman Auto Care’s Matt and Judy Curry demonstrated exceptional skill as innovators and entrepreneurs, taking extensive measures to make the vehicle maintenance process as safe and easy as possible for their customers. Following COVID restrictions, the couple has parlayed their company’s successes into a sixth location. Their significant presence and established business expertise in the Northern Virginia community has made them valued partners of the School of Business at Â鶹ÊÓƵ, most specifically the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE).  

Learn more about the Â鶹ÊÓƵ School of Business 2022 Alumni Award winners.

Since the Center for Real Estate Entrepreneurship’s (CREE) inception a dozen years ago, its advisory board, comprised of the region’s senior leaders from across the real estate industry, has been a staunch supporter of developing the next generation. As both the center and the master’s in real estate development program (MRED) mature, former students who have advanced in the careers and become industry leaders themselves, are coming back to support the program that helped them along their way.

The financial support that comes from receiving the Emerging Business Leader Award (EBLA) is significant, but for Nema Djavadi, BS Finance ’17, the recognition itself was most beneficial. The award opened up doors to prestigious employers and peers, allowing him to build a remarkable network, all while still an undergraduate student.