Heavener students recognized for their excellence in leadership, community service

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The Heavener School of Business inducted a new student into the Heavener Hall of Fame and awarded three students the Distinction in Leadership and Service Award at its annual Heavener Leaders Awards Banquet on April 9.

Ophir Rotem was the latest Heavener students to be installed into the Heavener Hall of Fame, while Alaina Brown, Katelyn Chandler and Suzanne “Suzy” Dabage were the newest recipients of the Distinction in Leadership and Service Award.

“It is our pleasure to recognize the outstanding accomplishments of those being inducted into the Heavener Hall of Fame and recipients of the Distinction in Leadership and Service Award,” said Alex Sevilla, Associate Dean and Director of the Heavener School of Business. “Through their incredible contributions, they have made a profound impact on our entire Heavener student community, creating an inspiring legacy for future Business Gators to follow. We are so proud of Ophir, Alaina, Katelyn and Suzy, and we are excited to see their servant leadership thrive as they embark on their respective careers.”

The Heavener Hall of Fame is reserved for undergraduate business students who have shown truly superior leadership and achievement through their activities and scholarship while members of the College community. Eligible students must have a minimum 3.5 UF GPA and be in good standing with UF. Students are also judged on scholarship, campus leadership, campus involvement and service to the College or UF.

The Distinction in Leadership and Service Award is presented to students who demonstrated outstanding leadership and service to the College through participation in student organizations and other extracurricular activities. The students have demonstrated a strong commitment to the College and made a significant positive impact on its students.

Rotem, a marketing major, has interned with Procter & Gamble as a sales intern on the Sam’s Club Team and as a sales intern at MotionPoint. She currently serves as a Career and Academic Peer Mentor for marketing students and has been involved with a number of student organizations, including the Heavener International Case Competition, Warrington Diplomats, Business Undergraduate Mentorship Program, Florida Leadership Academy and as a member of the UF International Case Competition Team.

Brown, a combined marketing major, retail leadership minor and Master of International Business candidate, has completed internships at Procter & Gamble, Aldi and Florida’s Natural Growers. She is a Career and Academic Peer Mentor and has been involved with many student organizations during her time at the Heavener School, including the Heavener International Case Competition, Warrington Diplomats, Florida Leadership Academy and Dance Marathon.

Chandler, a combined management major and leadership minor undergraduate and Master of International Business candidate, has interned at Target and the PACE Center for Girls. She has also worked at Publix Supermarkets and Study Edge and has been involved with the Florida Leadership Academy, Warrington Welcome, MentorUF, Florida Women in Business and the Heavener Leadership Challenge.

Dabage, a business administration major and Master of International Business candidate, has interned at Raymond James, Welcoming Gainesville, and A&T Events and Promotions. She is a UF Honors Program student and is involved with the Florida Leadership Academy, Hispanic Student Association, Warrington Welcome and serves as a volunteer at UF Shands Hospital.

The Heavener School also recognized the following students and student organizations for their leadership and service at its annual Awards Banquet:

Delta Sigma Pi Scholarship Key

• Danielle Vogel

Outstanding Program of the Year

• Gator Tech – for their Technology Case Competition and The Cheddar Podcast

Outstanding Student Organization Advisor of the Year

• Renee Clark – for her selfless commitment and dedication to the Florida Business Leadership Society (FBLS)

Student Organization Officer of the Year

• Camila Vincent de Urquiza – for her record of service as the Vice President of the Undergraduate Consulting Club

Most Improves Student Organization of the Year

• Undergraduate Consulting Club – for rebuilding their organization from the ground up this year

Citizenship Award

• Global Business Society – for their commitment to the Warrington community through their work this year

New Student Organization of the Year

• Latin American Women in Business – for their organizational influence and accomplishments this year

Student Organization of the Year Award

• Florida Business Leadership Society – for their impact on both the Warrington and greater UF community

Career and Academic Peer Mentor Award

• Madison Ross
• Kevin Brown
• Alaina Brown

Iron Diplomat Award

• Alexa Ehrenfreund

Business Undergraduate Mentorship Program (BUMP) Awards

• Gregory Gardner
• Taylor Irwin
• Anne Waiver

Enactus Leader of the Year Award

• Amar Maharaj

Warrington Welcome Exemplary Mentorship Award

• Paola Charco Garza

Warrington Welcome Citizenship Award

• Gabriella Tedesco

Warrington Welcome Service Award

• Amber Van Den Heuvel

Heavener Leadership Challenge Dave Sullivan Leadership Award

• RJ McLaughlin

Florida Leadership Academy Horace Tucker Leadership Award

• Chris Matthews

Business Ethics Ambassador Excellence Award

• Ana Colic

Virginia Maurer Business Ethics Student of the Year

• Jared LeVine

On behalf of the Heavener School of Business, congratulations to all of the award winners!