Senior finance student wins top award

Each year, the Kansas City chapter of Financial Executives International grants academic awards to students majoring in accounting or finance. FEI Kansas City awarded senior finance student Daniel Bjornson the Oracle-FEI Excellence Award during an awards ceremony April 9. The award, worth $2,500, is the highest honor given.
Daniel Bjornson, KU finance senior

“It’s a nice recognition,” Bjornson said, “but in addition to the money, I will get invitations to future FEI events where I can talk with CFOs and other top executives and learn about their career paths.”

The FEI awards are given to students who show outstanding academic performance, evidence of leadership potential and service to the college and community. Bjornson was in charge of The Big Event at KU last year, a grassroots community service project.

“Last year, participation rose from 500 (in 2011) to more than 2,000 students,” Bjornson said. “I’m proud to say that I was involved.”

As a sophomore, Bjornson brought Project LIVELY (Life, Interest and Vigor Entering Later Years) to the University of Kansas. Project LIVELY is a Lawrence-Douglas County Health Department program that assists elderly residents of the community and helps them stay in their homes as long as possible. Bjornson recognized the opportunity to help and knew that many KU students would be willing to lend a hand.

Bjornson is also a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon, the Finance Scholars Program and the KU Honors Program. His involvement in the community and the university is a characteristic he encourages new business students to adopt.

“Take advantage of all the opportunities the School of Business and KU have to offer,” he said. “You’ll never know if you like something unless you try it, so try new things and get involved.”

Spring into Action 2013


Budding entrepreneurs in the city were invited to Spring into action in March when business and patents, city development and the local chamber got together with the support of Europe Direct to create an event for local businesses.

The aim was to encourage small businesses in the city to take the next step to getting their business to grow, survive and flourish in these challenging times by creating a morning of networking opportunities, workshops, activities and access to local business support.

On the day over 100 attendees and exhibitors took part in the event.

We kicked off with a networking breakfast in the Tiled Hall café where local entrepreneur Pete Mills of Calls 9 talked about the challenges he faced in growing his business, mistakes he’d made along the way and what made running his own business worth the blood sweat and tears!  The event then moved up into the 1st floor exhibition space where Tina Boden from Enterprise Rockers got everyone facing their fears and networking so successfully that only switching the lights off and on stopped them!

18 local business support agencies had exhibition stands at the event where business owners could get a wealth of information about trading in Europe, Protecting their brands and products, finding premises, funding opportunities, marketing their products and taking on staff.

Workshops were run by a local accountancy firm WGN, a marketing company Aer8, HMRC and Business and Patents which covered selling, finance, tax and National Insurance and protecting brands and products.

The packed day concluded with everyone coming together for a talk by Geoff Barker of HMRC and feedback from the attendees was very positive with almost everyone taking something useful from the day.

 
 

Enterprise Club 22/4/13

Two business students selected as 2013 Men of Merit

Each year, the Emily Taylor Center for Women & Gender Equity at the University of Kansas recognizes KU men who challenge norms, lead by example and contribute to KU and the Lawrence community. Among the 15 men selected for 2013 are two students from the School of Business: Eric Driscoll and Thomas Plummer.

Driscoll is a senior in accounting who will graduate in May and Plummer is a junior majoring in management and leadership.

“I definitely caught me off guard,” Driscoll said. “I know fellow students who have gotten it in years past and I always thought it was a great goal.”

He said the many organizations and events he’s been a part of have expanded his horizon. One of those events is LeaderShape, a week-long leadership enhancement program. Participants learn about their own strengths and weaknesses and about other students who attend. Driscoll said the week made a big impact on him.

“You realize that even though we, on the outside, look so different or are involved in different activities,” he said, “there are so many things that are the same.”

Driscoll also served as vice president of administration for Student Union Activities and treasurer for Mortar Board honor society.

Thomas Plummer is no stranger to student organizations either. Last summer he studied abroad with the CIMBA program and he is currently the chief of staff in the Student Senate.

“The experience has taught me enormous amounts about dealing with people and understanding the ideas and concerns of groups that may not usually be heard,” he said about his time in the Student Senate. “It’s about being as inclusive as possible and helping to enhance the student experience at KU.”

The honor of being named a 2013 Man of Merit was also unexpected for Plummer, but he’s not the only one from his home town of Towanda, Kan., on the list. One of his friends from high school, Coulter Cranston, received recognition as well.

“I was unbelievably excited and honored to be selected,” Plummer said. “It’s very humbling to be in the same club as many friends and mentors of mine.”

Both students are familiar with making decisions that will have an impact even after they graduate.

“Making change happen is like dropping a pebble into a pond,” Plummer said. “The action doesn’t need to be big, dramatic and obvious. The importance are the ripples that are created.”

Joining SUA was one of the best decisions Driscoll said he’s made while at KU because it teaches students how to interact with people and how to wisely manage time. He stayed involved with it because of his experience as a freshman.

“The executive committee we had when I was a freshman really made a positive impact on everyone involved,” Driscoll said. “I truly enjoyed it and wanted to have that same impact while I was there.”

Both men realize the meaning of this recognition and see it as encouragement.

“It’s a friendly reminder to show you that you’re doing things in the right light,” he said, “and to continue in that way and it’ll help lead you to be successful in the future.”

Plummer has one more summer before he graduates and is currently looking for an internship.

“This honor will hopefully tell potential employers that I am not your normal, cut and dry college student,” he said. “I don’t think it alone will get me a job, but it allows them to see more into my personality and who I am as a person.”

The Men of Merit program is in its fifth year and complements the Emily Taylor Center for Women & Gender Equity’s annual Women of Distinction calendar.