College of Business Inducts New Beta Gamma Sigma Members
Fifteen Montana State University College of Business (CoB) students and two CoB faculty were added to the prestigious list of Beta Gama Sigma (BGS) inductees at the annual initiation luncheon. BGS, an international honor society started in 1913, provides the highest recognition a business student anywhere in the world can receive in an accredited, Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), undergraduate or master’s program.
During the initiation luncheon held on April 7, BGS Advisor, Dr. Susan Dana, welcomed students. Sarah Smith, Vice President of Programs, and Anne Delaney, Vice President of Membership, encouraged the inductees to live according to the standards of Beta, meaning honor, Gama, meaning wisdom and Sigma, meaning earnestness.
BGS presented The Beta Gama Sigma Professor of the Year Award to Dr. Angela Woodland, CoB assistant professor of accounting. Woodland joined the CoB in the fall of 2008 after teaching at both the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Louisiana State University. Her primary research interest is auditing, having worked as an auditor in the private sector for seven years. She is also interested in research related to the evaluation and improvement of accounting education. Woodland received both her Ph.D. and B.S. from the University of Missouri.
BGS also recognized John Murdoch, founder of Murdoch’s Ranch and Home Supply, as the Chapter Honoree. Murdoch talked about starting and growing his own business, attributing his success in life to passion and integrity. He encouraged students to find ways to live their own lives with these qualities. Challenging students to question themselves, he asked them, “What do you do when you think no one’s watching?” Murdoch stressed the importance of respect and talked about GET–the golden rule, excellence and trust–which he tries to instill in his employees. Murdoch ended his acceptance speech with two thoughts–life is a journey, not a destination, and it is important to strive for excellence along the way.
These words of wisdom have served Murdoch and Murdoch’s Ranch and Home Supply well. The business has grown to 14 stores, staffed with nearly 700 devoted employees. As a product of their success, Murdoch’s is also able to support 4-H, the Humane Society and dozens of other charitable organizations. Murdoch’s recently gave the CoB seed money for its new social entrepreneur class.
2009 BGS Inductees:
SENIORS – Erin Burchett, Joey Chugani and Karen Heller.
JUNIORS – Jackie Art, Kyle Blessinger, Kelsey Borge, Cori Bryant,
Matthew Helgeson*, Lindsey Juelfs, Amanda Manuel,
David Model, Jann Spizziri, Collin Thomas,
Barbara Todd and Mindy Trzinski.
* in absentia