A l u m n i M a g a z i n e - Duke University's Fuqua School of Business

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the duke mba GRADUATIONS
The Duke MBA
Class of 2000 Graduation
Three hundred and twenty-five members
of the 2000 graduating class lined
up to receive their diplomas at the 29th
commencement ceremony on May 13
in Cameron Indoor Stadium.
Robert F. Young (pictured greeting
graduate’s daughter), co-founder and
chairman of Red Hat Inc., delivered the
commencement address to graduates,
families and friends. Young’s 20 years of
combined experience in the computer,
finance and marketing industries propelled
his efforts in developing Red Hat
into a household name and consequently
rewarded him with prestigious honors
such as one of Business Week’s “Top
Entrepreneurs” and one of Smart
Professor Yang died following a car porate executives assisting in the
Reseller’s “50 Smart People.”
accident in the fall of 1999.
development and the maintenance of
MBA Association vice president
workforces that include women and
The Duke MBA – Weekend
Christopher Barry presented the
minorities. She serves as a member
Executive 2000 Graduation
DaimlerChrysler Award for Innovation
of the Board of Visitors at Fuqua and
After a challenging 20 months of bal-
and Excellence in Teaching to James E.
as a member of the Board of Advisors
ancing business school with the
Smith, associate professor of decision
for the Hart Leadership Program at
demands of full-time jobs and family
sciences and associate dean of the MBA
the Sanford School of Public Policy.
life, the 100 members of The Duke
program, for his teaching in an elective
The Excellence in Teaching
MBA – Weekend Executive class of
course.
Award was presented to Devavrat
2000 proudly received their degrees
MBAA president Elizabeth
Purohit, assistant professor of mar-
during the graduation ceremony on
Friedman presented Dean Adams with
keting, for his outstanding teaching in
October 22 in Page Auditorium. The
the record-breaking class gift of
a core course, and Ph.D. student,
graduates represented 15 states and
$254,622, representing personal pledges
Emma Rasiel, for outstanding teach-
two foreign countries. The Duke MBA
from over 80 percent of the graduating
ing in an elective.
– Weekend Executive program is
class. Another $90,000 is expected in
Louise Gregory, a member of
designed for middle-to-upper-level
matching gift money. The money will go
the graduating class, presented Dean
toward the Annual Fund, which pro-
Adams with a record-breaking class
vides support for student financial aid,
gift of $124,000 representing personal
curricular programs and research initia-
pledges from 91 percent of the gradutives,
as well as expenses not otherwise
ating class. Another $40,000
covered by endowment gifts or tuition.
is expected in matching gift money.
The class gift will be recognized in the
The money will go toward the
newly renovated lobby of the Thomas F.
development of Fuqua’s alumni
Keller Center.
Web site, AlumniLink.
Members of the gift committee
A special thank you goes to
managers who attend classes on Friday
were Juli Jadick (co-chair), Jared
members of the Class Gift Committee
and Saturday on alternate weekends
Sclove (co-chair), Mark Davidson,
for their hard work and success in
over 20 months.
Tracy Lessin, and Wee Yee. The class
organizing the gift: Louise Gregory
Janet Hill, vice president and co-
participation reached 80 percent from
(chair), Janice Adewuyi, Peter
owner of Alexander & Associates, Inc.
international students, a record for the
Bingaman, Nelson Chao, Margaret
gave the commencement address.
daytime program. The committee chose
Geiger, Tamela Rich, Don
Over the span of almost 20 years, she
to remember Fuqua professor Ya Yang
Wiseman and Bud Younts.
has worked with CEOs and other cor-
with the dedication of their gift.
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