Eight students have graduated from Appalachian State University with business honors from the Walker College of Business.
The students are Jacqueline Cooper, Sam Crouse, Sean James, Sophia Lang, Matthew Scott, David Vaudo, Megan Winter and Caleb Wright.
Jacqueline Cooper
Jacquelyn Cooper has earned a BSBA in accounting from App State. Cooper's honors thesis topic is entitled "Accounting in the Film Industry." A native of Panama City, Florida, and a long-time resident of Mooresville, Cooper will begin her career with Naples, Florida-based accounting firm CliftonLarson. Additionally, she plans to attend graduate school and work toward becoming a Certified Public Accountant (CPA).
Sam Crouse
Sam Crouse has earned a BSBA in finance and banking with a minor in computer science from App State. Crouse is a native of Spruce Pine, North Carolina. His undergraduate research was focused on private investments in the Appalachians, and he surveyed and interviewed business owners in rural communities to assess the growth outlook for the Appalachian economy, the risk tolerance of the business owners, and how willing the business owners are to partner with an investor. His work is entitled "Linking Private Equity to Small Businesses in Rural Appalachian Communities." Next, Crouse will join the staff at Bank of America as a finance management analyst.
Sean James
Sean James has earned a BSBA in both finance and banking and risk management and insurance from App State. His thesis, entitled "Correlation and Historical Value-at-Risk Analysis for the Bowden Investment Group" included a historical and correlation value-at-risk simulation for equities in the Bowden Investment Fund, which is managed by the Bowden Investment Group, a hands-on class experience offered to competitively selected business seniors. The Charlotte native will return to his hometown to work as a wealth management analyst for Bank of America Private Bank. "I have been extremely blessed with this opportunity, and am excited to begin the journey," said James. "I learned lots of valuable information and am thankful for the help of Dr. Hobbs, Dr. Medders, and Dr. Hadley in completing my research."
Sophia Lang
Sophia Lang has earned her BSBA degree in management with a human resources minor. Lang's honors thesis was titled "Monetizing A Lifestyle: How Social Media Influencers Transform Their Hobbies Into A Career," and she studied social media influencers from the consumer, company, and influencer's perspectives. Lang, a native of Matthews, will work as an HR project management intern for Albemarle Corporation in Charlotte. I will then return to Appalachian in the fall to obtain my MBA in Leading and Managing Human Resources in May 2022.
Matthew Scott
Matthew Scott has earned a BSBA in both risk management and insurance and supply chain management. Scott's thesis topic revolved around the COVID-19 impacts upon small businesses, while specifically focusing on those in medical professions. His work is entitled "COVID-19 Small Business Impacts: Focusing on the Differentiating Effects on Public-Facing Medical Professions." Originally from Charlotte, Matthews will next serve as a treaty broker/risk analyst for Atlanta, Georgia-based Guy Carpenter.
David Vaudo
Cary native David Vaudo has earned a BSBA in both supply chain management and economics from App State. Vaudo researched what factors lead to food loss in the food supply chain for his thesis, entitled "Factors Leading to Food Loss: A Multinational Approach."
Megan Winter
Illinois native Megan Winter has earned a BSBA in accounting from App State. Her thesis, "The Correlation of Ethics and Religion in the Accounting Field," examines the correlation between the ethical components of accounting and religion. Winter will next attend Appalachian's Masters of Accounting program, and she will then begin her career as an associate with PricewaterhouseCoopers.
Caleb Wright
Caleb Wright has earned a BSBA in computer information systems from App State with a minor in computer science. Wright's honors thesis was entitled “A Study on the Effects of US Events relating to Minorities on Twitter,” and it looked at how US events affect the conversations about minorities on social media. Wright served as an employer engagement coordinator for Walker Fellows. He will work as a technology consulting associate for RSM US, LLP.
About the Walker College of Business Honors Program
At Appalachian, qualified business students can choose to participate in the university honors program, the Walker College of Business honors program, or both. The business honors program is a selective program for students maintaining a minimum of a 3.4 GPA and offers access to smaller classes and extra opportunities for relationships with instructor mentors and fellow students. A new business honors cohort begins each spring semester. Sophomores who have successfully completed at least 45 credit hours but have not yet taken their junior and senior core courses by the start of spring semester will get the most benefit out of the business honors experience. To graduate with business honors, a student must complete nine hours of business honors courses and three hours of honors thesis coursework. Learn more at business.appstate.edu/honors.
From top left, clockwise, are Jacqueline Cooper, Sam Crouse, Sean James, Matthew Scott, Caleb Wright, Megan Winter, David Vaudo and Sophia Lang
Eight earn business honors at App State