NEWS

"We extend our most sincere congratulations to this Class of 2008. These graduates represent the best business minds that Central Florida, the nation and the world have to offer. Earning their Rollins MBA, however, is only the beginning of their relationship with the Crummer Graduate School of Business," said Craig McAllaster, Dean of the Crummer Graduate School of Business. "These graduates will soon see the practical value that this prestigious degree gives in a tough job market in terms of the hands-on business thinking skills they've learned here; in terms of the personal and commercial connections to other Rollins MBA alumni and the worldwide business community; and in terms of their earning potential."

Petters founded Petters Group Worldwide as a trading company in 1988. Today, Petters Group Worldwide is a privately held corporation with companies worldwide including Polaroid, Fingerhut, Sun Country Airlines and uBid.com. The core areas of expertise for Petters Group are merchandising, brand management, technology, aviation, real estate and investment capital.

"These students are receiving a very powerful tool with their MBA degree from Rollins. Education is a gift that will never leave them and cannot be taken away," said Petters. "This degree is the best possible resource for the challenges of the future."

At the commencement ceremony, students representing the top 20 percent of their class were recognized through induction by the prestigious honorary business society, Beta Gamma Sigma. Also, the school honored winners of this year's SunTrust Distinguished Leader of Merit Awards program, Jeanmarie Loria, and the three Leader of Merit award winners, Harry Antonio, Alexandra Edgar and Katie Pederson. The SunTrust Distinguished Leader of Merit award is the top honor given to the students in Crummer's Center for Leadership Development who best exemplify the qualities of ethical, responsible and thoughtful leadership, and who have applied these characteristics and practices at the school and throughout the community.