Listen to this articleSUNY Old Westbury’s School of Business is now home to the Beta Gamma Sigma International Business Honor Society. The chapter has welcomed four business scholars into the organization.
The chapter was chartered on Sept. 26, when the campus became eligible after its School of Business in August earned accreditation from AACSB International, a nonprofit with 1,900 member organizations and more than 1,000 accredited business schools.
“Beta Gamma Sigma Honor Society is the leading business honor society globally,” Shalei Simms, dean of the business school, said in a news release about the new chapter.
“Membership is reserved for the top students from AACSB-accredited business schools,” Simms added. “This fall, we proudly welcomed our first Beta Gamma Sigma members from the SUNY Old Westbury School of Business and look forward to expanding our membership in the years to come.”
An installation and recognition ceremony was held to recognize the four new inductees: Pooja Aiyar, class of ’24, graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in finance, and is the first in the campus’ business program’s 50-year-history to earn the President’s Medal for Scholarship, the highest honor a student of SUNY Old Westbury can achieve. Maleka Stephens, class of ’95 (awarded posthumously), graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting, and cofounded SMG Consulting Group, where she advised individuals and businesses and also served as a mentor. Patrick Stines, class of ’98, graduated with a Bachelor of Science in accounting and is now a certified public accounting and a partner and member of the executive committee in the New York office of Novak Francella. David Antar, CEO of Advance Convergence Group and entrepreneur, has served as a member of the SUNY Old Westbury School of Business Advisory Board since 2010.
Founded in 1913, Beta Gamma Sigma Honor Society is an international business honor society for AACSB-accredited schools, which are considered the top 5% of business school programs around the world. Members can participate in their collegiate and local alumni chapters, attend additional events regionally, nationally and internationally, and receive educational and professional benefits.
To qualify as an undergraduate student for an invitation to join the honor society, candidates must be in the top 10% of their class and in their second semester of sophomore year or further. Graduate students must be in the top 20% of their class and have completed at least half of their program.
Honoree awards can be presented to any person who is not a student, who has achieved distinction primarily in business and administration, and who possesses those qualities that Beta Gamma Sigma fosters.