RADFORD -- Twenty RU students received one of the highest honors Radford University’s College of Business and Economics (COBE) can bestow at the Beta Gamma Sigma (BGS) Induction ceremony held on November 10 in the Muse Banquet Room.

“It is a special evening when the faculty, parents, and staff can mark the academic achievements of our students and welcome them to this prestigious international society for business excellence,” said Dr. Faye Gilbert, COBE dean and president of the Radford University BGS chapter. “BGS’ global network and quest to align business and social objectives are hallmarks of the culture in our college.”

More than 50 RU faculty and guests and family of the inductees attended the ceremony which featured welcoming remarks by RU President Penelope W. Kyle, a William and Mary Chapter member of Beta Gamma Sigma, and a presentation by 2009 BGS Faculty Inductee Dr. Bruce Chase, professor of accounting, finance and business law.

The international honor society of Beta Gamma Sigma recognizes academic excellence at the world’s top business schools – those accredited by AACSB International – The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. Since its founding in 1913, the Society has established more than 480 collegiate chapters around the world and has inducted approximately 625,000 students into membership. Membership in the BGS is limited to COBE juniors and seniors who rank in the top ten percent of their class or MBA students in the top 20 per cent.

“It is truly an honor to be asked to join BGS,” said Dr. Helen Roybark, associate professor of accounting, finance and business law and faculty advisor to BGS. “These are the brightest young men and women in COBE.”

COBE’s Fall 2009 BGS Inductees are: Juniors Kathleen Alber, Sarah Chambers, Yasamin Farzaneh, Chelsea Webb and Emma Williams; Seniors Joshua Dombroski, Matthew Gregg, Justin Key and Latoya William; Masters of Business Administration students Madalyn Arena, Melanie Brammer, Kari Callanan, Joseph Dennison, Leah Goodman, Joanna Hubble, Joanna Hubble, Melis Kaplan, Charles Manyara, Kristin Mille, Shauna Puckett and Laura Villada.