School of Business AWARDS

Department of Business

Outstanding Business Student of the Year: CASSIDY KOWALSKI

We are proud of Cassidy! She has a strong work ethic, passion, and integrity that sets her apart from others. Dave Hutson, her primary professor in Sports Management, has this to say: "Cassidy has gone above and beyond in seeking out and acquiring multiple internships during her time at RU, such as working with Waterford Kettering's athletic department, the USPBL, Detroit Lions Football Camps and Clinics, including others. She was among the handful of our students who took the initiative to attend Central Michigan University's Sports Management Conference. While she was there, she impressed the New York Mets enough to get hand-picked out of thousands of other sports management majors around the country (several of whom were graduate students) to get invited to NYC for another conference and workshop, which she attended in December. In each of these situations, she has been a great ambassador for our sports management program within and outside of RU, and she has spent a great deal of her time at RU taking advantage of networking and many other opportunities that would enable her to gain a career in the sports industry."

Department of Mass Communication

Mass Communication Award: SYDNEY DAVIS

Sydney has been a hard-working member of the mass communication department. She has maintained a high academic standard throughout her degree and never hesitated to interact with faculty for clarification about any assignment. Sydney is goal-oriented. She has a servant-heart. Sydney has volunteered at Kibo Corner and with local organizations, while studying, working part-time and being a new mother. Sydney’s ultimate career goal is to be of service to others, showing God’s love along the way. She joined us from Specs Howard and has utilized the skills she gained there to contribute significantly to RU’s student media. Sydney has done an incredible job as social media manager for Shield Media. She's been creative, informative and self-directing with Shield's social media efforts on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Shield Service Awards

SYDNEY DAVIS – Shield Media: Social Media Manager

Sydney has worked on Shield Media staff for two years. As social media manager in 2019-2020, Sydney has been creative, informative and self-directing with Shield's social media efforts on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. She's also used the Shield Media platform to promote other RU events. Our social media feed has been shared many times by other RU entities, and various RU administrators have praised Shield's social media efforts this year. She's a valuable member of our team, and she will be missed!

CHRISTIAN TODD – Shield Media: News & Opinions Editor

Christian has been a member of Shield Media during his entire collegiate career. He started out as a writer and quickly moved into editor roles, including assistant news editor and then moving into the leadership role over news and opinions. He also has helped edit and post articles for the website. Christian is reliable, dedicated and always willing to take on extra work. He's a true team player and will be missed!

TANNER BEHMLANDER – Shield Media: Creative Director

Once Tanner joined Shield Media in 2019, she was all in. She jumped into design work and willingly took on extra projects without being asked. This year, she started out as multimedia design manager, was quickly promoted to creative director, and was one of our key leaders. She has rebranded Shield Media, designed pages and promotional content, and helped rebuild the website. She is creative, talented and a true team leader. She graduates in December, so we are lucky to have her talents for one more semester.

TAYLOR ISENBERG – Shield Media: Associate Editor—Print

Taylor joined Shield Media during her freshman year when she helped report about RU study abroad activities during her semester in Vienna, Austria. She moved into the news and opinions editor position the following year reporting back home on campus in Rochester. She has served as associate editor this year with her main focus being oversight of Shield Magazine and Shallot. She is a talented writer, an idea generator, energetic and creative team leader. She graduates in December, so we are lucky to have her talents for one more semester.