Lindner Business Honors homecoming event honors program founder, long-time supporters
Former provost Norman Baker, PhD, recognized as pioneer of the program
The Carl H. Lindner College of Business welcomed students, alumni, donors and friends of the Lindner Business Honors (LBH) program for a homecoming celebration on Oct. 11. The event, held in the atrium of Lindner Hall, paid tribute to those who created LBH, shaped its growth and championed its students through the years.
Dean Marianne Lewis, PhD, kicked off the night by extolling the constant forces of change that have come to shape LBH and the college.
“I want to stress two themes this evening. First, the only constant is change and, second, that we stand on the shoulders of giants,” she opened. “Because when I think about Lindner Business Honors, it is one of the college’s and the university’s most powerful catalysts for change.”
Lewis also acknowledged the retirement of LBH Assistant Director Judy Magazine, who served the college for more than 26 years and aided in laying the foundation for the program and overseeing its growth.
Students enjoyed networking with alumni and supporters of LBH. Photo/Joseph Fuqua II
The night then turned to the guest of honor, Norman Baker, PhD, founder of the college’s first honors program, Lindner Honors-PLUS, and provost emeritus. Lewis hailed Baker as one of the college’s “greatest change agents” and commended him for the lasting impact he left at Lindner.
“With that original vision was this idea that we would continue to innovate, learn and scale from honors, and that's how it was going to raise the bar, and thereby result in shifts. And its impact grew and grew.”
After her remarks, Lewis handed the microphone to Ruth Seiple, director of the Lindner Business Honors program and professor-educator of operations, business analytics, and information systems.
Seiple provided updates on the program and its recent activities and successes, including:
- Partnering with AMEND Consulting for the LBH Independent Study Capstone course
- Participating in case competitions at the University of Nebraska
- Engaging with more than 35 alumni so far this semester through classroom panels, lunch and learns, and more
- Hosting first-year LBH students for a retreat at Camp Higher Ground
- Traveling to Seattle to connect with alumni business leaders from Microsoft and Amazon
- Awarding more than $1.4 million in scholarships to LBH students so far, this academic year
Seiple then invited Baker to share a few words about his journey to Lindner and the founding of the Lindner Honors-PLUS program.
Program origins
Van Jones (center), Bus '08, recipient of the 2023 Norman R. Baker Outstanding Alumni Award, connects with current LBH students. Photo/Joseph Fuqua II
In creating the Lindner Honors-PLUS program, Baker sought to unite students who both expressed a high degree of intellectual curiosity and exemplified the leadership potential needed in the modern business world. With overwhelming support from Lindner alumni and the generosity of donors, Baker and his colleagues launched Lindner Honors-PLUS in 1997 to provide students with invaluable learning opportunities from international travel to networking and unique professional experiences.
Since its inception, LBH has gone through many iterations, including the merger of the Lindner Honors-PLUS and Kolodzik Business Scholars programs in 2021, to become the program it is today.
Looking into the crowd at all of the students currently engaged in the program he helped create, Baker reflected on just how far his dream had come.
“I want to thank you all very, very much. You are the ones that prove to me that my dream really came true,” said Baker. “I wanted to build a program where we would be giving back to other people, and I think you're the living evidence of that and the fact that program exists and is operating and doing well.”
Leaving a lasting impact
LBH Alumni Board member Anna McCuiston, Bus ’06, thanked Baker for the transformative experience the program provided her and her fellow alumni.
“I know it’s been said, but your vision and determination to create this program is nothing short of amazing. Myself — and so many others here — are a testament to that,” attested McCuiston. “I would be a fraction of the human that I am right now without this program, and that is not an exaggeration.”
LBH Alumni Board member Anna McCuiston, Bus '06, alongside Dean Lewis (seated, left) and LBH Director Ruth Seiple (seated, right), praises Baker's (seated, middle) guiding influence for both herself and other alumni. Photo/Joseph Fuqua II
She also encouraged others in attendance to get involved and stay engaged with the program and current students.
The final honor of the evening went to Van Jones, Bus ’08, entrepreneur, venture capitalist and current deal lead for Wellington Management, who received the 2023 Norman R. Baker Outstanding Alumni Award. Jones echoed many of McCuiston’s sentiments on the program’s lasting influence, both personally and professionally.
“This honor would not be possible if not for what Norm put in place just a few years ago. I've had the opportunity to build a career that's cross-continental, across different industries,” said Jones. “I remember as a student, Norm would take the time to have 15-30-minute chats with me, and without those special moments, without him taking that time, I don't think I'd be the person that I am today.”
Featured image at top: From left to right: Tim Metzner, Bus '05; Anna McCuiston, Bus '06; Raqule Crawley, Bus '02, '03; Ashley McFarland, Bus '05, '23; Van Jones, Bus '08; Norman Baker, PhD; Jessica Iacobucci, Bus '06; Stanley Wells, Bus '07; Clarissa 'Crissy' Niese, Bus '03; and Justin Shafer, Bus '05. Photo/Joseph Fuqua II
Interested in Lindner Business Honors?
Lindner Business Honors seeks ambitious students who are intellectually curious, face new challenges head-on and want to hone their talents and take control of opportunities that will propel them into their future careers. Interested high school seniors must complete their application by Dec. 1 for consideration.
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