Graduating Business Fellows stand together on a staircase.

The 2024 Toast recognizes achievements of Lindner’s Business Fellows

Students saluted for accomplishments inside and outside of the classroom

By Grant Freking Email Grant Freking

6 minute read April 25, 2024

The Carl H. Lindner College of Business Office of Inclusive Excellence hosted its annual Toast event for the Business Fellows program April 18 at The Graduate Hotel Cincinnati.

Students, Lindner staff and faculty, alumni, corporate partners and community leaders attended the celebration of the Business Fellows graduates. Business Fellows supplies underrepresented students with wraparound support to attain professional and personal success, while facilitating a culture of inclusion and belonging at Lindner and UC.

Nick Castro, assistant dean, Office of Inclusive Excellence, expressed gratitude to attendees for being pieces of Business Fellows’ “big puzzle” in his opening remarks.

From left: Eugene Burse, BBA ’26; Kyle Caisaguano, BS ’24; Ejiro Agoba, BS ’24; Hailey Manuel, BBA ’26, Quincy Allfree, BBA ’24; Briana Jarrell, BBA ’24; and Julian Hill, BBA ’23.

“When you put that puzzle together, what we have is our Business Fellows being supported and successful. Whether you are part of an advisory group, the Dean's Cabinet, a donor or a scholarship supporter, a faculty or staff member, or a family member, everybody in this room has impacted each other in some way, shape or form. And I think those are positive ways, shapes and forms.”

Castro then introduced WCPO reporter Raven Richard, who emceed the Toast for the third successive year. After acknowledging past and current Business Fellows Executive Board members, Richard thanked the event’s leadership sponsors: PNC Bank, Truepoint Wealth Counsel and Western & Southern Financial Group. Also recognized were companies who have sponsored the Office of Inclusive Excellence throughout the current academic year.

Thank you to our Inclusive Excellence partners

Executive

PNC Bank

Champion

Smuckers
Sycamore Capital

Advocate

MassMutual Ascend
PepsiCo

Junior

Cardinal Health
Cintas
Paycom
Protective Life
Sherwin Williams
U.S. Bank

more 2024 toast photos

Dean Lewis spotlights career trajectories, problem solving

Lindner Dean Marianne Lewis, PhD, stands with representatives from Cintas, sponsors of Lindner’s Office of Inclusive Excellence.

Lindner Dean Marianne Lewis, PhD, delivered the keynote address, touching on Business Fellows' origins and its growth before coaching the students on career progression.

“It’s going to start slow, and you’re going to build your network. You’re going to start developing your skills. You’re really going to know your job, and it’ll get easier, faster — and it will be amazing what you can do. A big part of that climb is innovation. It’s about problem solving with creativity, collaboration and some push.”

Lewis also spoke about interacting with Business Fellows alumni, rising expectations and ambitions, and more.

Reconnecting with Business Fellows graduates during UC’s recent Alumni Week

“They talked about the challenges and opportunities of the rungs in your ladders. Some of us don’t have all the rungs, and it’s awfully hard to get from rung to rung when you’re missing six in between. And they made the point that Business Fellows was vital for their rungs. The corporate partners and alumni were vital for their rungs. (Last week) they were saying, ‘We want to be rungs.’ And I share it with you because I hope we can all remember that we can be someone’s rung.”

On Business Fellows’ expansion to first-generation students and Pell Grant recipients

“If we are going to truly model a culture of inclusive excellence, we need to be reaching out to others who don't have all the rungs. Because, from what we've learned, we know we have a special sauce to help make it happen. We know how to do the wraparound support.”

On the “paradox of rising expectations”

“Our expectations are rising. Our ambitions are rising. And, together, we will keep rising. I’m grateful to have a community that we can continue to push the envelope with in so many special ways.”

Student honors

Richard returned to the stage to announce the evening’s awards, beginning with the PACE Honors. The PACE Honors recognize students who best exemplify Professionalism, Academics, Character and Engagement (PACE), principles essential to student development at Lindner. The following students were acknowledged in this category:

Professionalism: Eugene Burse, BBA ’26
Academics: Kyla Ward, BBA ’27
Character: Matt Santiago, BBA ’25
Engagement: Nariah Edwards, BBA ’26

Business Fellows was, is and will always be one of the main reasons why I know I belong. Once you feel and begin to treasure this relatedness through belonging, the mindset becomes being the best person you can be, so that you may inspire your loved ones.

Joshua Moore, BBA ’23

Next, outstanding first-, second-, third- and fourth-year students were honored for their passion for the Business Fellows community and its resources. The following students were recognized in this category:

First Year: Mirsayah Wasnuk, BBA ’27
Second Year: Hailey Manuel, BBA ’26
Third Year: Gabe Galiatsatos, BBA ’25
Fourth Year: Quincy Allfree, BBA ’24

The Fellows Impacting Fellows honor was bestowed upon Prince Kalala, BBA ’24, for going above and beyond in impacting his peers with mentoring and relationship development.

Celebrating seniors, the Toast

After an invocation of gratitude from Quincy Allfree, BBA ’24, and dinner and lighthearted conversation, Richard returned to the stage to individually honor graduating Business Fellows, who received a commemorative plate and a stole to wear at graduation.

2024 Business Fellows graduates

Paola Alcantara
Quincy Allfree
Zachary Bahri
Savana Berhane
Kyle Caisaguano
Samoya Cochrane
Lance Entsuah
Saron Eyouel
Holly Giese
Julian Hill
Tierra Hudson
Brianna Jarrell
Prince Kalala
Kendall Kelly
Joshua Moore
Dagim Negash
Elizabeth Piper
Kayla Stone
Alexia Thomas

Joshua Moore, BBA ’23, raised his glass to his fellow Business Fellows after delivering the closing toast.

Joshua Moore, BBA ’23, delivered the closing toast with heartfelt remembrance and thoughtful perspective of his time with Business Fellows.

“Business Fellows was, is and will always be one of the main reasons why I know I belong. Once you feel and begin to treasure this relatedness through belonging, the mindset becomes being the best person you can be, so that you may inspire your loved ones.”

Moore ended with advice for younger students.

“Please don’t view Business Fellows as just another club, because trust me, if you put the time in, it will give you so much more beyond academia and professionalism. It will make you a better person, a better friend, a better teacher, and so much more.”

Featured image at top: 2024 Business Fellows graduating seniors. Photos/Joseph Fuqua II.

Interested in Business Fellows?

The Business Fellows program provides underrepresented students from a range of backgrounds with wraparound support to achieve professional and personal success. Through career connections, community and leadership development, Business Fellows empowers future business leaders to solve problems that matter and advances a culture of inclusion and belonging within Lindner and at the University of Cincinnati.