Lindner Business Honors Homecoming spotlights student-athletes
NIL’s positive impact, Norman R. Baker Award honoree among event highlights
The Carl H. Lindner College of Business hosted students, alumni, friends and supporters of the Lindner Business Honors program for its homecoming celebration on Oct. 16.
Lindner Business Honors’ (LBH) annual event acknowledged the accomplishments of the program’s students and alumni, notably current student-athletes; supplied a primer on the constructive developments of name, image and likeness (NIL) opportunities; honored the annual Norman R. Baker Outstanding Alumni Awardee; and expressed gratitude to the LBH donors and supporters enriching the program with their engagement and resources.
Lindner Business Honors Assistant Director Annie Rinehart and Director Ruth Seiple with LBH students.
A welcome address from Lindner Dean Marianne Lewis, PhD, kicked off the event. Lewis highlighted Lindner's strategy and mission before noting the impressive example set by LBH.
“Lindner Business Honors is a powerful catalyst for innovation, leadership, learning and growth, not only for our college, but for our university,” Lewis said.
Lewis then ceded the podium to Ruth Seiple, LBH director and professor-educator of operations, business analytics, and information systems. Seiple thanked the program’s champions and supplied recent updates and successes:
- LBH’s alumni base is nearing 1,700 graduates.
- Forty-nine students will co-op at 40 different companies this fall.
- Nearly 50 students have traveled domestically on study away experiences since January.
- This fall, 30 students will travel to 10 countries across four continents.
- The capstone case studies projects course was revitalized with company partners AMEND Consulting and eleeo Brands.
- Lewis’s (Warren) Bennis Leadership Accelerator was added to the LBH curriculum.
Following his dream
ESPN producer and UC adjunct professor Josh Kramer, Bus ’12, addresses the crowd.
Next up was Josh Kramer, Bus ’12, an ESPN producer and UC adjunct professor. Two weeks prior to the start of his role at the Cincinnati office of EY, Kramer, an accounting major, was offered an entry-level production assistant role at ESPN, his dream employer. EY let Kramer out of his contract so he could move near ESPN’s headquarters in Connecticut, having never cut video or looked at a TV show rundown.
“Fortunately for me, I studied here at the Lindner College of Business,” Kramer said of his mindset working at ESPN. “My studies at UC showed me the importance of work ethic. They showed me the importance of never shying away from a challenge. They showed me the importance of continuing to learn, and, of course, networking.”
LBH student-athletes shine
Maggie McKinley, deputy director of athletics and Senior Woman Administrator at UC Athletics, highlighted the academic and athletic accomplishments of current and former Lindner and UC student athletes, and updated attendees on the progress of UC’s fall sports teams. McKinley then shouted out the five current LBH student athletes:
Deputy Director of Athletics and Senior Woman Administrator Maggie McKinley (middle) with current LBH student athletes (from left) Luke Browning, Sophie Schuetze, Jocelyn Willis and Claire Curtsinger. Not pictured: Carly Glendinning.
- Claire Curtsinger, cross country, third year
- Jocelyn Willis, cross country, second year
- Luke Browning, cheer, second year
- Sophie Schuetze, swimming and diving, second year
- Carly Glendinning, volleyball, third year
McKinley, who was instrumental to the success of Jason and Travis Kelce’s live “New Heights” show in April, said that the event was a reminder that “college athletics is no longer about the game on the field, where success is measured by wins and losses. It’s a full-scale business and marketing opportunity for universities and students alike.”
McKinley added that over the 2023-24 academic year, UC student athletes inked more than 760 NIL deals. In closing, the former UC track and field student athlete called to attention the importance of lifelong learning.
“I encourage all of us, especially my fellow alumni, to learn new skills, stay informed about industry changes or be open to new ideas,” McKinley said. “Continuous growth is essential for long-term success.”
Enduring connections
Roddell McCullough (far right), senior vice president, chief corporate responsibility officer, First Financial Bank, speaks with LBH students.
LBH Alumni Board chair Anna McCuiston, Bus ’06, outlined the avenues available for alumni to engage with students prior to introducing Cory Sims, Bus ’11, the recipient of the 2024 Norman R. Baker Outstanding Alumni Award. Sims, managing member, investment adviser representative, at Sims Investment Management, counts past president of the Lindner Alumni Council among his many Lindner and UC involvements.
Sims started the Sims Family Scholarship Fund in 2017 to support LBH students. As a unique and generous way of celebrating special occasions, Sims asks friends and family to donate to the Sims Family Scholarship Fund in lieu of buying him birthday and Christmas gifts. This gesture ensures that Sims will support future business problem solvers for years to come.
“There’s a lot of talk about why college is even necessary these days. But what you can’t get through technology or AI is human connection. The friendships and bonds. The relationships with your professors. These are the things that we have to continue to pour into this institution,” said Sims. “I also firmly believe in what Mr. Lindner said about this city going as far as this university goes because we need high-quality talent for our employers to hire. That’s why the work we do at UC and the Lindner College of Business is so important.”
Featured image at top(from left): LBH Alumni Board chair Anna McCuiston, Bus ’06; Deputy Director of Athletics and Senior Woman Administrator Maggie McKinley; Norman R. Baker Outstanding Alumni Awardee Cory Sims, Bus ’11; Josh Kramer, Bus ’12; Lindner Business Honors Director Ruth Seiple; and Lindner Dean Marianne Lewis, PhD. Photos/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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