Smeal College Hosts Diversity Appreciation Weekend

The Minority MBA Association in Penn State's Smeal College of Business Administration is hosting "Diversity Appreciation Weekend 2001."

The weekend takes place April 5-8 at the University Park campus.

"This is a great opportunity for minority students to gain valuable insights and information on the Smeal College MBA program. The purpose of the event is to encourage qualified minority students to attend Penn State by familiarizing them with Smeal College's facilities, faculty, staff, students, and alumni," explains Tony D. Scott, a second-year MBA student in Smeal College and chairperson for Diversity Appreciation Weekend 2001.

"This weekend develops interaction among prospective and current students, alumni, faculty, and staff.It also exposes prospective students to the culture, work ethic, and the demands and challenges of the MBA Program," says Scott.

Diversity Appreciation Weekend 2001 (DAW 2001) is hosted by the Minority MBA Association (MMBAA) under the guidance of Dr. Vernis Welmon, assistant to the dean for Diversity Enhancement and International Programs in Smeal College, with the assistance of the MBA program staff. First-year minority MBA students are responsible for planning the various events.

The events are scheduled to kick-off at 7 p.m. with a reception hosted the MMBAA on Thursday, April 5, at the Days Inn in State College. The reception will include a student panel, emphasizing highlights of the program as well as extracurricular activities. The entire MBA student body is invited to "Wing Night," which starts immediately following the reception at 9 p.m.

"This will give all of our current MBA students a chance meet and interact with the prospective students," says Scott.

Prospective students are formally welcomed to the MBA program by Rocki-Lee DeWitt, associate dean of professional master's programs in Smeal College, and Vernis Welmon at 8:15 a.m., Friday, April 6, in 208 Business Administration Building.

"The guests will get an overview of Smeal College's internationally-recognized Communications Program and sit-in on an MBA class," says Scott.

Executive Interactions are scheduled later in the afternoon with Cap Gemini Ernst & Young and Ford Motor Company. The attendees will also be given the opportunity to analyze a business case, conducted by a faculty member, and an informal social is planned for prospective students, current students and minority alumni of the MBA program starting at 7 p.m.

An Alumni Panel Workshop is scheduled for 10 a.m. on Saturday, April 7, and the panel will feature minority alumni of the Smeal MBA program. The main event, "The DAW 2001 Awards Banquet and Dinner," takes place Saturday evening at 7 p.m. at the Nittany Lion Inn. The banquet is by invitation only.

"This year's banquet will include a salute to our minority MBA case team, which placed second in the National Black MBA Association's National Student Case competition," says Scott.

DAW 2001 ends after an informal breakfast on Sunday, April 8, at 10 a.m. at the Nittany Lion Inn.

For more information, contact Tony Scott at 814-235-6922 or tds163@psu.edu .

The Smeal College of Business Administration is a pre-eminent learning community, shaping business practice for tomorrow's converging economies. With 6,400 undergraduates, Smeal College has the third largest undergraduate business program in the country. In addition to the nationally ranked undergraduate program, Smeal College is home to both an internationally ranked MBA program and Executive Education Program. Smeal College's seven academic departments, as well as its research centers and institutes, represent leading-edge programs and studies in areas such as converging economies, supply chain management, e-business, business-to-business marketing, technology management, entrepreneurship, finance, real estate and others.