Between the hard work of earning a college degree and the next exciting step in a person’s life comes a ceremony of pride and recognition, a time for tears, hugs, handshakes and quite a bit of “woo hoo-ing.”

Approximately 1,088 students in the College of Business at Florida International University (FIU) graduated in the summer commencement ceremonies, with family and friends cheering their achievement. Dean David R. Klock and members of the business school faculty participated and offered their congratulations.

In an afternoon commencement on August 6, 2013, 573 graduate students including seven new PhDs from the Alvah H. Chapman Graduate School of Business were graduated. Later that day in an evening ceremony, 515 business students in the R. Kirk Landon Undergraduate School of Business received their bachelor’s degrees.

College of Business celebrates four Worlds Ahead graduates.

Since 2010, FIU has recognized students who exemplify the “Worlds Ahead” philosophy of the university. At the Summer Commencement, four Worlds Ahead Graduates were from the College of Business:

Eduardo Aiello (BACC ’13) has a passion for business, leading him to pursue an accounting degree at FIU while working full-time at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. His achievements include landing a full-time internship at Deloitte & Touche and serving as president of the accounting honor society, Beta Alpha Psi, where he increased membership and started community service efforts, including free tutoring for students taking the accounting entrance exam.

Claudia Cordoves-Simon (BBA ’13) left Cuba at the age of 21 and arrived in Miami with her husband. She began taking FIU courses to continue degree work started in Cuba and soon brought her parents to the United States. Deeply motivated by her mother’s determination to fight breast cancer, Claudia continued to be a loving mother, wife, daughter and an unstoppable student earning her bachelor degree in International Business all whilst working full-time

Esperanza Rodriguez (MAAC ’13) entered the Master of Accounting program at FIU exactly two decades after receiving a bachelor’s degree in accounting and finances at the University of Havana in Cuba. She worked hard to balance it all — transitioning from Cuba, learning English, being a wife and mom to twin daughters (now attending Yale), working and making sacrifices. She plans to become a Certified Public Accountant and enroll in a PhD program.

Joseph Mendola (BBA ’13) created new opportunities for FIU students interested in sales. While earning a business degree from FIU and working full time, he launched the FIU Sales Club and became its first director. He recruited an executive board and brought on several sponsors. The club received a strong reception; its competition team has made strong showings. Mendola has started his sales career as major accounts district manager at ADP, the youngest person ever hired at ADP in that division.

College employees add degrees to their list of accomplishments.

Five graduate teaching assistants in the Management & International Business Department were awarded their Doctor of Philosophy degrees in Management and International Business:

Keith Kelley (PhD ’13, MIB ’08)

Patricio Mori (PhD ’13, MIB ’07)

Yannick Thams (PhD ’13, MIB ’04)

Marcelo Alvarado Vargas (PhD ’13, MIB ’04)

Kun Yang (PhD ’13)

Other College of Business employees who received degrees are:

Lourdes Abosaid (MACC ’13, BACC ’11), a graduate assistant in the Accounting Department, has now received both graduate and undergraduate degrees in Accounting from FIU.

Stefannie Aguilar (MS ’13, BS ’11), a graduate assistant in the Management and International Business office, received her Master of Science in Human Resource Management; her undergraduate degree is in psychology.

Paula Bernal (MSF ’13, BBA ’12), a program coordinator for MSHRM Programs in the Management and International Business department, received her Master of Science in Finance. She has a bachelor’s degree in Finance and International Business. 

Lorena Calvo (BS ’13), office assistant in MBA and MIB Programs, earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Early Childhood Education.

Claudia Jo (MBA ’13, BS ’04), a graduate assistant in the MBA Programs office, earned her MBA with a concentration in Finance through FIU’s Evening MBA program. Her Bachelor of Science degree is in Hospitality Management.