Millikin business students recognized for academic excellence

Millikin University’s Tabor School of Business inducted 22 new members into the Xi Sigma chapter of Delta Mu Delta (DMD) International Honor Society on March 21 during a ceremony held in Kaeuper Hall at Perkinson Music Center on Millikin’s campus.

Delta Mu Delta is a business honor society that recognizes and encourages academic excellence of students at qualifying colleges and universities to create a DMD community that fosters the well-being of its individual members and the business community through lifetime membership.

Addressing the newest inductees, Dr. Najiba Benabess, dean of the Tabor School of Business and Xi Sigma chapter adviser said, “The students we honor today embody our school’s mission which is to prepare students to perform and compete, ready for the market and knowledgeable in research. This lifetime membership in Delta Mu Delta confirms that you have a proven track record of working hard to achieve excellence. This membership will also show that you have the knowledge and drive to succeed in a business career – it’s the highest international recognition you can earn.”

To be eligible for membership, undergraduate students must be at least a junior and have a cumulative GPA of 3.5. MBA students must have completed at least half of the requirements for their degree with a cumulative GPA of at least 3.5.

Students who are active members are able to qualify for leadership roles within the local chapter, invitations to the international conference and annual scholarships provided by Delta Mu Delta. Chapters can be installed and members can be initiated only in programs that are accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP).

Chapter President Sara Mosely, a senior business management major from Tower Hill, Ill., also spoke at the ceremony and shared the many networking opportunities the society has to offer. “I personally wanted to join Delta Mu Delta because I wanted to take part in an organization that believes in professional growth,” she said. “Delta Mu Delta is a flexible organization for those in the professional world, filled with a diverse group of people who offer an extensive amount of networking opportunities when needed.”

The ceremony also featured keynote speaker Justin DeBo ’18, who was a member of Millikin’s first Delta Mu Delta class inducted in Feb. 2017. DeBo currently works as a data analyst for State Farm helping support the company’s enterprise claims system.

“As part of the first class of inductees into Delta Mu Delta, my classmates and I were given a great opportunity to shape this group into something truly impactful,” said DeBo. “Millikin University is an institution that will prepare you for professional success, but what I learned as a student is that Millikin will give you the opportunities and tools to take initiative and develop creative solutions.”

DeBo challenged the new inductees to make their Delta Mu Delta membership more than a line on a résumé. “Delta Mu Delta is a lifelong membership and it doesn’t end when you leave Millikin. If you built something truly good at Millikin and you continue to engage after graduation, hopefully you will see the value of being a member.”

Delta Mu Delta was founded in 1913 by five professors from Harvard, Yale and New York University who believed that exceptional students in the field of business should be given recognition similar to that by Phi Beta Kappa in the field of liberal arts.

Congratulations to the following 2019 Millikin Delta Mu Delta inductees:

Lauren Acton, MBA student from Springfield, Ill.

Maranda Archer, MBA student from Decatur, Ill.

Craig Austin, a senior accounting major from Oreana, Ill.

Brigette Belt, a junior accounting major from Casey, Ill.

Serena Black, a junior accounting major from Latham, Ill.

Matthew Brown, a junior business management major from Champaign, Ill.

David Bruns, a junior business management major from Rosamond, Ill.

Mariangela Couri, a junior digital media marketing major from Decatur

Mitchell Cremer, a junior accounting major from Decatur

David Freeman, MBA student from Springfield

Nicholas Harper, a junior entrepreneurship major from Decatur

Maddie Holland, a junior accounting major from Shelbyville, Ill.

Taylor Isaia, a junior digital media marketing major from Mapleton, Ill.

Anna Logan, a junior business management major from Decatur

Francine Acuña Moyer, a senior accounting major from Macon, Ill.

Adam Peters, MBA student from Decatur

Kailey Pulec, a junior business management major from Frankfort, Ill.

Megan Scott, MBA student from Forsyth, Ill.

Rose Syversen, a junior digital media marketing major from Waukesha, Wis.

Skielyr Trenkle, a junior business management major from Le Roy, Ill.

Jadah Woods, a junior digital media marketing major from Decatur

Jeremy Woods, MBA student from Decatur

Tabor School of Business

Millikin University’s Tabor School of Business prepares students to perform and compete. Ready for the market, confident in themselves, and knowledgeable in research, Tabor students engage with faculty who are fiercely committed to teaching. They work with real clients, create real businesses, and leave Millikin prepared to lead. Tabor has an array of undergraduate programs (in traditional and accelerated evening formats) and also offers undergraduate business certificates for students of all majors who would like to customize their education and demonstrate versatility to employers.

Additionally, Tabor features a highly acclaimed evening MBA program geared toward established business professionals, as well as a traditional day MBA program that can be completed in 12 months.