Graduate students from five separate Master’s programs convened for the summer Academic Hooding Ceremony for the WVU College of Business and Economics on July 16. B&E hooded 66 graduate students in the Class of 2016 with more than 300 family and friends in attendance at the Morgantown Event Center.

A total of 113 students qualified to participate in the hooding ceremony from programs including Master of Business Administration (MBA), M.S. in Human Resources and Industrial Relations (MSIR), the nationally ranked Online Hybrid Master of Business Administration program, M.S. Finance and the inaugural class of the M.S. in Fraud and Forensic Examination.

“This is the most cohesive event we’ve had where we have pulled together B&E’s Master programs for the hooding ceremony, and we’re very pleased with how the ceremony turned out,” said Dr. Elizabeth Vitullo, assistant dean of Graduate Programs. “Recognizing all of our Master graduates together really combined all of the students’ energy and camaraderie. These graduate students all worked very hard to earn these advanced degrees, and there was a special, shared feeling of achievement and happiness at the event.”

Vitullo added that some of those who were hooded will now go on to new positions at companies and organizations, while others who are already at jobs will continue to add to the success of their organizations.

Newly appointed B&E Milan Puskar Dean Dr. Javier Reyes served as the keynote speaker, emphasizing the importance of finding different ways to “invest in yourself.”

“My mentor told me that if I wanted to succeed, I had to continue to invest in myself,” Reyes said. “The more we invest in ourselves, the better we will be.”

Reyes also sent the message the graduate students have people around them who care about them.

“I am so happy to be here at the West Virginia University College of Business and Economics. But I didn’t get here alone,” he said. “Listen to those around you and think about what they have to say. Those who work with you or care about you or love you.

“I want to congratulate you for taking this big step. Remember where you came from, and remember those who are behind you every step of the way.”

During the ceremony, B&E Accounting Chair Dr. Richard Dull spoke
to the evolution of the M.S. Forensic and Fraud Examination program.

“B&E has demonstrated great commitment to forensic and fraud examination over the years in the area of accounting,” Dull said. “This master’s program has gone from a hill to the mountaintop.”

The Forensic and Fraud Examination program’s inaugural group of graduates included nine students.

Now that coursework is complete for the programs, degrees will be verified for those who were hooded. Upon verification, the degrees will be awarded next month.