Congratulations, OWLIEs! Here are the 2022 Winners

by - April 21st, 2022 - Alumni, Student Life

The Outstanding Worthy Leaders Involved Exceptionally (OWLIE) awards ceremony is an annual event to recognize students, faculty, staff, mentors, alumni and supporters for their exceptional service on behalf of the Naveen Jindal School of Management.

The 2022 event returned to an in-person setting after two virtual ceremonies and was the 8th annual awards ceremony since the first show in 2015. This year, a new award was introduced: Jindal Diversity, Equity, Belonging and Inclusion Engagement to honor either an undergraduate, graduate, staff, faculty or community leader who demonstrates passion, connects community, or advocates for change toward diversity, equity and inclusion.

OWLIE nominees are submitted by students, faculty, program directors and JSOM student organization advisors. The finalists are determined by the Undergraduate and Graduate Dean’s Council in a blind process that removes student identity from consideration.

OWLIE winners are then decided in voting by JSOM faculty and staff, eight representatives of more than 70 JSOM student organizations, and the undergraduate and graduate members of the Dean’s Council.

Watch the video below to see this year’s celebration:

Here are the 2022 winners:

Category: JSOM Most Likely to be a C-Suite Executive

Undergraduate winner: Christy Chinn

Christy Chinn with Dean Pirkul
Chinn is a JSOM senior majoring in Finance.

Graduate winner: Kimberly Cury

Kimberly Cury
Cury is a JSOM graduate student pursuing her MBA.

Category: Jindal Student Mentor

Undergraduate winner: Melanye Simmons

Melanye Simmons with Dean Pirkul
Simmons is a JSOM senior majoring in Human Resource Management.

Graduate winner: Sarah Deininger

Sarah Deininger with Dean Pirkul
Deininger is a JSOM graduate student pursuing her Master’s in Accounting.

Category: Jindal Selfless Service

Winner: Raj Kumar

Raj Kumar
Kumar is a JSOM graduate student pursuing his Master’s in Information Technology & Management.

Category: Jindal Diversity, Equity, Belonging and Inclusion Engagement

Winner: Sydney Tran

Sydney Tran with Dean Pirkul
Tran is a JSOM senior majoring in Information Technology & Systems.

Category: Jindal Faculty of the Year

Undergraduate winner: Hubert Zydorek

Hubert Zydorek
Zydorek is the director of the undergraduate Global Business Program.

Graduate winner: Gaurav Shekhar

Gaurav Shekhar with Dean Pirkul
Shekhar is the director of the Master’s of Business Analytics Program.

PhD winner: Nanda Kumar

Nanda Kumar with Dean Pirkul
Kumar is a Marketing professor.

Category: JSOM Student of the Year

Undergraduate winner: Sara Brennan

Sara Brennan
Brennan is a JSOM senior double-majoring in Finance and Economics.

Graduate winner: Vanessa Gambini

Vanessa Gambini with Dean Pirkul
Gambini is a JSOM graduate student pursuing her MBA.

PhD winner: Nan Guo

Nan Guo with Dean Pirkul
Guo is a PhD candidate pursuing her doctorate in International Management Studies.

Category: Outstanding Student Organization Leader

Undergraduate winner: Bianca Chandwani

Bianca Chandwani with Dean Pirkul
Chandwani is a JSOM senior majoring in Information Technology & Systems.

Graduate winner: Monica Vulich

Monica Vulich with Dean Pirkul
Vulich is a JSOM graduate student pursuing her MBA and Master’s in Business Analytics.

Category: JSOM Student Organization of the Year

Undergraduate winner: 180 Degrees Consulting

180 Degrees Consulting with Dean Pirkul
180 Degrees Consulting

Graduate winner: Association for Supply Chain Management

Association for Supply Chain Management with Dean Pirkul
Association for Supply Chain Management

Category: JSOM Amazing Alum

Winner: Gautam Sharma

Gautam Sharma with Dean Pirkul
Sharma graduated in 2020 from the Full-Time MBA Program and the MS in Business Analytics Program in 2020 and is currently a Data Innovation Manager at PMG Digital Agency. As an alumnus, he is still highly engaged in the JSOM community. He has led several career advising and LEAD Camp sessions for the MBA Program.

Category: JSOM Outstanding Staff Member

Winner: Neil Johnson

Neil Johnson with Dean Pirkul
Johnson is an Associate Director of the JSOM Career Management Center.

Category: Jindal Employer of the Year

Winner: RSM

RSM with Dean Pirkul
The Jindal School is grateful for the opportunities RSM provides for its students.

Category: Dean’s Council Super OWL

Undergraduate winner: Troy Murray

Troy Murray with Dean Pirkul
Murray is a JSOM junior majoring in Marketing.

Graduate winner: Nisarga Karnam

Nisarga Karnam with Dean Pirkul
Karnam is a JSOM graduate student pursuing his Master’s in Management Science.

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