Congratulations, OWLIEs! Here are the 2021 Winners

by - April 23rd, 2021 - Jindal News & Events, Student Spotlight

The OWLIE Award stands for Outstanding Worthy Leaders Involved Exceptionally. This annual awards event provides a unique platform to recognize students, faculty, staff, mentors, alumni and supporters for their exceptional service on behalf of the Naveen Jindal School of Management. OWLIE winners have positively influenced those not only within the school but also in the greater Dallas-Fort Worth community. The Jindal School is grateful to be home to such outstanding individuals and organizations.

The 2021 event was the second virtual setting but seventh annual awards ceremony since the first awards show in 2015. Potential OWLIE recipients are nominated 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 virtual celebration

Now – let’s hear it for our 2021 OWLIE award winners!

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

Undergraduate winners TIE: Emily Lomas-Martinez

Emily Lomas-Martinez

Lomas-Martinez is a JSOM senior majoring in InformationTechnology and Systems.

Undergraduate winner TIE: Sharan Venkateshwar

 Sharan Venkateshwar

Venkateshwar is a JSOM sophomore majoring in Healthcare Management.

Graduate winner: Josh Dornback

 Josh Dornback

Dornback is a JSOM graduate student pursuing his MBA.

Category: Jindal Student Mentor

Undergraduate winner: Haley Deininger

 Haley Deininger

Deininger is a JSOM senior majoring in Human Resource Management.

Graduate winner: Duc Vu

 Duc Vu

Vu is a JSOM student pursuing his PhD in Management Science and MS in Business Analytics.

Category: Jindal Selfless Service

Undergraduate winner: Michelle Adams

Michelle Adams

Adams, BA’87, MA’88, PhD’95, is a UT Dallas Distinguished Alumni who earned her degrees from the School of Economic, Political and Policy Sciences and is the founder and president at Marketing Brainology.

Category: Jindal Faculty of the Year

Undergraduate winner: Rebecca Files

Rebecca Files

Files is an associate professor of accounting and the associate director of research in the Institute for Excellence inCorporate Governance.

Graduate winner TIE: Joseph Mauriello

 Joseph Mauriello

Mauriello is a senior lecturer of accounting and the director of the Center for Internal Auditing Excellence.

Graduate winner TIE: Dorothee Honhon

Dorothee Honhon

Honhon is an associate professor of Operations Management.

PhD winner: Ganesh Janakiraman

Ganesh Janakiraman

Janakiraman is an Ashbel Smith Professor and PhD area coordinator for Operations Management.

Category: JSOM Student of the Year

Undergraduate winner: Jaquelin Rojas

Jaquelin Rojas

Rojas is a JSOM senior majoring in Information Technology and Systems.

Graduate winner: Taylor Ryan

 Taylor Ryan

Ryan is a JSOM graduate student pursuing her master’s in Supply Chain Management and an MBA.

PhD winner: Dorian Boncouer

Dorian Boncouer

Boncouer is a PhD candidate pursuing his doctorate International Management Studies.

Category: JSOM Outstanding Student Organization Leader

Undergraduate winner: Richard Jones

 Richard Jones

Jones is a JSOM senior majoring in Supply Chain Management.

Graduate winner: Grace Nguyen

Grace Nguyen

Nguyen is a JSOM graduate student pursuing her MBA.

Category: JSOM Student Organization of the Year

Undergraduate winner: UTD Entrepreneurship Club

Undergraduate winner: UTD Entrepreneurship Club

(From left) Coraima Saavedra, Ramya Reddy, Harshini Rallapalli and Ronak Hegde

Graduate winner: Consulting Leadership and Development Society

Graduate winner: Consulting Leadership and Development Society

(From left) Eric Bowie, Grace Nguyen, Gottfreid Lutumba, Ron Bose (advisor), Eleanor Song Liu and Rafael Perez

Category: JSOM Amazing Alum

Winner: Kevin Ryan

 Kevin Ryan

Ryan earned his MBA from the Jindal School in 1995. He has served as chair of the Jindal School advisory council and on The University of Texas System Chancellor’s Council Executive Committee. Through continued donations, Ryan and his wife, Cristi, converted their opportunity fund to a scholarship to help JSOM students in perpetuity.

Category: JSOM Outstanding Staff Member

Winner: Brandon Davidson

Brandon Davidson

Davidson is the manager of JSOM Technology and Facilities Services. His dedication keeps our school operating smoothly and safely.

Category: Dean’s Council Super OWL

Undergraduate winner: Hunter Gibble

Hunter Gibble

Gibble is a JSOM junior majoring in Information Technology and Systems.

Graduate winner: Chiao-An Chang

Chiao-An Chang

Chang is a JSOM graduate student pursuing her master’s in Information Technology and Management.

Category: Jindal Employer of the Year

Winner: Amazon – Amazon Web Services

Amazon Web Services

The Jindal School is grateful for the opportunities Amazon – Amazon Web Services to provides for its students.

“The OWLIEs are a special event that showcases the unique talents and exceptional leadership the JSOM students, faculty, staff and alumni possess,” said Dr. Monica Powell, JSOM senior associate dean, graduate dean and faculty advisor to the JSOM Dean’s Council. “For the second year in a row, we had to produce the event virtually, rather than host our big awards show in the Davidson Auditorium. I’m extremely proud of the JSOM Dean’s Council for producing an entertaining celebration and showcasing the hard work of our community.”

More from Jindal News & Events - Blog Category

All Staff Has a Voice at UT Dallas

All Staff Has a Voice at UT Dallas

Staff Council is comprised of representatives from each district within UTD. UT Dallas has six districts, and JSOM is part of District 3.

Congratulations, Class of 2020 Graduates!

Congratulations, Class of 2020 Graduates!

Congratulations, Class of 2020! We’re so proud of each and every one of you for finishing your last semester strong, despite these unforeseen circumstances due to COVID-19. While this may not be how you imagined your time at the Jindal School to end

Robust Response as OWLIEs Go Virtual

Robust Response as OWLIEs Go Virtual

Enthusiastic shout-outs and spontaneous bursts of support made the Naveen Jindal School of Management’s sixth annual OWLIE Awards a spirited virtual watch party that had the audience rooting for favorites and congratulating winners in real-time.

Real Estate Technology: One Key to Endure Economic Crisis

Real Estate Technology: One Key to Endure Economic Crisis

How much of an impact can an organization’s real estate have on the bottom line? Usually, companies note staffing and employee costs as their biggest expense, and real estate is their second-biggest expense. Real Estate Technology is the answer.

Students: Town Hall for All Things Advising

Students: Town Hall for All Things Advising

Senior Associate Graduate Dean Monica Powell shares a quick update for all students.

UT Dallas Jindal School students in a campus coffee shop requestion information

Request Information

Thank you for your interest in the Naveen Jindal School of Management, UT Dallas. Tell us a little bit about yourself, and we’ll send you customized information about our programs. We hope to meet you soon.

Request Information