Honors Convocation recognizes distinguished students, staff

More than 200 people received recognition at Pitt’s Honors Convocation Friday afternoon. The… More than 200 people received recognition at Pitt’s Honors Convocation Friday afternoon. The ceremony, which is held every year, recognizes Pitt students, faculty and staff who have excelled academically or in service and leadership roles. ‘ Chancellor Mark Nordenberg told the people gathered in Carnegie Music Hall for the ceremony that he was overjoyed to see Pitt produce mathematicians, philosophers, historians and thinkers equal to any in the world. ‘ Pitt recognized students for being University Scholars and Golden Key National Honor Society members. Some received individual awards for leadership and achievements in specific disciplines. Burton Tansky, chairman and CEO of The Neiman Marcus Group Inc., and Tracey Thomas Travis, senior vice president of finance and CFO for Polo Ralph Lauren Corp., both received Alumni Fellow awards for their accomplishments since leaving Pitt. ‘If you told me I would be back on campus 30 years later as CFO of Ralph Lauren and accepting this award,’ said Travis, who earned her engineering degree from Pitt in 1983, ‘I would never have believed it.’ Student honorees wearing gold ribbons from all disciplines and all grade levels, their family members, faculty and Pitt staff filled the first two floors of the grand auditorium as the keynote speaker and recipient of the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Commercial Science, Raymond W. Smith, took the stage. ‘ Smith earned his master’s in business from the Joseph M. Katz Graduate School of Business in 1969 and went on to become chairman of Verizon Ventures, founding partner of Arlington Capital Partners and chairman of investment bank Rothschild, Inc. Smith has also been named CEO of the year by CNBC, top manager of the year by Business Week and outstanding corporate leader of the year by Financial World. ‘ During his response, Smith gave the audience eight tips for achieving success. He told the attendees to be prepared for good luck, be aware of preconceived notions, cherish mistakes, do well by doing good and the crowd pleasing, ‘Get to know those who you hope to best,’ or outshine. Elaborating on this lesson, Smith pointed to one of his colleagues in the front row and said, ‘Make sure he is a good guy and watch his every move.’ ‘ The audience laughed. ‘ Juan Manfredi, associate dean for undergraduate studies in the School of Arts and Sciences, recognized the academic achievements of the undergraduate students. ‘ ‘You are a true testament to Pitt’s commitment to high achievement,’ said Manfredi. ‘ Timothy Adamo, the Pitt senior who received the Montgomery Culver Prize for Mathematics, spoke on behalf of the undergraduate academic honorees. Adamo challenged his peers to succeed in trying times and never forget the academic environment that nurtured their talent. ‘ Beth Siegler Retchless, Pitt neuroscience graduate student and winner of the National Research Service Award, represented the graduate student honorees. Retchless, who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis during her time at Pitt, told the audience that although she feared her disease would end her research, the support and flexibility of her Pitt colleagues have made her research dreams possible. ‘ ‘I lucked out with [mentor] Jon Johnson,’ said Retchless. ‘He is very understanding and he knows I work hard, so when I am in pain he allows me to take a break.’ ‘ Kathy Humphrey, vice provost and dean of students, recognized student leadership award recipients. Senior Ryan Haddad, a former member of Student Government Board and honor society Omicron Delta Kappa, accepted the recognition on behalf of all the student leaders. ‘ ‘Our time as leaders on campus is short,’ said Haddad. ‘But it’s only the beginning.’ ‘ Humphrey also presented the Emma W. Locke Award to Pitt senior Ugochi Okoroafor and the Omicron Delta Kappa Senior of the year award to Pitt seniors Sumter Link and James Ostendorf. ‘ ‘I feel great and honored,’ said Link. ‘The other finalists are some of the best student leaders and are just as worthy of the award.’ ‘ The rest of the convocation included faculty awards and the reading of the alma mater. Nordenberg recognized the honorees’ families during his closing remarks.