Nearly 60 Freshmen, First-year Transfer Students Honored by Dean Richtermeyer
By Ed Brennen
Over a dessert of gooey s’mores and rich hot chocolate, the Manning School of Business recognized nearly 60 freshmen and first-year transfer students who made the fall semester Dean’s List at a recent reception at University Crossing’s Moloney Ballroom.
Hosting the event for the first time as dean of the Manning School, Sandra Richtermeyer invited the students and their families to campus to celebrate.
“This is a big accomplishment that you should all be proud of,” Richtermeyer told the crowd, which included dozens of parents and family members.
Recounting her own difficulties in her first semester as an undergraduate student, Richtermeyer praised the students for their focus and determination.
“Getting adjusted to a new environment, a four-year degree program or transferring to a new college is a lot of hard work,” said Richtermeyer, who presented each student with a certificate. “It makes me happy to be here with you today to celebrate your accomplishments.”
Among those honored was Kyle Knapp, a freshman from Natick majoring in business administration with a concentration in management information systems.
“I didn’t expect to make the Dean’s List coming into the year, but I worked hard and it paid off,” said Knapp, who juggles his studies with a part-time job with Transportation Services, where he works 15 to 20 hours a week as a student driver.
Knapp’s mom, Leslie, was proud to see her son’s River Hawk career get off to a flying start.
“This was his first-choice school, and he’s super excited to be here. It’s been a great transition for him,” said Leslie, who added that she and her husband were excited to be invited to the reception. “We’re so proud of him.”
All 215 freshmen and first-year transfers who qualified for the Dean’s List by earning a minimum 3.25 grade point average were invited to the event. Their names also appeared on the chandelier stock ticker in the lobby of the Pulichino Tong Business Center. Overall, 835 Manning School students made the fall Dean’s List.
The reception also served as a networking opportunity for students, as Richtermeyer asked them to move around the room and introduce themselves to someone they didn’t know.
“It was really nice to just sit down and talk with people who you might not get to meet during the course of the semester when everyone is so busy,” said Emmanuel Edobor-Ovabor, a freshman from Plymouth majoring in business administration with a concentration in management.
“I thought my first semester went pretty well,” said Edobor-Ovabor, an Honors College student whose favorite course last semester was the First-Year Seminar in Honors: Text in the City. “I was able to find my study pattern in high school, so coming into college wasn’t too much of a change. But I know that can be a problem for some students.”
Edobor-Ovabor’s parents and younger brother made the 140-mile round trip from Plymouth for the event.
“I am so happy and so proud of him,” said his father, Daniel. “I’m glad that he’s in this school. There seems to be a family environment here, which is very nice to see.”