Commencement Awards
The following awards are presented at commencement exercises to recognize superior performance in the MBA program.
Founder’s Medal
The Founder’s Medal, signifying first honors, was endowed by Commodore Cornelius Vanderbilt as one of his gifts to the university. At the Owen School, the Founder’s Medalist is the graduating MBA student who, in the judgment of the Dean and the Committee on Awards, has achieved the strongest record in personal, professional, and academic performance in meeting the requirements of the MBA degree.
H. Igor Ansoff Award
Endowed by several members of the MBA class of 1972 in honor of the founding dean of the Graduate School of Management, this cash prize is presented at commencement to an outstanding graduating MBA student who has made a significant contribution enhancing the life of the school. This award is not made every year; it is reserved to honor those rare individuals who contribute in original and creative ways to improving the academic, intellectual, or social life of students, faculty, and staff at Owen.
Flournoy A. Coles Jr. Prize
Endowed by friends, former students, and fellow faculty members to honor the memory of Flournoy A. Coles, Jr., this cash prize is awarded annually at commencement. A founding member of the Owen faculty, Coles taught international finance and economics during his tenure.
Wigginton Leadership Award
Presented annually to a graduating student in recognition of outstanding performance in finance, this award was established in 1992 in memory of Madison S. Wigginton, a founder of the Owen Graduate School of Management and member of the Vanderbilt University Board of Trust from 1960 to 1991.
Financial Executives Institute Award
Presented annually to a graduating student in recognition of outstanding academic performance in accounting and finance, this award is made annually by the Financial Executive Institute’s Middle Tennessee Chapter in consultation with the Owen finance and accounting faculty.
The Owen Service Award
Signified by an engraved sterling letter opener, the Owen Service Award is bestowed upon the graduating MBA student who has demonstrated outstanding effort and energy in leadership qualities, community involvement, and compassion for Owen student life. It recognizes the student who gives more to the Owen community than others and who unselfishly focuses on making Owen a better place for everyone. This award is awarded only in years in which the Dean recognizes there is a student who meets the criteria.
