Congratulations to the students and faculty who received awards at the University of Pittsburgh School of Business’s Spring 2025 Master’s Awards Ceremony on Friday, May 2, 2025, at the University Club in Oakland.
Addressing the graduates, Gene Anderson, Henry E. Haller, Jr. Dean, thanked the students for entrusting Pitt, “we’re thankful for the many contributions that each of you has made to our community during your time with us.” He announced the recipients of three student awards and three faculty member awards:
- Dean’s Outstanding Student Service Award – Master of Science: Yihan Qu
- Dean’s Outstanding Student Service Award – Part-time MBA: Lyuqin Chen
- Dean’s Outstanding Student Service Award – Full-time MBA: Devesh Udasi
- Full-time Master’s Program Student Choice Award for Outstanding Teaching: Prakash Mirchandani
- Part-time MBA Student Choice Award for Outstanding Teaching: Frits Pil
- Master of Science in Accounting Student Choice Award for Outstanding Teaching: Karen Shastri
A Tribute to Don Norrington
Laura Oknefski, senior director of graduate academic programs and student services, reflected on the recent passing of Don Norrington, a 50-year employee of the University. Norrington spent many of his years at Pitt working with graduate students in the School of Business and took the time to make genuine connections with all the students and staff he met. Countless alumni stayed in contact with him years after they graduated.
“May we all carry his welcoming, supportive, and positive spirit with us, and in so doing continue to spread the legacy of the man who gave us so much,” says Oknefski.
Student Awards
Rebecca Badawy, associate dean for MBA and specialty masters and clinical associate professor of Business Administration, announced the student award winners:
- Sheth Foundation Scholars in Marketing: Devesh Udasi, Faizan Jamil, Bradley Stamm, and Ana Reyes
- Pitt Business Outstanding Finance Graduate Student Award: Abhishek Tripathi
- Outstanding Supply Chain Management Master’s Student Awards: Aishwarya Narayanan and Ghassan Salah
- Outstanding Accounting Graduate Student Award: Isabel Keidan
- Marshall Alan Robinson Prize for Excellence: Kumar Chinmay
Students Share Memories and Inspiration
Oknefski introduced the three students selected to address the audience.
Matthew Gussiaas (MBA ’25), the part-time MBA student speaker, talked about the personal growth he experienced during his time at the School of Business and his gratitude for the connections he made with his classmates. “The community at Katz is something special — no matter how busy or stressful things got, we figured it out together. And that sense of support and camaraderie made the entire experience more meaningful to me.”
The Master of Science student speaker Priyam Somani (MS ‘25) thanked all the families, friends and loved ones for their sacrifices, and unconditional support and encouraged his fellow graduates to, “remember that true success is not measured solely by accolades or titles, but by the positive difference we make in the lives of others.”
Devesh Udasi (MBA ’25), the full-time MBA student speaker, connected what his fellow students learned at the School of Business to their future. “We carry the spirit of resilience, of hope, and of leadership that Katz has instilled in us. We are ready not just to succeed, but to lift others as we rise, to continue building communities wherever we go.”