March 26 , 2004 Print this page

Business Honor Society Names La Salle University
Top National School Chapter

La Salle University’s Chapter of the Beta Gamma Sigma, an international honor society, was named the outstanding chapter in the United States and the world for 2004 out of nearly 400 chapters internationally. For this recognition, the society will provide a $1,500 scholarship to a La Salle student in the School of Business Administration next fall.

One requirement for outstanding chapter is a high percentage of student participation in the annual Beta Gamma Sigma induction ceremonies. This past year, 96 percent of La Salle’s business students were involved.

In addition, business schools are required to promote Beta Gamma Sigma activities on campus and in the business community.

Beta Gamma Sigma is the honor society serving business programs accredited by The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). Only 20 percent of all business schools nationwide earn accreditation. Admission to Beta Gamma Sigma is for the top seven and 10 percent academically of juniors and senior business majors respectively, and the top 20 percent academically of graduating MBA students.

“Beta Gamma Sigma requires only academic performance to be inducted, but we want our students give back to the University community,” says Susan Borkowski, a La Salle professor of accounting and the faculty advisor for the La Salle chapter. “ We ask inductees to mentor freshman students, and we ask graduate students to participate in our annual Banker’s Day event to judge freshman teams’ business plans.”

For the past three years, La Salle’s received an honorable mention from Beta Gamma Sigma for outstanding chapter. “Our students deserve it, because it requires so much beyond studying,” says Borkowski.

Borkowski also cited the chapter’s participation in the annual Beta Gamma Sigma Leadership Forum, where top students participate three-day event to develop their leadership skills. This year’s forum will be held in San Antonio, Texas.

Each year the La Salle chapter inducts two honoree members who are prominent business people who have close ties to the university. This year two alumni were honored: Tim Fitzpatrick, `72, and MBA ’81, President and COO of Sallie Mae; and Dave Carberry, `74, Vice President for Finance at Johnson and Johnson Health Care Systems.