SunTrust Distinguished Leadership Award Winners Demonstrate the Practical Value of the Rollins MBA

Center for Leadership Development at the Crummer Graduate School of Business and SunTrust Bank announce SunTrust Distinguished Leader of Merit Award Winners

April 15, 2008

ORLANDO, Fla.--  The Rollins MBA at the Crummer Graduate School of Business, the number one graduate business program in Florida, is proud to announce the winners of this year's SunTrust Distinguished Leader of Merit Awards program,  Jeanmarie Loria, and the three Leader of Merit award winners, Harry Antonio, Alexandra Edgar and Katie Pederson. The awards were presented at a special reception on the evening of April 14, and the winners will be recognized during the school’s commencement ceremony on April 26.

The SunTrust Distinguished Leader of Merit award is the top honor given to the students in Crummer’s Center for Leadership Development who best exemplify the qualities of ethical, responsible and thoughtful leadership, and who have applied these characteristics and practices at the school and throughout the community. Supported by the generosity of SunTrust Bank, this recognition is considered to be among the most prestigious awards given by Crummer at graduation.

"With hundreds of Crummer alumni working as CEOs, CFOs, presidents and in other top-level executive positions in organizations around the world, this year's SunTrust Leaders of Merit award winners represent nothing less than the best of what's to come for 21st Century leadership," said Craig McAllaster, Dean of the Crummer Graduate School of Business.  "In recognizing the value of these emerging talents from the Crummer Graduate School with this prestigious award, SunTrust is giving back to its community, and helping to shape the future of ethical, responsible and thoughtful leadership."

“SunTrust is proud to sponsor the Distinguished Leader of Merit program because we appreciate the importance of leadership development in helping nurture strong leaders for our community,” said Tom Kuntz, Chairman, President and CEO of SunTrust Bank, Florida. “This program has become an essential part of Crummer's commitment to leadership development and I'm very impressed by the quality of the students who participate.”

The criteria for these awards consists of behavioral assessments, participation in leadership coaching, attendance at leadership events, course completion in leadership communications and community service performance.  Students who meet these requirements compile a Leadership Porfolio which details leadership development and includes a development plan, written reflections of demonstrated leadership, references, a resume and objectives for future leadership based on what has been learned earning the Rollins MBA. The entrants are judged by local Orlando business leaders.

SunTrust Distinguished Leader of Merit Award winner, Jeanmarie Loria and SunTrust First Vice President Paul Richards

SunTrust award winner and full-time MBA student, Jeanmarie Loria and Full-Time MBA Program Director Jacqueline Brito

(From left to right) Katie Pederson, Ashlee Weisser,  Kalindi Ramcharan, Executive Director Center for Leadership Development Dr. Susan Bach, Leadership Counselor Pam Woodley, Jessica Combs and  Jeanmarie Loria

(From left to right) 2008 SunTrust Distinguished Leader of Merit Finalists Harry Antonio, Katie Pederson, (winner) Jeanmarie Loria and Alexandra Edgar