The Robert H. Smith School of Business’ Black MBA Association and Latin American MBA Student Association (LAMBASA) co-hosted the 21st Annual William D. Bradford Awards Banquet in the Samuel Riggs Alumni Center. An annual tradition at Smith, this dinner and reception brings together students, faculty, staff, alumni, and corporate partners for celebration of diversity in the Smith community.
Since its inception in 1994, the event has grown into one of the signature events on the calendar, with 100 members of the Smith community attending this year’s banquet. LAMBASA President Jose Castro has gone on the record saying that the banquet “has become one of the most important student-led activities that focuses on the acknowledgement of the importance of diversity in our community and the positive impact it has created along the way.”
A panel of faculty and staff recognized specific students for their outstanding contribution to the Smith community at the banquet. First-year MBA students Freddy Chacon and Sasha Smith received the Community Involvement Award and fellow first-years Chavuanne Wills and Milton Vasconez were given the Academic Achievement Award.
The event also featured guest speakers who discussed to importance of diversity in the world of business. Sydney Bradford, the daughter of former Smith professor William D. Bradford who initiated the event 21 years ago, kicked off the evening with remarks about the role of diversity in the Smith community and beyond and her father’s vision for the event. She was followed by the night’s keynote speaker, Jose Tijerino, the President and CEO of the Hispanic Heritage Foundation. Tijerino, a Smith alum, spoke about the obstacles that he has faced as a Latino American and how he has fought to ensure that minorities are fairly and appropriately represented in our society.
Finally the event offered students an opportunity to network with alumni and corporate sponsors in attendance from General Electric, Hilti, Baltimore Aircoil, Laureate Education, Sirius XM, the Hispanic Heritage Foundation and M&T Bank.
“Each year students, alumni, corporate partners, staff and faculty attend the Bradford Banquet. Doing so demonstrates the Smith School Community’s commitment to diversity. People here are on board. They want to do more. That’s exciting,” said Associate Dean of the MBA & MS Programs, Dr. Ken White.
