Colorado State University College of Business Names Top Graduating Students

Every spring, faculty at the College of Business at Colorado State University recognize top graduating seniors for their accomplishments in academics, leadership, service and life.

Eleven students were selected this year from 80 nominations. Following are summaries of the students in alphabetical order with high schools and hometowns in parentheses:

Hal Anderson (East High School in Denver) chose finance and real estate as his concentrations. He is an active member of the Business Diversity & Leadership Alliance, has helped recruit students at the CSU Showcase and gives college tours. He is an Open Option Peer Mentor and was a founding member of the United Men of Color Organization at CSU.

Troy Anderson (Riverton High School in Wyoming) is a non-traditional student with a 4.0 GPA in finance. He is the owner/manager of Contour Glass, a glass blowing and sculpting company. He worked and attended school full time and "remained married through it all."

John Bidwell (Cherry Creek High School in Denver) is a finance major with a 3.9 GPA. He is assistant lab director of the Intra-University Computer Labs. He serves as vice president of Alpha Kappa Psi business fraternity and has chaired the committee for their Networking Dinner, which he grew to 13 companies hosting 100 students. He will be working for Accenture in the fall.

Amy Castillo (Maui High School in Hawaii) has a concentration in management and a political science minor. She has been active in Hui O Hawaii, the Hawaiian student organization; Delta Sigma Pi; and Business Diversity & Leadership Alliance. She coordinated the COB Fall BBQ and the Hawaiian Luau.

Amy Griffin (Custer County District High School in Montana) has a 3.75 GPA in accounting and finance. She has been involved in the Honors Program, is a teaching assistant for ACT205, an Honors Peer Mentor and a Business Peer Mentor. She participated in the KPMG PEAK Leadership Program and worked 30 hours a week while taking a full class load.

Sarah Hubbard (Gateway High School in Aurora), whose concentration is finance, works as an intern for Hewlett Packard. She came to CSU after earning her GED. She has been a peer mentor and works with the Student Alumni Connection Council.

Audrey Lasalle (Monarch High School in Louisville, Colo.) has a 3.89 GPA with an accounting concentration. She is a first-generation student and says that the hardest part of college has been learning who to talk to and explaining to her family how college works. She spent a semester abroad. She has participated in Alternative Spring Break and is in the Honors Program and serves as an Honors Peer Mentor.

Evan Massie (Douglas County High School in Castle Rock) is a non-traditional student in finance. He enlisted in the Marine Corps reserve immediately after high school. He has been deployed to Iraq twice so far while trying to complete classes. He says it’s sometimes a strain to remember material from classes he took during breaks in his schedule. He still participates in Marine Reserve activities one weekend every month. He will work for Farm Credit in Denver.

Sean O’Bryan (Cherry Creek High School in Greenwood Village, Colo.) has two concentrations – accounting and finance – and a minor in economics with a 3.7 GPA. He works as an intern at New Belgium Brewery. He is a member of the Summit Fund, was president of the Finance Club, worked as an orientation leader for new freshmen and is a mentor for the College of Business. He will start work for KPMG in August.

Mason Schrack (Lewis-Palmer High School in Colorado Springs) has a marketing concentration, owns his own small business as a Web and graphic designer, is the Junior High Youth Director for Mountain Life Church and served as a student instructor for CIS150. After graduation, he’ll move to Sydney, Australia, to study for a degree in Youth Ministry.

Erin Yemm (Fort Collins High School) has a 4.0 GPA with a concentration in finance and a second major in Spanish. She is in the Honors Program and serves as a Lead Peer Mentor for the Honors Program. She volunteers at Irish Elementary School, works as a volleyball coach for 6th to 8th graders and is part of the Deans’ Student Leadership Council. Erin will go to work for Accenture in Denver in the fall.

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