Congratulations to our MACIS Graduates!

On Thursday, May 7, 2020, the Master of Accounting and Information Systems (MACIS) Class of 2020 joined our ACIS faculty for a unique graduation celebration in Zoom.  Students reflected on their time in the MACIS Program and faculty provided words of wisdom and advice for the future during the celebration led by Nadia Rogers, ACIS Professor and Director of our MACIS Program.

Our MACIS students’ reflections ranged from experiences at our MACIS Orientation in August 2020 to building relationships with classmates and professors to classroom experiences.  Andrew Igo, one of our top performing students and Teaching Assistants this academic year, indicated that he enjoyed “getting to know everyone” and that there are “so many wonderful students, faculty and staff.”  He also shared that he “couldn’t have asked for a better experience or a better group of people to experience this Program with” and that he will “cherish the memories and [is] excited to see what everyone will accomplish after graduation.”

ACIS faculty offered words of wisdom and advice for the future, while also complimenting our students on their resilience during the abrupt transition to online learning this semester.  Dr. Jack Maher, ACIS Department Head and Professor, shared an important, timely message that “a critical determinant in being happy and successful in life is our ability to change and learn how to adjust in order to succeed in an ever-changing environment” and he acknowledged how well our students have handled the current circumstances and the changes we have experienced in education.  Dr. Maher further encouraged our students to have confidence in their knowledge because Virginia Tech has provided them with an educational foundation that has prepared them for a career in the professional world.  Those sentiments were shared by all faculty as was evident in the advice provided to students.

In addition to the above, during the celebration, students were awarded the following superlatives by their classmates:

• Best All-Around Classmate:  Rudhra Krishna
• Most Likely to Become a Partner:  Stephen Snyder
• Most Likely to Become an Executive:  Ryan Rossum
• Most Likely to Become a Successful Entrepreneur:  Randy Bills
• Most Likely to Become a Professor:  Andrew Igo
• Best Leader:  Randy Bills

Per Professor Rogers, “This year’s commencement ceremony and events look quite different from years past due to COVID-19, but we are so thankful to have had the opportunity to celebrate our MACIS graduates in Zoom.  I couldn’t imagine letting them graduate without seeing their smiling faces together as a Class once more!” 

Congratulations to the superlative recipients and to all of our MACIS graduates!  We are proud of you and all that you have accomplished, and we look forward to celebrating your many successes in the future.