Robert H. Smith School of Business Honors William Apollony and Francis Contino as the 1999 Distinguished Alumni

Baltimore, MD - May 18, 1999 - The Robert H. Smith School of Business at the University of Maryland, College Park, will honor Baltimore business leaders William N. Apollony and Francis A. Contino as the business school's 1999 Distinguished Alumni. Apollony, who received his MBA in finance from the school in 1976, is the senior vice president of First National Bank of Maryland's Healthcare Banking Division. Contino, a 1968 accounting graduate, is executive vice president and CFO of McCormick & Company, Inc.

The Smith School of Business will recognize the two alumni Wednesday evening, May 19, during its "Celebration of Baltimore" to be held at Hidden Waters, the Baltimore home of the chancellor of the University System of Maryland. The event will bring together representatives from the business school and its alumni chapter, students, and other Baltimore-area businesspeople to celebrate the school's Baltimore presence. The Smith School in January brought its evening MBA program to downtown Baltimore, offered at the University of Maryland, Baltimore.

"On behalf of the Robert H. Smith School of Business, I am very pleased to Apollony and Contino Named 1999 Distinguished Alumni express our pride in the professional and personal success of Bill Apollony and Fran Contino," says Howard Frank, dean of the business school. "Their support in so many ways has been key to the business school's remarkable achievements over the years. In addition, Bill and Fran have helped the school enrich its corporate partnerships in the area."

Both Apollony and Contino are avid supporters of the Robert H. Smith School of Business. Apollony is a member of the Dean's Council of Advisors and a past board member and president of the Smith School of Business Alumni Chapter. He has been personally involved in recruiting business school students for positions at First National Bank. And he has served as an MBA Case Competition judge, spoken in the classroom, and advised and mentored students. Apollony also plays a key role in securing First National Bank as a primary sponsor of the alumni chapter's annual Alumni Golf Tournament, which raises scholarship funds.

Contino, former managing partner of Ernst & Young LLP's Baltimore office, is a member of the business school's Campaign Leadership Committee. He also is active with the Smith School in the area of student placement. In addition, he has worked with the school in the areas of faculty support, curricular support, and fund raising. Specifically, Contino was among the Smith School alumni at Ernst & Young whose generous support and commitment in 1981 established the Ernst & Young Professorships in the school's accounting department. The creation of the professorships marked the formal beginning of continuous support from alumni at the firm.

Nearly 200 invited guests are expected to attend the Robert H. Smith School's "Celebration of Baltimore."

About the Robert H. Smith School of Business

The Robert H. Smith School of Business at the University of Maryland is an internationally recognized leader in management education and research for the digital economy. The school offers cross-functional study options in its six academic departments, which include accounting and information assurance; decision and information technologies; finance; logistics, business, and public policy; management and organization; and marketing. More information about the Robert H. Smith School of Business can be found at http://www.rhsmith.umd.edu.