Smith Honors Scholars and Donors at Inaugural “Investing in Excellence” Luncheon

Investing in scholarship, as Dean Prabhudev Konana said recently, is “made not with the expectation of personal gain, but with something far more pristine: the pure intention to uplift others.”

The life-changing impact of scholarship was a common theme during the first ever “Investing in Excellence” luncheon at Riggs Alumni Center, March 28, 2025, where students from the Robert H. Smith School of Business gathered with the alumni and friends who have generously made scholarships possible for Smith students. 

“To our donors—you are not just donors, you are investors in the promise and possibility of our students,” Konana said.

Konana shared that in the fall of 2024, Smith welcomed the largest freshman class ever and awarded $1.7 million in scholarships, a 143% increase from the previous year. 

“That growth reflects your generosity and the momentum we are building together,” Konana said, adding that the support helps students focus on their studies rather than the burden of financial stress.

“I am in awe of this remarkable group of individuals surrounding me who share a profound commitment to the future of our school, our students and our faculty,” Associate Dean of Undergraduate Programs Joe Bailey said during the opening remarks of the event. 

“Each investment has a multiplying effect that goes beyond just the student who receives that scholarship,” Bailey added, as he introduced speakers representing students and alumni.

Grayson Vintz ’25, a finance and accounting student at Smith emphasized the importance of support for students. “For some of us, these scholarships weren’t just a financial boost—they were a lifeline,” he said. “That’s why these scholarships matter so much. They remove barriers. They replace stress with opportunity. They turn uncertainty into hope.”

Alumnus Diran Balogun ’20, a product and program management expert with Amazon Web Services and founder of Primetime Homes Realty, was recently named to the Terrapin Club 30 Under 30 Class of 2025. He is passionate about giving back to Smith and serves on the Smith Alumni Board. 

Balogun shared that his path to success was not something that happened overnight, but is “about what happens when someone chooses to invest in excellence, even when it is still in progress.”

“When institutions like Maryland choose to invest in students like us, they're not just supporting academics. They’re building futures,” he said. 

Before donors and students gathered to network during a dessert reception, keynote speaker and alumna Pallavi Agarwal ’05 spoke about her parents, Drs. Pushpa and Kamal Agarwal, and their belief that “education was the key to a brighter future” something they instilled in her from a young age.

Agarwal is the founder and CEO of Kander, a firm specializing in implementation cloud technology solutions for clients across professional services, high-tech, higher education and nonprofit sectors. Kander ranks in the top 25% of Inc. 5000’s list of America’s Fastest-Growing Private Companies. She was also recognized in 2024 by the University of Maryland Alumni Association with the EnTERPreneur Award and serves on the University of Maryland College Park Foundation Board of Trustees. 

During her speech, Agarwal shared that she believed she would become a doctor like her sisters, but found her passion elsewhere. “The Smith School didn’t just give me an education, it challenged me to think bigger, to lead, to build,” she said. “Education is more than just a degree; it’s an engine of opportunity. It has the power to change lives, just as it changed mine.” This belief inspired her to give back and create the Drs. Pushpa and Kamal Agarwal Maryland Promise Scholarship in honor of her parents. 

For the 2024-2025 academic year, 517 Smith undergraduate and graduate students were scholarship and fellowship recipients.