Students, faculty, alumni and guests celebrated the accomplishments of Smiths PhD students at the Doctoral Awards Banquet on May 18, 2006. Dean Howard Frank, in his welcoming address, said that the Smith Schools PhD program was a key component of the schools success as a world-renowned research institution.

The Smith School hosted the taping of the national television program CEO Exchange on May 2, 2006. During the taping, five Smith MBA students had the opportunity to ask questions of the shows guests, Robert Johnson, founder of Black Entertainment Television, and Bill Marriott, CEO of Marriott International Inc. There's also a great video tour of the Smith School's Van Munching Hall.

The University of Maryland, College Park, celebrated its eighth annual Maryland Day on Saturday, April 29, attracting 75,000 visitors to campus. The Smith School welcomed visitors on McKeldin Mall, with the day's most popular giveaway - a Smith School/Testudo beach ball. In Van Munching Hall, visitors were able to tour the state-of-the-art building and attend an undergraduate program information session.

Two current Robert H. Smith School of Business students and a recent alumnus were among the top winners of the sixth annual University of Maryland $50K Business Plan Competition that wrapped up Friday, April 7, 2006.

For the past 20 years, the Smith School has been honoring and rewarding outstanding faculty members, instructors and PhD students for their teaching excellence. The Smith School community submitted 124 nominations for 58 teachers for the 2005-06 Krowe/Legg Mason Teaching Awards and 10 emerged as winners. (see list below)

Orlando, Fla. February 11, 2006 Auto dealerships using customer management systems are performing 15 percent better than competitors, according to new research from the University of Marylands Robert H. Smith School of Business. The finding is part of initial results from a comprehensive third-party research study conducted by the Smith School. The research is based on a survey issued by researchers in the Department of Decision and Information Technologies and distributed through Autobytel Inc.

Robert Isaman '85, vice president, integration at UTC Fire & Security (UTCFS), a division of United Technologies Corporation, addressed a lively audience of Smith School graduates, family members, friends, and Smith faculty and administrators at the Smith School's winter commencement ceremony on Thursday, December 22. Nearly 350 candidates were eligible to attend the graduation ceremony, which was held at the Comcast Center: eight doctoral, 25 executive MBA, 100 MBA/MS, and 210 undergraduate business degrees were awarded.

The University of Maryland's Robert H. Smith School of Business is seeking nominations for the schools 2006 Smith Leadership and Excellence Awards. The annual awards, which pay tribute to business leaders and organizations that have made a significant and positive impact in the mid-Atlantic region, will be presented in four categories: Business Excellence, Leaders for the Digital Economy, Leadership Excellence, and Public Excellence.

 

The Smith School offers congratulations to the 770 undergraduate, 300 MBA/MS, 25 Executive MBA, and 10 PhD new degree holders who graduated on May 22, 2005.  Kevin Plank '96, founder and CEO of Under Armour Performance Apparel, delivered an inspiring keynote address to a packed Comcast Center. "I'm appreciative of the life and business skills that UM taught me," he began. Drawing on his experience as a football player at Maryland and his keen entrepreneurial instinct, Plank recounted his vision and roadmap to "creating the world's greatest football undershirt."