School of Business > UPDATE > Fall 2001 > Article

Homecoming 2001

The School of Business once again celebrated Homecoming in style, with a pre-game Bash that had Grainger Hall's atrium awash in a sea of sound and an ocean of red and white. Almost 1,000 people attended the Bash. Bucky Badger, the UW cheerleaders and members of the UW Marching Band contributed to the festive atmosphere.

Badger fortunes took a turn for the worse when the team took the football field, losing to the Michigan State Spartans 42 to 28. But the football game was only one part of three days of Homecoming Weekend activities by the School of Business. On Thursday, several business leaders from the business school's Dean's Advisory Board met informally with close to 50 graduate students to give insights on their fields. It was the fourth year the popular Executive Roundtable Series was held. Kristin Branch, president of the Graduate Business Association, the student organization that helped coordinate the roundtables, said the event is "one of the best opportunities for graduate students to interact with top business professionals. I had a chance to ask real questions about steps they took during their successful careers." Dean's Advisory Board Member David Ramon, president and CEO of Valduz Partners, said he finds the roundtable discussions "both rewarding and beneficial. It allows an individual in the business world the opportunity to hear and learn how our future business leaders view the world and hopefully, we can share our real business experience with these very talented students."

Homecoming activities included Executive Roundtables with students and the business school's Fall Banquet and Homecoming Bash.

On Friday, the Dean's Advisory Board and several dozen emeritus members of the board met with Interim Dean R.D. Nair and others from the School of Business to provide input on approaches the school should take in technology transfer and entrepreneurship, among other issues. The board, composed of business leaders from throughout the country, meets semi-annually.

The school's 17th annual Fall Banquet was held Friday evening at the Concourse Hotel and attended by close to 200 alumni, faculty and friends of the School of Business and members of the University of Wisconsin Foundation Board of Directors. University of Wisconsin–Madison Chancellor John Wiley welcomed those who attended. At the dinner, the Distinguished Business Alumnus Award was presented to Irwin Smith, MBA '64, senior managing director of Nakoma Investments LLC.

Everywhere, except on the gridiron, it was a great weekend to be a Business Badger.

Homecoming activities included Executive Roundtables with students and the business school's Fall Banquet and Homecoming Bash.