Michael J. Coles College Reveals 2024 Outstanding Students

Payal Patel is a highly motivated and dedicated student. She received runner-up for the Outstanding Student Scholar award for all of Kennesaw State University this year. Payal is serving her second term as President of Beta Alpha Psi and previously held the role of Reporter. She is a member of Beta Gamma Sigma. Additionally, Payal was a member of For Film’s Sake (which is KSU’s dedicated Film Club). She was in the art department and served as art director, set designer, and prop master for three different short films. Payal will be entering the Master of Accounting program at Kennesaw State in the fall.

Diego Juarez Rueda is a first-generation college graduate of Mexican descent. He is an Atlanta native and attended Kennesaw State University, where he graduated Summa Cum Laude. He currently works as the CEO of Iron Towers, LLC where he helps bring both his clients & own imagination to life through custom furniture. Iron Towers, LLC originally started as a dream of his father’s, but now he has brought that dream to life. He is also working towards becoming an officer in the Army through the Georgia National Guard. He lives everyday looking for the betterment of both his family and his nation.

Karis Morris exemplifies the qualities of an outstanding student and is deserving of the Outstanding Student Award. Her academic excellence, leadership abilities, dedication to community service, personal growth, and future potential set her apart as a truly exceptional individual who embodies the values of academic excellence, leadership, and service. Karis served as the Vice President of Marketing and External Affairs and the President of the Hospitality Leadership club. Under her leadership, the club successfully organized and executed hospitality industry days, personal branding, and professional development workshops. She was also a member of the University’s marching band and is currently a management trainee with Hospitality Ventures Management Group.

Aside from an exemplary academic record, Jessica is a community leader and innovator. During her time at KSU she has served as the President of Women in Technology, reviving the club's membership and activity with numerous industry and career development events every semester. Particularly notable among these was the founding of the Apps for Wellbeing Hackathon she led with Girls Who Code and the Business Technology Club in Spring 2023, attended by 108 students. In addition, she has been active in Delight Ministries, The KSU Gospel Choir, and Women in Cybersecurity at KSU. According to peers and faculty she is a sharp, thoughtful colleague and leader who listens, thinks through consequences, and takes actions to ensure success. Since her sophomore year, she has also interned with Deloitte Consulting, recently receiving and accepting a full time offer to join their Cyber and Strategic Risk Team.

Cameron has been one of our top Marketing students:  consistent, diligent, and effective across all assignments, class discussions and presence.  His papers were all well researched and flawlessly written.  We have enjoyed Cameron in our classes as one who exhibits a true desire to learn and apply that knowledge.  Truly an example for his peers! Cameron is passionate about music, film, digital art, photo editing and filming. He is the Multi-Media Director of For Film's Sake, and is a member of KSU's film club and the Kennesaw Marketing Association.

Alex's outstanding MBA journey is not only marked by his academic achievements but also by his role as a valuable resource for his peers. He generously shares his knowledge, expertise, and insights, serving as a mentor and guide to others in the program. Through his collaborative spirit and willingness to support his classmates, Alex embodies the essence of teamwork, the spirit of KSU, and elevates the learning experience for everyone around him, making him a truly deserving candidate for this distinguished award.

Amanda Tambling was chosen by the EMBA Faculty as the 2024 cohort Outstanding Scholar.  Amanda has achieved a perfect academic record and notable achievements in the graduate program (beyond having earned a 4.0 GPA).  Amanda has notable accomplishments in her civic and professional environment and has proved herself a leader amongst her classmates.  Amanda has a B.S degree in chemical engineering with minors in economics and mineral processing from Michigan Technological University.  She is a senior Customer Manager for one of the world’s largest materials science companies where she works with the executive leadership team to provide market and competitive intelligence to shape the overall business plan, manages account portfolio, conduct negotiations and implement price changes while managing customer relationships.

Devan Sprayberry is a very involved student in class who maintains warm interactions with students and professors. He has an indomitable spirit and a contagious capacity to organize peers for effective teamwork. He has overcome his physical disabilities to be a successful businessman while pursuing his graduate degree at the Coles College of Business and Kennesaw State.

Bill has been a lifelong learner and contributor to business. Most recently, he retired as the President of Belimed, Inc., a Swiss manufacturer of medical devices. He joined the Ph.D. program in 2021, and is scheduled to graduate this spring. Bill is a fantastic doctoral student who has a deep grasp of management theories and methodological approaches. In his dissertation, he proposed that organizational leaders could motivate employees to behave proactively by focusing on ways to simultaneously empower them and hold them accountable for deliverables.