At the Richards College of Business, spring semester wrapped up as 61 junior, senior and graduate students were recognized and inducted into the Beta Gamma Sigma honors society. The ceremony was held at the University of West Georgia Campus Center Ballroom.

Beta Gamma Sigma, founded in 1913, is the only national scholastic honor society in the field of business administration recognized by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business International. This year the national chapter of Beta Gamma Sigma celebrated its 104^th anniversary, while the University of West Georgia chapter celebrated its 33^rd anniversary.

Induction into Beta Gamma Sigma is the highest academic honor the Richards College of Business can bestow. An invitation to join is extended during the spring semester of each year to business major students who have been in the college for one year or longer. The invitation is based on the student’s academic GPA and if they are in the top 10 percent of second-semester juniors, the top 10 percent of seniors, and the top 20 percent of graduate students.

Each year, the University of West Georgia chapter of Beta Gamma Sigma recognizes a deserving student with the Award of Excellence. The award is selected by faculty members and goes to a student who has the highest GPA, is involved with other activities and has prior honors. This year, the recipient of the Award of Excellence is Emily Phillippi, who is in the second cohort of the Southwire Sustainable Business Honors Program as an economics major.

Additionally, the chapter recognizes a Professor of the Year. This year there were two outstanding faculty members who were recipients for the award: Dr. Beheruz Sethna, regents’ professor of marketing, and Dr. Linxiao Liu, assistant professor of accounting and finance. Dr. Sethna recently reached a teaching milestone after helping his 100^th undergraduate student submit her work to a national conference and get accepted to present. Dr. Liu received a Richards College of Business Teaching Award at the Spring 2017 faculty meeting for her dedication to the department and service to students.

Each year as part of the new member induction ceremony, the West Georgia Chapter of Beta Gamma Sigma recognizes a UWG alumnus or business person who has achieved distinction in business and administration. This individual must also possess those qualities that BGS fosters—honor, wisdom and earnestness. This year, David A. Johnson, founder of Cane Bay Partners VI, LLLP and a UWG alumnus, was recognized as the honoree.  Johnson gave the keynote address for the evening, highlighting the importance of giving back in whatever way you can, whether it be giving monetarily or giving of your time.