UA Walton College Beta Gamma Sigma Chapter Selected No. 1 in Nation for Second Year in Row

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The Sam M. Walton College of Business, University of Arkansas, chapter of Beta Gamma Sigma honored alumnus Lee Bodenhamer as its 2005 honorary initiate. Bodenhamer is president of Centennial Consulting Co. of Little Rock, Ark.

 In addition, the Arkansas chapter was designated the top chapter in the nation for the second time in three years. The chapter has ranked in the top three national chapters for eight years in a row.

Beta Gamma Sigma vice presidents Brandy Wells and Stephanie Solomon made the presentation at the chapter’s annual induction ceremony at the Clarion Inn on April 5.

Established in 1913, Beta Gamma Sigma is the oldest and most prestigious national academic honor society for business students. The Alpha of Arkansas Chapter was founded on the UA campus in 1932. The top 7 percent of the junior class, top 10 percent of the senior class and top 20 percent of the graduate class are extended membership in the organization.

John Norwood, who is an associate professor of business law, director of the Walton College’s Honors Program and the faculty advisor, announced the chapter had been awarded a $1,000 scholarship, which is given to chapters with exceptionally high membership-acceptance rates.

Walton College Dean Doyle Z. Williams introduced Bodenhamer to the crowd of more than 200 students, parents, faculty and UA administrators. He said: “The Walton College and Beta Gamma Sigma are very proud to recognize Dr. Bodenhamer as one of our exceptional graduates. He is an individual who exemplifies the qualities of leadership and vision that we try to instill in our students.”

The Alpha chapter also honored four other initiates from 1955 who attended the event: Jim Foster, Little Rock; Bob Oliver, North Little Rock; Bill Randall, Hot Springs; and Ward Marianos, Plymouth, Mich. In addition to Bodenhamer, other 1955 initiates included Ralph Beachem, Frank Cantrell, Joe Cattaneo, Harold Frey, Frank Garrison, Joe Gillespie, Billy Hinkle, Thomas Milburn, Robert Newkirk, Ward Nicholas, Robert Oliver, William Randall, Douglas Smith, Minor Terry, and Willie Williams.

Bodenhamer graduated from the Walton College with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in 1957 and an Master of Business Administration in 1961. He was initiated into Beta Gamma Sigma in 1955. He went on to get a doctorate in business administration from Harvard University in 1968 and served on the faculty there. He organized First Variable Life Insurance Co. in Little Rock in 1970 and served as its president and chief investment officer until 1985 when the company was acquired. He founded Meridian Management Co., an investment management firm in Little Rock in 1977. He is a certified public accountant and a chartered life underwriter.

The Bodenhamer Foundation created the Bodenhamer Fellowships. These fellowships have become some of the most prestigious in the country and were set up to encourage Arkansas’ outstanding students to pursue an education at the University of Arkansas. Bodenhamer serves on the Walton College Dean’s Executive Advisory Committee

The following students were 2005 initiates into Beta Gamma Sigma:

Juniors:  Rivka Miriam Berman, Jessica Marie Bieker, Phillips Meyer Brick, Callan E. Cornett, Corey Daniel Coston, Elizabeth Jill Dodson, Andrew Johnson Duck, Scott Walter Fretheim, Shane Thomas Gieskieng, Allison LaNae Glahn, Geeve Golmirzaie, Emily Kate Hampton, Meredith Leigh Hartz, Ronald Guyer Hendricks, Christopher Michael Johnson, Emilia Kaye Jones, Lacey Michelle Larue, Luke Ivory Matthews, Michael Aaron Rateliff, Matt Ryan Schilb, Meggan Marie Sexton, Catherine Noel St. Clair, John McKay Stacks, Heather Ann Story, Megan Suzanne Taldo, Jennifer Leigh Travis, Chenin Lynn Vadalma, and Sarah M. Wilcoxson

Seniors:  Mariann Ahuna, Kristen Marie Bextermueller, Corye Danielle Bogy, Cora Jane Breedlove, Jeffery A. Brooks, Harley Dean Candle, Sara Elizabeth Criss, Neal Ryan Elliott, Carrie Marie Irwin, Richard Carpio Keech, Mike E. Peebles, Tara Emilia Prouty, Jill Taylor Shumaker, Adrienne Lucy Smith, Sherri Dawn Smith, and Crystal Townsend-Johnson

Masters: Alicia D. Alexander, Dustin Logan Applegate, William H. Akins III, Emily Mae Erstine, Scott Michael Galbraith, Heihong He, Kimberly Doyle Horton, Lora Lennertz Jetton, Charles Eugene Martin, Marie-Josee Le Jour McDonagh, Matthew Phillips, Donald Ray Preston, Viktoria Riiman, Louis Neal Rowland, Sandeep Sarkar, Anastasia Strokova, Jonathan Andrew Thompson, Rand Owen Waddoups, and Charlotte Delimon Weber.

Faculty: Vikas Anand, assistant professor of management; and Viswanath Venkatesh, professor and George and Boyce Billingsley Endowed Chair in Information Systems