Sunday, May 4, 2008

DFW Association for Business Economics hands out outstanding student awards

By Pegasus News wire

On April 23, the DFW Association for Business Economics (DABE) awarded three local students for their excellence in economics.

The Arthur A. Smith Outstanding Student Award was created by the DFW Association for Business Economics several years ago to recognize student excellence in economics. Dr. Arthur A. Smith was a charter member of the association in the early 1960’s while he was chief economist of First National Bank of Dallas. Dr. Smith was Professor of Economics at Southern Methodist University and later East Texas State University (now Texas A&M-Commerce). In his memory, the DABE established a student essay competition in which a number of North Texas universities with undergraduate economics, business or finance programs participate. Student nominees and their faculty advisors are then recognized at an annual luncheon in April.

The competition is judged independently by a panel composed of professional economists. The judges receive the essays with no affiliations or identification so they rank them purely on the basis of the student’s writing clarity, succinctness, and ability to present a controversial issue and its solution using sound and logical economic principles. In all but one year we have allowed the student and his/her faculty advisor to select the topic. In some cases, the universities have an internal competition whose winner will be the nominee for the Arthur A. Smith competition. In addition to the essay requirement, the student must send a profile indicating economics coursework, honors, extracurricular activity and professional goals.

The NABE Foundation was very generous and matched the first $500 in contributions. The DABE Annual Forecasting Competition raised additional funds, along with contributions from DABE members and friends.

Cristina Pereira is an Economics and Finance double major at Texas Christian University (TCU). Originally from Cartagena, Colombia, Cristina came to the U.S. after finishing her high school in Colombia. At TCU she has been involved in the Educational Investment Fund, a program in the Finance department that offers students the possibility to invest and manage a $1.5 million portfolio. In addition, Cristina is part of the Honors Program, where she is currently working on her Honors Thesis and in Student Foundation where she gives tours to prospective students who visit the university. Cristina has been in the Dean’s List since her first semester at TCU and has also achieved the TCU Scholar recognition for her academic achievements. Upon graduation, Cristina will be working at Credit Suisse in the Equity Research division in New York. In her free time Cristina enjoys traveling, reading, meeting new people and learning about other cultures.

Source: Greater Dallas Chamber

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