Outstanding seniors in business honored with awards
Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024
MANHATTAN — Two Kansas State University students will receive special recognition at the College of Business Administration's fall 2024 commencement ceremony and Senior Sendoff event.
The college's Outstanding Senior Award will be presented to Reese Kuzniakowski, bachelor's candidate in finance, Lee's Summit, Missouri, and the Resilient Senior Award will be presented to Marissa Cruz, bachelor's candidate in management, Junction City.
Kuzniakowski is being recognized for outstanding academic performance and career development. In addition to being a top-performing finance major, his extensive work experience includes internships with leading financial institutions. He most recently served as an investment banking summer analyst at Goldman Sachs. Kuzniakowski also gained experience through roles including financial planning associate for StoryOne Family Office, private bank summer analyst at J.P. Morgan Chase and venture capital analyst intern with the University Venture Funds Crossroads.
Kuzniakowski graduated from Lee's Summit West High School, and he's the son of Craig and Shauna Kuzniakowski.
"Reese is one of the hardest working students and peers I have interacted with," said Landon DiLeonardo, president of the Student Finance Association and member of the Dean's Student Advisory Council. "He was always open to mentoring younger students interested in finance and was a vice president in the Finance Scholars, where he managed the investment banking vertical and organized educational trips to global financial hubs."
DiLeonardo said Kuzniakowski's leadership and analytical skills have earned him accolades including the Gates Capital Management Scholarship and a top honor in the 2024 Gates Capital Management Stock Pitch Competition.
Following graduation, Kuzniakowski will work as an investment banking analyst in the Financial Institutions Group at Goldman Sachs in Chicago, Illinois, where he'll reside with his wife, Kinsey.
The Resilient Senior Award recognizes a business student who displayed resilience in the face of challenges. As the award winner, Cruz will have the honor of speaking at the senior breakfast before the commencement ceremonies.
Cruz has been involved with the Rise Up Scholars Program, a leadership and career success program designed for goal-oriented and inclusion-driven future leaders, since she transferred to K-State in 2022. She praised the program's support for diversity and said that having the resources to be successful in the business world has been amazing. Cruz has also interned with K-State Human Resources for almost two years.
The daughter of Rodney C. Vicente and Carol A. Garcia, Cruz is a graduate of Junction City High School.
"Marissa is an incredible student," said Olivia Law-DelRosso, assistant dean of the College of Business Administration. "She has shown resilience and dedication to her studies while juggling full-time work and personal challenges. I believe her journey has helped her become a wonderful human resources professional who is empathetic to employee experiences and who can encourage others in their career paths."
Cruz is currently job-seeking and hopes to travel the world to gain work experience and broaden her perspective. Her future plans include returning to K-State for a master's degree.
