Fisher College of Business joined with The Ohio State University community in celebrating the many accomplishments of the Class of 2018 as part of spring commencement activities.

The Master of Accounting (MAcc) program kicked off the weekend-long series of events with its annual Pre-Commencement celebration at the Ohio Union. The ceremony honored this spring's 64 MAcc graduates and their dedication as Fisher students. Larry Hilsheimer (BSBA ’74), executive vice president and CFO at Greif, delivered the MAcc Pre-Commencement address.

Students in Fisher’s Master of Human Resource Management, Full-Time MBA, MBA for Working Professionals and Specialized Master in Finance programs became the newest members of the Ohio State alumni family at the college’s Pre-Commencement ceremony.

Family and friends of the 258 graduates packed Mershon Auditorium to celebrate the Class of 2018 master’s degree recipients. Represented among the graduates were 62 double Buckeyes, who have earned two degrees from Ohio State, six triple Buckeyes, and students from 21 countries around the world.

The event featured two addresses from Ohio State alums — Tim McCarthy (BS ’75, EMBA ’07) and Sander Flaum (BA ’60). McCarthy, a successful entrepreneur who, with his son, Tim, created Raising Cane’s of Ohio, which owns and operates more than 25 restaurant locations across the state. He also founded The Business of Good Foundation, which helps non-profits use business to grow their mission for broader economic inclusion for the working poor.

McCarthy shared his insights as a leader who put his passion for helping others into action rooted in business.

Illness prevented Flaum, principal of Flaum Navigators and an acknowledged business leader, marketing and sales effectiveness coach, leadership and motivational speaker, and best-selling author, from traveling to deliver his remarks in person. But a video recording of his message outlining how to launch and maintain a successful career was shared with graduates.

“Integrity must always be your axis,” Flaum said. “People do shoot their way to the top by lying, cheating and treating others poorly. Know any? They send the message that it’s okay — when nothing is further from the truth. These people will be out of work shortly.

“Doing good work with integrity has more value and pays forward more. Someday, when you’re looking back on your career adventures, you’ll want to feel proud — not of what you did — but how you did it.”

Fisher’s largest Pre-Commencement celebration brought together the undergraduate Class of 2018 for one last event on Fisher’s campus. The ceremony celebrated the 1,400 graduates and, in highlighting their incredible accomplishments, Dean Anil K. Makhija noted that the Class of 2018 included 256 first-generation students. Additionally, 24 countries and 35 states were represented by the graduating class.

“What these numbers reflect to me is your incredible dedication to, and engagement with, the diverse learning environment at Fisher,” Makhija said. “An environment that has risen up to meet your intellectual curiosity, provided the diversity of thought, experience and the perspective that reflects the global business environment, and that has shaped you into young leaders who are principled, passionate and purposeful.”

Steve DeNunzio, senior lecturer in the Department of Marketing and Logistics and director of Fisher’s Master in Business Logistics Engineering program, was named the recipient of the Max M. Fisher Faculty Eminence Award. The recipient is chosen annually by students for the transformational impact she/he has had on their education.

Fisher’s final event of the commencement season recognized the Executive MBA (EMBA) Class of 2018. The 30-member class was lauded by Makhija for their business acumen and their desire to serve as leaders for positive impact in their communities.

”We hope your time as part of the EMBA program has helped instill and foster in you a desire to continue to give back in the service of others — to serve on boards and advisory councils that are advancing noble and worthy causes, and to serve as mentors to others, exemplifying how to do well, while also doing good,” he said.