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NOTE: Students will be eligible for only ONE essay award each year.

The following essay competitions are open to students who have not yet graduated with Associate degrees (see LaValley award for alumni). Entries for the following essay competitions MUST be received before the deadline and must be accompanied by a submission form. Click the title of each essay competition to download the submission form. Please e-mail completed forms and essays to webmaster@abg.org.

Selections are announced at the Annual Leadership Conference.

Deadline to submit entries for Essays, Competitions, and Chapter Awards
is March 1, 2023.

NEW AWARD: THE LAVALLEY AWARD

This award was sponsored by Patrick LaValley who is an alumnus of Delta Chapter and is open to alumni only. An essay on the topic “THE CONTRIBUTION OF INVESTMENT BANKS TO THE ECONOMY” should be submitted. This essay requires research as to the contribution United States Investment Banks make to the US Economy. Your research should cover a 5 year period; graphs and charts are helpful in understanding the contribution. The winner of the best essay will be selected by the scholarship committee of Alpha Beta Gamma. A framed certificate and a $300.00 stipend will accompany this award. Winners are ineligible to compete again for 3 years.

NEW AWARD: THE DON CHRISTESEN MEMORIAL ESSAY COMPETITION

This award was established to honor the entrepreneurial talent of Don Christesen. This essay will consider the topic “Work for Yourself—Don’t Have a Boss”. Don Christesen, after earning his MBA at the Stern School of Business NYU, left a promising position at General Foods to establish his own firm. The winner of the best essay will be selected by the scholarship committee of Alpha Beta Gamma. A framed certificate and a $300.00 stipend will accompany this award.

The Paul V. Cunningham Essay Competition

This essay honors Paul V. Cunningham, CFO of Alpha Beta Gamma for more than two decades. He is Director of Construction Finance Management at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, NYC. The Executive Board created this essay to recognize his Contribution to the society. THEME OF THE ESSAY – As a member of Alpha Beta Gamma Honor Society and as a contributor to our global existence, any area of interest is available for you to think and write about. Specifically, how will you, through your work in the future, ensure that your efforts have a positive contribution to our world and could be used as building blocks for others to make significant positive contributions to humankind. Committee will select the best essay and the winner will be announced at the Annual Leadership Meeting. 500 – 1000 words (word count required). $300.00 stipend and a framed certificate will be awarded to the writer of the selected essay.

The Marc Napolitano Memorial Award

Celebrating the life of Marc Napolitano, friends of the family have established the Marc Napolitano Memorial Essay Competition. Each year a stipend of $300.00 and a framed certificate will be granted to the most outstanding essay which ponders this theme: The Use of Film and the Media to Foster Corporate Growth. The scholarship Committee will select the best essay and the winner will be announced at the Annual Leadership Meeting.

The Keith Ulich Memorial Essay Competition

This essay competition which involves writing about the concept of Living Life to Its Fullest honors the life and practices of Keith Ulich, A.S., B.S., M.B.A , former vice president of the Delta chapter of Alpha Beta Gamma at Westchester Community College , and a member of the Board of Advisers of the Alpha Beta Gamma National Finance Committee. The essay should detail the concept of Living Life to Its Fullest, outline the elements of this concept, explore factors which might affect its implementation and conclude with the benefits towards one’s life that implementing such a practice would generate. Our Society believes that only after one conducts intensive thinking about this topic, might one understand the beauty of Keith’s incredible life. He will continue to inspire us to emulate his philosophy of well-being. The winner will be awarded a $300.00 stipend and a framed certificate.

The Dr. Mary Bone Competitive Essay

Awarded to the writer of the best essay titled, “What Alpha Beta Gamma Means to Me”. This award recognizes the outstanding contribution that Dr. Mary Bone, Adviser Emeritus at Pensacola Community College has made to her chapter and to the national organization. A stipend of $300.00 and a framed certificate is provided to the recipient. A special restricted fund provides the stipend. The Dr. Mary Bone Competitive Essay Form must accompany each essay. Less than 500 words in length (word count required at end of essay).

The Francis Cunningham, Esq. Memorial Essay

Applicants must submit an essay on the subject “Ethics in Business”. The Scholarship Committee will judge essays and select the recipient. A $300.00 stipend and framed certificate are awarded to the recipient. The winning essay will be published in the Honors Journal. The Francis Cunningham Esq. Memorial Competitive Essay form must be submitted with the essay. 500-750 word limit.

The Peter J. Gleason Essay

Applicants must submit an essay on the subject “Business and the Environment, Today and in Ten Years.” The Scholarship Committee will judge essays and select the recipient. A $300.00 stipend and framed certificate will be awarded to the recipient. The winning essay will be published in the Honors Journal. The Peter J. Gleason Essay Award Form must be submitted with the essay. 500-750 word limit.

The Nathan Ancell Memorial Award

Awarded annually to the student who writes the Best Business Plan for a new business. A $300.00 stipend and framed certificate will be offered to the recipient of the award. The Business Plan will be placed on the home page as part of a growing library of business plans, which Alpha Beta Gammans can use. This award honors the memory of member Nathan Ancell, founder of Ethan Allen, the nation’s leading furniture company.

The Steve Perri Memorial Essay

This award funded by the family and friends of Steve Perri and the National Dean’s List is awarded to the writer of an essay describing the Pros and Cons of Being an Entrepreneur. Steve Perri was a Chapter Vice President and President of a Roofing Company which he formed. An unfortunate work-related accident took Steve’s life. A stipend of $300.00 and a framed certificate accompanies this award. 500-750 word limit.

The Ester Cross-Carter Memorial Essay

This competition honors a true supporter of the Eta Delta Chapter who took a very special interest in Alpha Beta Gammans by being their greatest cheerleader and supporter. The mother of adviser Nancy Rocky, Ester Cross-Carter attended chapter meetings and events and was proud of her affiliation with Alpha Beta Gamma. She was the wind beneath the wings of the Eta Delta Chapter. The recipient of this award receives a stipend of $300.00 and a framed certificate. An essay on the topic “Helping Others” is required; the submission must be no more than 500 words.

The Sophia Abeles Essay

When the National Dean’s List provided funds for an award, Prof. John Christesen at Westchester Community College immediately wanted to name the new award for Sophia Abeles, a distinguished benefactress of community college education. This competitive essay award words should concentrate on the theme of “Learning”. Mrs. Abeles truly believed that it is learning and education which advance society. A $300.00 stipend and framed certificate will be offered to the recipient of the award. The essay should concentrate on how learning has improved and changed one’s life or future. 500-750 word limit.

The MBIA Competitive Essay

This essay competition centers on the theme of “The significance of municipal bonds in financing special projects in the USA”. Students will study the financial mechanism of municipal bonds, discover a significant project which benefits society which was funded through municipal bonds and discuss the contribution to society. This essay competition is funded through a donation from MBIA Foundation arranged by Professor Nick Krzmienski, Adjunct Professor of Management at SUNY Westchester Community College. The scholarship committee selects the best essay each year at the Annual Leadership Meeting and awards the winner with a $300.00 stipend and a framed certificate. 500-750 word limit. There is one winner per annum.

The David Pope Essay

An essay describing the contribution that emigrants made and continue to make to our democracy is required for this essay competition. The Award was funded by a grant from the Pope Foundation. An award of $300.00 stipend and a framed certificate will be presented to the essay selected by the scholarship committee. The essay should be no more than 750 words.

The David Bjorklund Memorial Essay

Alpha Beta Gamman David E. Bjorklund, former Vice President of the Delta Chapter died suddenly in an auto accident in March 2006. At 35 years old Dave already achieved an excellent career in finance working with Morgan Stanley. Fellow Alpha Beta Gammans who studied with Dave at Clarkson University established this essay fund. The theme of the essay is “Using Finance for Corporate Growth”: An award of $300.00 stipend and a framed certificate will be presented each year to the finalist selected by the scholarship committee. The Taddeo Family Foundation was a major contributor to this fund. 500-750 word limit.

The Cornelia Blackwell Memorial Essay

An essay competition entitled “The Importance of Teaching Business” was established by colleagues and friends of Cornelia Blackwell whose career in the Registrar’s Office of Westchester Community College demonstrated incredible assistance to students and especially to Alpha Beta Gammans. The essay is judged by the scholarship committee. An award of a $300.00 stipend and a framed certificate will be presented to the finalist. 500-750 word range.

The John D. Christesen Essay

Colleagues, family, former students and friends of Prof. John D. Christesen Raised funds for this award at a fundraising event in 2006. Additional Contributions to this can be made on line at www.abg.org.
This competitive essay should describe in approximately 3,000 words, the environment, pedagogy or other atypical conditions under which the writer experienced a most significant teaching event. The essay should describe the process, technique or environment with which a truly exceptional teaching event occurred. Other faculty should be able to emulate the ideations. Members of the business and professional departments at colleges which have chapters of Alpha Beta Gamma are eligible to submit essays. A $300.00 stipend and a framed certificate are awarded to the recipient. The essay will be published in the Honors Journal. In some cases, the recipient might be invited to present the paper at the annual meeting.