The Black History Month Multicultural Heroes Hall of Fame inducted Archbishop Desmond Tutu, a South African anti-apartheid activist into the Heroes Hall of Fame. A team of Eli Broad College of Business students delivered a powerful presentation detailing how Archbishop Tutu used his leadership position in the Anglican Church and non-violent methods to end apartheid in South Africa. Megan Mowid, an accounting junior; Katlyn Ratzlaff, business preference freshman; and Victoria Zehner, business admitted sophomore created a video synchronized with their speaking presentation to explain how Archbishop Tutu continues to inspire activism today. The team representing the Women in Business Students’ Association received a $2,000 cash grand prize.
The members of the winning team WBSA presented Archbishop Desmond Tutu are:
Megan Mowid of East Lansing, MI daughter of Carrie and Rob Mowid is a 2016 graduate of Haslett High School, Haslett, MI. She is an accounting junior in The Eli Broad College of Business.
Katlyn Ratzlaff of Mattawan, MI daughter Nathan and Jaymi Ratzläff is a 2017 graduate of Mattawan High School, Mattawan, MI. She is a business preference freshman in The Eli Broad College of Business.
Victoria Zehner of Kalamazoo, MI daughter of Monica and William Zehner is a 2017graduate of Loy Norrix High School, Kalamazoo, MI. She is a business admitted sophomore in The Eli Broad College of Business.
The members of the Second Place Team, Wheaties Box Rejects, presented Jackie Robinson, the first African American baseball player to play Major League Baseball are:
Taylor Bickers of Canton, MI daughter of Antonia Bickers is a 2014 graduate of Plymouth High school in Canton, MI. She is a marketing senior in The Eli Broad College of Business and an international relations senior in the James Madison College.
Parker Bunton of Ypsilanti, MI son of Kyle Parker and Edwin Bunton is a 2016 graduate of Arbor Preparatory High School in Ypsilanti, MI. He is a supply chain management junior in The Eli Broad College of Business.
Alex Gomez of Wayne, NJ daughter of Arti Shah and Ruben Gomez is a 2015 graduate of Wayne Hills High School in Wayne, NJ. She is a supply chain management junior in The Eli Broad College of Business and a food industry management minor in the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources.
Members of third place team, Agents of Change, presented Ella Josephine Baker, the Civil Rights Activist are:
Alexander Babbit of Kalamazoo, MI son of Charles Babbit and Kristy Eaton is a 2014 graduate of Loy Norrix High School. He is an English senior in the College of Arts and Letters with French and Digital Humanities minor.
Ashley Nance-Panek of Plymouth, MI daughter of Cynthia M Nance and Wayne Panek is a 2015 graduate of Canton High School. She is a human biology junior in the Lyman Briggs College.
Mycala Smith of Detroit, MI daughter of Diane Smith and Dudley Donelson is a 2015 graduate of Way Central High School in New Lenox, IL. She is a zoology senior in the Lyman Briggs College.
The student teams represented a diverse cross-section of MSU students from College of Communication Arts and Sciences, Lyman Briggs College, James Madison College Eli Broad College of Business, College of Arts and Letters, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources and the Honors College.
The MSU Faculty Panel judging the competition included Dr. Lee June, Honors College professor and former Vice President for Student Affairs and Services and Associate Provost for Academic Student Services and Multicultural Issues; Paulette Granberry Russell, Advisor to the MSU President for Diversity and Director MSU’s Office of Inclusion and Intercultural Initiatives; and Dr. Kathy Petroni, Associate Dean of Undergraduate Education and the Deloitte/Michael Licata Professor of Accounting in The Eli Broad College of Business.
Multicultural Business Programs and Altria Group Distribution Company sponsor the competition.