Celebrating Strength in Community at the 2025 Professionals Who Shine
On March 28, the Eller College of Management hosted the annual Professionals Who Shine celebration in McClelland Hall, recognizing the individuals who serve as allies, mentors, leaders and changemakers within the Eller community.
This year’s theme, "Strength in Community," reflected the belief that strong communities are built on the power of connection, collaboration and compassion. The 2025 honorees embody this belief, recognizing that their impact extends beyond themselves to inspire and uplift those around them.
Throughout the celebration, awards were presented to MBA students, faculty, alumni, and community members whose contributions make a meaningful difference at Eller and beyond.
Shining Student Award
This award recognizes second-year MBA students who create meaningful impact as leaders within their cohorts, communities and future industries. These students empower, inspire and elevate their peers through action, empathy and excellence. The Shining Student award recipients were:
Kerri Wilkerson
Edgar B. Gutierrez
Hope Word
Matthew Knatz
Angelica Javier
Javier Dominguez
Reyna Atwell
Harrison Gebs
Jessie Allen
Sunlight Award
Presented to Eller faculty members, the Sunlight Award honors those who go above and beyond to provide personalized support that makes a lasting difference. These educators show an unwavering commitment to student success both in and out of the classroom.
The Sunlight Award recipients were:
Matt Hashim, associate professor of MIS
Amber Montz, lecturer in business communications
Lighting the Way Award
This award celebrates Eller alumni who exemplify the college’s core values of integrity, excellence, innovation, determination and community. These trailblazers lead change, open pathways for others, and make extraordinary contributions in their careers and lives.
The Lighting the Way award winners were:
Benjamin Lee
Karie Lattimore
Colin Jones
Jamie Kennealy
Sunburst Award
The Sunburst Award honors a community member who serves as a leader, mentor and ally. This individual provides strategic guidance and makes a positive impact through professional and community involvement The 2025 Sunburst Award recipient was Jared Perkins.
Radiance Award
This award recognizes a University of Arizona employee who consistently goes the extra mile to deliver outstanding service to students, faculty, staff and the broader campus community.
The Radiance Award for this year’s event was Margaret “Maggie” Pitts.
“Our honorees demonstrate how individual brilliance multiplies when we support one another. They understand that our greatest strength lies in our interconnectedness and are proof that our collective potential far exceeds our individual capabilities,” said Karthik Kannan, dean and Halle Chair in Leadership.
As the Eller College continues to grow, the Professionals Who Shine event serves as a reminder that the true strength of the college lies in the people who uplift others, champion collaboration and foster a thriving, connected community.
