Two Cameron School of Business MBA students –Adrianne Poyet-Smith and Daniel Floryk – garnered recognition from the Greater Houston Business Ethics Roundtable (GHBER) when their professors nominated them for a scholarship.

GHBER is a voluntary professional organization dedicated to promoting ethical business practices and serving as a forum for the exchange of information and strategies regarding implementation, administration and compliance of ethical business conduct programs.

“Each year, GHBER awards scholarship monies to those students showing promise as future leaders in business ethics,” said Daryl Koehn, UST Center for Business Ethics Executive Director.

Koehn nominated Adrianne Poyet-Smith, a senior living counselor with The Buckingham Retirement community, for the award.

“Adrianne was nominated because of the leadership she has demonstrated in the classroom here at UST,” Koehn said. “We also want to recognize the extensive work she has done to develop community outreach programs and to improve care for the retirement community for which she works,” Koehn said.

Poyet-Smith believes that business ethics is going to play a more significant and comprehensive role in the future.

“As a result of the economic meltdown and myriad scandals, business ethics has more significance and relevance vis-à-vis a disillusioned work force and general public,” Poyet Smith said. “People who strive for excellence will yearn for a higher level of business ethics in our complex and interrelated world.”

Additionally, Cameron Business Professor Michele Simms nominated Daniel Floryk for the award.

“Daniel is unique: a cancer research scientist, an MBA student doing a community project with the Czech Center Museum Houston and a person who views himself as a ‘citizen of the world,’” Simms said. “He brings a remarkable level of depth and insight to his work. Daniel’s contributions place him among those leaders who represent the best promise for ethical business practice.”

Reflecting on the future of business ethics Floryk notes, “The economic principles suggesting that bad guys will be punished by selling and good guys will be rewarded by buying does not satisfy the challenges that we face in this century. We need true leaders who are not afraid of change, who can demonstrate sustainable leadership and who can lead by example. The ultimate goal of business ethics should be to change the notion that behaving ethically is risky. It is a noble challenge that I look forward to being a part of in the future.”

The Cameron School of Business educates students of diverse backgrounds, teaching professional skills necessary for a changing global economy and instilling a deep appreciation for ethical behavior inspired by the educational tradition of the founding Basilian Fathers.

“UST’s reputable faculty offers curriculum that reflects the needs of today’s managers and leaders to succeed in the world of business,” said Floryk.

UST joins Rice University, University of Houston, Texas Southern University and Houston Baptist University in recognizing outstanding student leaders for Greater Houston Business Ethics Roundtable.