School of Business

The School of Business celebrated the graduation of 452 students on May 20. Among the graduates, 102 students received their master’s degree and two received their PhDs. This class included some of the first students to graduate with the new major in finance, made possible by differential tuition.

Cohen and Illig receive distinguished alumni awards

Howard Cohen

The School of Business honored Howard Cohen and Clifford Illig with Distinguished Alumni Awards at the 2005 School of Business Recognition and Graduation Ceremony.

Howard Cohen is the audit partner-in-charge of the Kansas City Assurance and Enterprise Risk Services practice of Deloitte & Touche USA LLP.

Clifford W. Illig is vice-chairman and a co-founder of North Kansas City-based Cerner Corporation.

Both Cohen and Illig addressed the Commencement audience at the Lied Center, offering counsel and inspiration to new graduates. Following the ceremony, the two were honored at a dinner with family members and faculty and staff.

Clifford Illig

Cohen earned his KU bachelor of science in business administration and accounting in 1979, and is a member of the executive committee of the School’s Board of Advisors and the Advisory Board for accounting and information systems.

Illig graduated from KU in 1973 with a bachelor of science in business administration and accounting, and is a member of the Board of Advisors for the school’s Center for Applied Economics.

The Distinguished Alumni Award is given annually to alumni who have achieved success in their fields of business and have made a commitment to success in their communities and to the School of Business.

Students get a private session with Warren Buffett

For 15 years, business school professor Mark Hirschey has been gathering a group of KU business students to attend the Berkshire Hathaway annual meeting, starring the second richest man in the world, Warren Buffet. So after hearing that Buffett occasionally invited students from other business schools to Omaha for private Q&A sessions, Hirschey thought, “Why not KU?”

So he requested a private session for his students with Buffett. After trading e-mails with Buffett’s secretary, Hirschey finally secured the opportunity. In May, the week after attending the Berkshire Hathaway annual meeting, about 100 KU business students returned to Omaha and grilled Buffett with questions for an hour and a half. They also made a presentation, advising him on stocks they thought he should buy.

“It was just incredible. He’s so down-to-earth and humble,” said Brianna Kelly, who attended the session. “It was definitely a wonderful experience. I think it’s great for KU business students to have this opportunity.”

During the discussion, Buffett said that next year he would limit the number of personal sessions offered to business schools. He told Hirschey, however, that KU is welcome back anytime. Buffett added that, if he takes the advice of the students and within a year purchases the stock they recommended, each of the 14 student presenters would receive a B-share of his company, worth nearly $2,800.

For more information visit the School of Business website.