UCCS student evaluators and their faculty participated in the annual Colorado Ethics in Business Alliance awards program April 10.
Thirty-three UCCS students under the direction of Tracy Gonzalez-Padron, associate professor, College of Business, and director of the campus Daniels Fund Ethics Initiative, served as evaluators. Three master’s students served on the award selection committee. As evaluators, the students performed background research such as on-site visit and interviews, and provided written summary distributed to the award selection committee.
“We’re excited that so many UCCS students were able to gain hands-on business experience through the evaluation process,” Gonzalez-Padron said. “Besides the mentorship with business and community leaders, these students acquired a true appreciation of the value of ethical business practices.”
The event was amazing and probably the most prestigious event I have been able to attend in my college career” Matt Cox, Christchurch, New Zealand junior studying sport management, said. “Being able to get involved in the community and not just the classroom was a great experience and I know it will help with my professional career in the future.”
Venkat Reddy, dean, College of Business, said: “I’m extremely proud of our students. They and their faculty advisors are truly contributing to an ethical culture in our business community.”
Blue Star Recylers, Colorado Springs, and DiEM Sportsgear, Denver, were recognized for exemplary ethical standards at the 14th annual awards luncheon. This is the 22nd year CEBA has honored Colorado’s top ethical role models in business and non-profit organizations.
Founded in 2009, Blue Star Recyclers is a 501c3 social enterprise with a mission of recycling electronics and other materials to create local jobs for people with autism and other disabilities. Their triple-bottom line mission created 24 local jobs by ethically recycling more than 5 million pounds of electronics, and produced $3 million in taxpayer savings and revenues for Colorado Springs.
DiEM Sportgear launched in 2011 with the purpose of generating revenue for the David Mueller Foundation. That foundation was created in honor of former Coronado High School and UCCS track star David Mueller who was killed in a 2009 drunk driving accident. DiEM is a vertically integrated apparel brand that makes all products in Colorado and Los Angeles and shares profits with the foundation. The foundation funds school sports and other healthy youth activities. Learn more at www.diemsportsgear.com
The Daniels Fund Ethics Initiative exists to instill principle based ethics throughout the UCCS and Colorado Springs communities. The initiative has a robust grant program and is actively seeking partners to support principle based ethics in business and individual actions. For more information, visit www.uccs.edu/businessethics.
— Eric Nissen, College of Business
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