ST. PETERSBURG -- Mateo Racini Serje and Brandon Meade have been announced as the recipients of the 2023 Kate Tiedemann School of Business and Finance Dean's Advisory Board Leadership Award at the University of South Florida's Muma College of Business.
The honorees were introduced at the school's Dean’s Advisory Board meeting on April 12. The board offers awards to students that have been selected by a special committee appointed by the dean.
The award recognizes students who exemplify strong leadership as determined by serving in leadership roles within classes, clubs, organizations, or throughout the university. Involvement in the community through volunteering, either through the university or on a personal level, is also taken into consideration.
This year’s recipients of the Kate Tiedemann School of Business and Finance's Dean's Advisory Board Leadership Award receive $2,500 and are extraordinary examples of how to exceed the already high standards of the award qualifications.
When asked about the qualities that the award recipients possess that made them stand out, Kate Tiedemann School of Business and Finance Dean Gary Patterson was complimentary of each of the student’s successes.
“Our recipients demonstrated excellence in leadership in multiple phases of their lives,” he said. “They exhibited a quality, depth, and breadth of leadership activities that will help them succeed in their careers and lives.”
Mateo Racini Serje
Mateo Racini Serje
Mateo Racini Serje, an international student from Colombia, is currently pursuing two bachelor’s degrees — one in business administration and economics from the Universidad del Norte and one in finance from USF.
Serje is a recipient of the “Orgullo Caribe” Scholarship, which allowed him to begin his studies in business administration at the Universidad del Norte.
He also received the USF International Transfer Student — Latin American and the Caribbean Scholarship, which assisted in furthering his education at USF.
Other accomplishments under his belt include induction into the Beta Gamma Sigma Honor Society, induction into the Tau Sigma Academic Honor Society, and making the Dean’s List for the fall 2022 semester.
Serje has a year of professional experience in the tech industry as a digital sales intern at IBM.
During his time at USF, he has become an active member in many student associations including COLSA, the Real Estate Society, the Investment Club, the Student Finance Association, and the Business Development Club.
Brandon Meade
Brandon Meade
Brandon Meade is a third-year senior majoring in finance with a concentration in real estate. He is set to graduate this month.
He is an active member of the Student Investment Club, an executive board member of the Real Estate Society — where he holds both the treasurer and vice president positions, and a member of Phi Chi Theta — a national co-ed business fraternity.
While serving as the pledge vice president for Phi Chi Theta, Meade coordinated a Hurricane Ian relief fundraiser through United Way that produced more than $1,400 in donations for hurricane victims.
In addition to all of his involvement on campus and in student associations, Meade has also attended several internships, all while maintaining a 3.72 GPA.
He currently interns with Colliers on the National Student Housing team where he has enhanced his knowledge of commercial real estate. He plans to pursue a career in the commercial real estate industry upon graduation.
The Dean's Advisory Board Leadership Award highlights the successes of extraordinary Kate Tiedemann School of Business and Finance students.
“The Executive Advisory Council of the Kate Tiedemann School of Business and Finance funds this Leadership Award to promote activities that impact the community positively," Patterson said.
To learn more about the Executive Advisory Council and its members, click here.