Leadership Spotlight

J. Arnett Frisby, W'42, the first African-American graduate of the Wharton School, spent a good portion of this year's Whitney Young Conference greeting well-wishers. "It is so nice to see all the people I've met over the years since my first conference in 1992," he said.

Frisby and other Wharton alumni, students, prospective students and corporate executives—numbering nearly 700 in all—gathered for the 31st Annual Whitney M. Young Conference from November 11- 14. Entitled "A New Frontier: Blazing Trails by Expanding Boundaries," the conference included panels on such topics as The Art of Networking, Emerging Markets, and Women in Corporate America.

During a luncheon address, Hamilton Whitney Taylor, W'05, grandnephew of the late Whitney M. Young, Jr., discussed the hardships his great-uncle faced, and he expressed thanks on behalf of his family for continuing to honor Young's legacy. Rev. Al Sharpton and Rep. Harold Ford, C'92, were also featured as keynote speakers.

Conference co-founder Milton Irvin, WG'74, a managing director at UBS, remembered "rolling up the rugs at Vance Hall for the first conference in 1973," which lasted a half- day. While accepting the award as AAMBA (African- America MBA Association) Alumnus of the Year, Irvin renewed his commitment to nurturing talent and noted that "in this climate of downsizing, diversity must be viewed through the prism of adding to shareholder value."

During Saturday's Awards Luncheon, Harold Haskins, Director for Student Developmental Support Planning, was recognized for more than 25 years of dedicated service in assisting at-risk minority students through various support programs sponsored by the University of Pennsylvania. College scholarships totaling $5,000 were awarded to three promising public high students and a current Wharton undergraduate.

The conference also included numerous networking opportunities as well as a career fair. Conference chair Damien R. Wilson, WG'05, noted, "Our career fair attracted students from Penn's professional schools as well as top-tier schools both locally and throughout the east coast. This fulfills our mission to provide excellent candidates for our corporate sponsors."

"The feedback from this years' conference has been great." Wilson added. "Our experience this year can only enhance the ties between alumni and students."