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May 6, 2020 - The Haile/US Bank College of Business annually recognizes a handful of outstanding graduating seniors for their personal commitments to their classwork, the university and the surrounding communities. Awards are presented to the most outstanding students in each discipline of the College and the Overall Outstanding Haile/US Bank College of Business Undergraduate Student.

The Overall Outstanding Haile/US Bank College of Business Undergraduate Award is the highest student honor bestowed by the Haile/US Bank College of Business. In choosing the recipient, faculty nominate students who demonstrate outstanding academic performance, leadership in extracurricular activities, and high potential for future leadership in the individual’s professional life, among other things. The 2019-20 recipient of this coveted award is Kayla Combs.

Throughout Combs' collegiate career, she has demonstrated academic success - being named to the President's Honors List of Dean's List each semester. But Combs is more than just brains, she has proved leadership capabilities in activities, organizations and internships that challenged her outside of the classroom. Most notable is her time with the Underground Agency, which was recently named by the world's largest business education network, AACSB International, as an Innovations That Inspire challenge winner. Combs served as the Creative Designer and Copywriter and later President of the organization, engaging in countless projects for clients, including: pitching data into a compelling story to a board of 20+ marketers at Frontier Airlines HQ in Denver, CO, aiding startup clients in penetrating highly competitive market spaces and getting their products available nationwide in major retail chains (e.g. Kroger, Target), and working with Brand Experience Managers from Procter & Gamble.

"Kayla has all the qualities you can expect from a truly outstanding student. She is self-motivated, creatively resourceful, analytical, pro-active, collaborative and, most importantly, a caring individual dedicated to have a positive impact on the world around her." said David Raska, Associate Professor of Marketing. "She has an unstoppable passion for learning. I was privileged to experience all those qualities while engaging her in countless projects for our clients at the Underground Agency."

Outstanding Student Recipients