May 14, 2007—An essay by Maryann Li (McIntire ’08) was recently selected for the top prize in the second annual Rolls-Royce/McIntire Essay Competition, held during the spring 2007 semester. All third-year McIntire students were invited to write an essay on why business ethics matter. Li, whose essay was titled “Business Ethics: The Big Yellow Taxi to Success in the Future of Business,” won the first-place prize of a $1,000 Visa gift card.

Rolls-Royce also awarded Alyssa Guo (McIntire ’08) the second-place prize of $500 for her essay titled “Ethical Considerations for a ‘Gospel of Wealth’ Revisited.” Jamie McCelland (McIntire ’08) received a third-place award for his essay, “Securing the Future through Ethical Behavior.”

Mike Elliott, Finance Vice President and key liaison between Rolls-Royce and the Comm School, said, “Rolls-Royce North America has been delighted to partner with the McIntire School to sponsor this year’s business ethics essay competition. We are firmly committed to supporting the ICE program, and this provides a great opportunity for students to explore a complex issue that is a core value in Rolls-Royce.”

Janette Martin, Assistant Professor of Management Communication, added, “The competition offers students the opportunity to reflect on issues of growing importance. All of the essays we received expressed a clear belief that business leadership and ethical behavior are inseparable.”

As Li plainly put it in her essay, “If corporations don’t pay attention to business ethics, they will be unable to continue doing business. The question of sustainability has become a resounding fact and desperate plea: As companies and industries grow, the only way for them to provide a foundation for long-term growth is by behaving ethically and responsibly.”

In addition to Elliott, judges included Rolls-Royce North America Inc.’s Will Powers, Executive Vice President and CFO, and others at the company’s Chantilly, Va., location.
 

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