Monday, May 9, 2011
Michael Zilly ’11 plans to build upon his professional leadership skills when he begins his full-time position as an external auditor at Deloitte in Princeton.
by Meaghan Haugh
Effective leaders model the way. During his four years at Rider University, Michael Zilly ’11 of Tinton Falls, N.J., a senior Accounting and Computer Information Systems dual major, has certainly lived by that principle. Zilly has not only taken full advantage of the leadership opportunities available to him, but he has made a point to use his experiences to help his fellow peers achieve their goals.
His leadership roles have included Chapter President and Vice President of Finance for his fraternity, Sigma Phi Epsilon; Treasurer and Finance Board Chairman for Rider’s Student Government Association; Technology and Web Chairman for Rider’s Relay for Life; and Chairperson for Rider’s Appeals Council. As a College of Business Administration honors student, Zilly has also had the opportunity to help incoming students by getting involved with the Freshman Seminar Peer Mentoring program. In addition, Zilly has held both an internship and co-op with Johnson & Johnson in Skillman, N.J.
This past August, Zilly was offered a full-time position as an external auditor at Deloitte in Princeton. Upon graduation, he hopes to build upon his professional leadership skills.
Recently, Zilly received the prestigious President’s Award at the University’s Awards Banquet on April 30. He also received the Center for the Development of Leadership Skills Leadership Legacy Award, which is presented to a senior who has demonstrated excellence in leadership through service to others while at Rider University, and the Cassie D. Iacovelli Student Government Award, which is given to a full-time undergraduate student, in good academic standing who worked in any of the three branches of student government for a minimum of one year.
“I believe that I have done a great job in balancing leadership experiences, academics and extracurricular activities throughout college, but I couldn’t have done it without the many support systems I have had at Rider,” Zilly explained. “Because of this, I have always made it a point to mentor my peers, helping them to achieve success as well. I’d like to think I didn’t just win the President’s Award because I had a certain amount of activities on my résumé or a certain GPA, but by the virtues I stand for and how I have used my experiences to help others achieve their goals.”