DRS Award

The DRS Award is an annual award for a Southeast Marketing Symposium (SMS) participating school whose doctoral students demonstrate productivity, collegiality, and fun.

The award is named for and given in honor of three individuals who epitomize these characteristics — Dr. Donald Lichtenstein, Dr. Rick Netemeyer, and Dr. Scot Burton. For several years, they served as faculty members together in the Department of Marketing at Louisiana State University.

Since their time together at LSU, this group of distinguished faculty has moved on to endowed chairs and professorships while developing a reputation throughout the profession for balancing hard work and a good time — and becoming great friends and colleagues in the process. They truly epitomize productivity, collegiality, and fun.

The faculty and students of the LSU Department of Marketing created The DRS Award as a new tradition for SMS. The award was announced during the 7th annual SMS hosted by LSU in Baton Rouge, Louisiana where all three of these individuals who inspired this award gave a keynote presentation. Each year, during the annual symposium, SMS attendees will select one school as The DRS Award recipient. Each school’s attendees share their vote with their school’s doctoral coordinator, who casts a vote, and all participating schools are eligible except for the host school. The traveling award will be a reminder to SMS participants to strive for productivity, collegiality, and fun.

Past Award Recipients

2024 – University of Tennessee

2023 – Mississippi State University

2022 – University of Kentucky

2021 – University of Kentucky

2019 – Florida State University

2018 – University of Arkansas

2017 – University of Mississippi

2016 – University of Tennessee

2015 – Louisiana State University

2014 – Mississippi State University

2013 – University of Kentucky