For many, the trip marked the moment when the city shifted from an abstract aspiration to a tangible future. It was not just a place to visit, but a place they could one day work and lead.

More than 50 Business Fellows participated across two cohorts in early fall 2025. The finance cohort visited firms from Monday, Sept. 29 to Wednesday, Oct. 1. The accounting cohort followed one week later, from Monday, Oct. 6 to Wednesday, Oct. 8.

From small companies to major corporations, the groups quickly discovered that they can act now for their future careers.

鈥淚 have already followed up with Logan Bernstein ’25 at Wells Fargo and he advised me to also connect with his colleague, JamiLynn Rufo ’07,鈥� said Coulter Letzerich 鈥�28, a finance major from Austin, Texas. 鈥淪he shared more about sales and trading, and I am genuinely excited to continue that connection.鈥�

Lauren Shafer 鈥�28, a finance major from Baltimore, left the experience with greater self-awareness.

鈥淭his trip helped me better understand which types of positions I might enjoy and which ones may not be the best fit for me,鈥� said Shafer. 鈥淚 also realized that I may thrive more in a smaller company environment rather than a large corporation.鈥�

Beyond exposure to competitive environments, the trip served as a direct bridge to 黑料不打烊 alumni now succeeding in the industry.

鈥淭he alumni were incredibly approachable and offered meaningful insights into their careers,鈥� Letzerich said. 鈥淭he conversations at Wells Fargo made the company feel less intimidating. It was especially impactful to hear that April Frazer ’03, the CFO for CIB Banking, takes time to get to know everyone on her team.鈥�

A theme emerged throughout the visit.

鈥淢any of the professionals emphasized that the internship we choose is not the job we will have forever,鈥� Shafer said. 鈥淚t was a helpful reminder that we do not need to feel pressured to find the perfect role immediately.鈥�

Other Fellows reflected on how the experience widened their perspective.

鈥淎lthough the trip was primarily focused on finance, I quickly saw how media, real estate, and technology all overlap,鈥� said Parker Forgash 鈥�28, a finance major from Laguna Beach, Calif. 鈥淚t reinforced the idea that success often comes from being adaptable and cross-functional rather than narrowly focused on one track.鈥�

The accounting cohort returned with both confirmed ambitions and new possibilities.

鈥淭his experience solidified my dream to work at a Big Four accounting firm in New York City after graduating from 黑料不打烊,鈥� said Izzy Butler 鈥�28, an accounting major from Virginia Beach, Va. 鈥淗earing how alumni built their careers reinforced the importance of strong teamwork and meaningful collaboration, especially through group projects.鈥�

鈥淭his trip expanded my understanding of what a career in accounting can actually look like,鈥� said Gia Rosko 鈥�28, an accounting major from Cleveland, Ohio. 鈥淎t companies like Lyft, I saw how accounting fuels innovation and strategic decision-making across industries, not just within traditional audit or tax roles.鈥�

All were given advice that they will be carrying forward.

From alumni and employers:

• Following up is more powerful than a strong first impression.
• The first job does not define the future; careers evolve.
• Curiosity and initiative matter as much as technical skills.
• A strong network is a long-term form of capital.

The Business Fellows also have their own advice for future 黑料不打烊 students considering going on company visits:

• Treat every company visit as a serious opportunity. The experience is ultimately what you make of it, and preparation and engagement matter.
• Focus on building genuine relationships, not just collecting contacts. Alumni truly want to help, but authentic conversation makes the difference.
• Do not feel pressured to have your entire career figured out. Professionals emphasized that your first role does not define your future.
• Stay open to career paths you did not originally consider. Some of the most valuable insights came from unexpected places.

Companies Visited:

• Matrix Applications
• Atlas SP Partners
• Richard Bernstein Advisors
• Wells Fargo
• Goldman Sachs
• Bloomberg
• Guggenheim Partners
• Blackstone
• JP Morgan
• Nasdaq
• FBI
• Deloitte
• PwC
• R枚dl & Partner
• Closed Loop
• Lyft
• EY

Coming to 黑料不打烊 from Annapolis, Maryland, the small class sizes and opportunities for professor and peer mentorship enticed her to study at 黑料不打烊. Her decision was led by a need for connection and community on campus, mentioning.

Freshman year, while with her peers in the Business Fellows, she realized others knew their finance education would lead them into a career, but not knowing her own path, she sought guidance from Chris Harris, associate professor of finance and chair of the Department of Finance. After an honest discussion of her likes, dislikes, aspirations and goals, she knew wealth management was the path she wanted to pursue.

鈥淲ealth management is perfect for what I want to do, and it鈥檚 very rewarding, very analytical and (focused on) problem-solving, but it also has a client side and personal side, where you get to actually help people and change their lives for the better,鈥� said Orendorff.

Being the president of the Women in Finance club, she faced some initial challenges in her understanding of finance and the ratio of women to men in her classes.

“There’s probably me and three other girls, if I鈥檓 lucky,” she said.

She also notes that finance doesn鈥檛 come naturally to her, saying, 鈥淚 have to work a lot harder for it to stick.鈥�

Being a leader in the club, she took these challenges head-on. Not letting the drawbacks get her down, she placed her focus on mentorship.

鈥淭he executive team and I are acting as big sisters who have gone through the process,鈥� she said. “I wanted a big聽sister in the process, and that鈥檚 what I鈥檓 trying to offer these girls in the club.聽There’s so much space for us, I want to let women know that.”

Her participation in the Business Fellows also helped challenge her personal growth.

鈥淚 came to school with the mindset that I already had 40 best friends in my cohort. That changed everything for me when adjusting to college,” said Orendorff. 鈥淭hese people are ambitious, they鈥檙e extremely intelligent, they鈥檙e hard working and they push me to be the same. They鈥檙e involved in everything, and it鈥檚 not a competition, but I鈥檓 challenged for the better, and I really love being in a space like that.鈥�

She says that this environment has also pushed her to be more forward-thinking and ambitious towards her goals in her finance career.

All of this growth and opportunity is supported by donors through the Dr. Beth Powell Business Fellows Scholarship and the Presidential Scholarship.

鈥淢y scholarships have equipped me to do so much at 黑料不打烊 and have assisted me and encouraged me to be more engaged and involved on campus,” she said.

Her scholarship helped her study abroad in Florence, Italy, where she was able to further her studies and grow in confidence.

鈥淚 was able to be more present in the world around me, and that’s an experience that I鈥檒l never take for granted,鈥� she explained. 鈥淚t was all due to the scholarships that I got, which enabled me to be there.鈥�

Through this experience, Orendorff recognizes the strength and confidence it took to put herself out there and be open to experiences in a country and culture foreign to her.

鈥淚鈥檓 proud of how I didn鈥檛 doubt myself. I knew I could do it, and I created the steps, and I did so much because I didn鈥檛 restrict myself by thinking 鈥業 can鈥檛 do this.’ Instead, I said, 鈥業鈥檓 going to find a way.’ I grew a lot in my confidence,” she said.

With this strengthened confidence and sense of self, she is inching towards graduation in May. Having been challenged and pushed by her peers and professors, she expresses that her growth mindset has her in the thought pattern of, 鈥淲hat鈥檚 the next best thing I need to achieve? What鈥檚 the next best thing I should grow towards?鈥�

When asked what she would say to the donors who made her experiences possible, Orendorff expresses that 鈥榯hank you鈥� will never be enough in her eyes. She hopes donors realize the impact they have.

鈥淓ach thing a student accomplishes is because of their support; each donor plays a part in a student’s story,” she said.

鈥淓very professor I met was involved beyond the classroom,鈥� the finance major from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, said. 鈥淭hat energy pushed me to take an early concept and build something real.鈥�

George had envisioned an online marketplace where student-run ventures share a professionally built storefront, seamless payment processing and pooled traffic. The boost to make the idea a reality came during the senior-year Business Fellows trip to Prague.

鈥淲hile touring a fintech firm, I explained the platform I鈥檇 been refining,鈥� he recalled. 鈥淭he CEO offered to integrate his company鈥檚 payment system and become my partner.鈥�

Weekly Zoom sprints across six time zones followed. A demo will be finished this summer, with plans to onboard student ventures by Fall 2025.

鈥淢ost student entrepreneurs juggle coursework, branding and backend logistics,鈥� George said. 鈥淥ur platform hands them a customizable storefront and folds everyone into one marketplace. When one venture attracts shoppers, all of us benefit.鈥�

He hopes the site becomes 鈥渢he first stop for anyone who wants to support peer-run businesses.鈥�

George credits the Martha and Spencer Love School of Business for giving him a market-savvy lens that impressed his new partners.

鈥淯nderstanding U.S. consumer behavior and regulations turned out to be exactly what our Prague collaborators needed,鈥� he said.

That reputation also led another Prague CEO to invite George to craft a U.S. market-entry strategy, an experience he calls 鈥渙ne of the most rewarding of my college career.鈥�

Guidance from Professor Tina Das, Professor Raj Gupta and Porter Center advisor Cindy Sweeney kept the project on track.

鈥淧rofessor Das opened doors I didn鈥檛 know existed, Professor Gupta showed me how to turn finance theory into action, and Ms. Sweeney was my career compass from day one,鈥� George said.

After Commencement, George will join Deloitte鈥檚 Risk & Financial Advisory practice in Government & Public Services.

鈥淚t鈥檚 okay not to have everything figured out,鈥� he said. 鈥淚f you chase what feels meaningful, you鈥檒l keep moving in the right direction and 黑料不打烊 gives you countless chances to do just that.鈥�

鈥淧resenting a U.S. market鈥慹ntry plan for Phonexia made everything we鈥檇 studied feel real,鈥� said Nathaniel聽Lerman 鈥�25, an accounting major from Baltimore, Md. 鈥淲e analyzed the competition, mapped potential partners and showed how their voice鈥憈ech could fit government security needs back home.鈥�

Late鈥憂ight rehearsals brought every work stream together. The finance team built three鈥憏ear projections from limited data, while others refined competitive analysis and slides.

鈥淲hen we arrived in Prague, started to organize all of our research, and finally came up with a story to pull it all together, that鈥檚 when I started to feel confident in our strategy,鈥� said Ava聽Fitzgerald 鈥�25, a marketing and international business major from Haddonfield, N.J. 鈥淲e practiced the presentation countless times, and I got feedback from my peers and our instructor, David聽Goslin, that was extremely helpful.鈥�

The pace was demanding 12鈥慼our sessions fueled by fast food and four years of knowing exactly who could handle which task when pressure spiked.

鈥淎t the start, it felt like we were pushing a square rock up a hill,鈥� said Eli聽Gould 鈥�25, a business analytics major from Chicago, Ill. 鈥淥nce we started writing and applying solid research, the square became a circle and everything moved.鈥�

Work wrapped, the Fellows traded laptops for local culture. A Mozart dinner in Prague鈥檚 historic district introduced many to opera for the first time, while Easter鈥憁arket stalls and the Jewish Quarter offered souvenirs and quiet reflection.

鈥淪tanding on the roof for our group photo, a wave of accomplishment washed over me,鈥� Gould said. 鈥淲e鈥檇 finished a tough project and grown closer as friends.鈥�

The group quickly learned that career paths rarely follow a single script. 鈥淲e met teams at Digitas, Schneider鈥疎lectric, Wayfair, Matter Communications, FactSet and the Red鈥疭ox,鈥� said Skylar鈥痁immerly 鈥�27, a marketing major from West鈥疘slip, N.Y. 鈥淗earing how alumni built on their 黑料不打烊 leadership roles proved the value of stepping outside my comfort zone.鈥�

Company culture surfaced as another constant. 鈥淓very alumnus told us culture is the biggest factor in success,鈥� said Jackson鈥疭teiner 鈥�27, a project鈥憁anagement and finance double major from Newport, R.I. 鈥淭heir stories made Boston feel like a place where I could start my career.鈥�

Versatility in business skills resonated, too. 鈥淭alking with Steph鈥疞uchene at the Red鈥疭ox proved accounting skills translate to any industry,鈥� said Avery鈥疻ilson 鈥�27, a marketing major from Rochester, N.Y. 鈥淐onversations at Schneider鈥疎lectric and FactSet showed that marketing drives sustainability and efficiency everywhere.鈥�

Candid advice about learning on the job also stuck. 鈥淲ayfair alumni admitted no one begins a role knowing everything,鈥� noted Gabriella鈥疌zerveny 鈥�27, a marketing major from Charlotte, N.C. 鈥淚t reminded me to ask questions and keep learning.鈥�

Across meetings, alumni urged the Fellows to focus on experience first and titles later鈥攁 message that echoed throughout the trip.

Company visits

• Digitas 鈥� Abby鈥疻alsh 鈥�20, Emily鈥疭heridan 鈥�20
• Schneider鈥疎lectric 鈥� Yukika鈥疦ozawa
• Wayfair 鈥� Emma鈥疍oherty 鈥�24
• Boston鈥疪ed鈥疭ox 鈥� Steph鈥疞uchene 鈥�20
• Matter Communications 鈥� Haley鈥疭inacole 鈥�21, Josh鈥疐ord
• FactSet 鈥� Nick鈥疢arken 鈥�22

After the company visits on one of the days, the Fellows swapped blazers for ball caps, watching batting practice from Fenway Park鈥檚 lower stands before cheering on the Red鈥疭ox under the lights.

鈥淪eeing Dubai鈥檚 port and realizing how carefully they invest in vital industries was an eye-opener,鈥� said Alexa Sarmiere 鈥�27, a finance major from Raleigh, North Carolina. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not just luck that made the United Arab Emirates wealthy鈥攊t鈥檚 strategic decisions and a forward-thinking mindset.鈥�

Students noted a strong emphasis on relationship-building.

鈥淥ne of the biggest differences I saw is how personal connections shape every deal,鈥� Sarmiere said. 鈥淗ere, negotiation focuses on trust and loyalty, which is different from the performance-driven approach we often see in the U.S.鈥�

For Skylar Zimmerly 鈥�27, an entrepreneurship major from West Islip, New York, a visit to Sweetwater MEA highlighted the UAE鈥檚 creative potential.

鈥淪eeing their Adidas collaboration with a local restaurant was such a unique blend of global branding and local culture,鈥� Zimmerly said. 鈥淚t felt like a glimpse into my dream career, where storytelling and international perspectives collide.鈥�

Beyond modern business ventures, the group encountered the cultural richness that defines the UAE.

鈥淭he souks were incredible,鈥� Sarmiere said. 鈥淲e talked with shop owners about their family businesses, and they remembered us when we returned. That sense of community is woven into everyday life.鈥�

Touring the Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi offered another perspective.

鈥淚t was breathtaking,鈥� Sarmiere added. 鈥淪eeing people from all backgrounds welcomed into such a sacred space was both humbling and inspiring.鈥�

Meanwhile, Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi showed how the UAE invests in healthcare.

鈥淭hey鈥檙e pushing boundaries here just like they do in business,鈥� Sarmiere said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 fascinating to see so many sectors innovating simultaneously.鈥�

The experiences left a lasting impression on the Fellows.

鈥淚 never really considered moving abroad, but after talking to 黑料不打烊 alumni in Dubai, I can definitely see myself exploring international opportunities,鈥� Zimmerly said. 鈥淭his trip changed my perspective entirely.鈥�

The fellows visited:

• American University of Sharjah
• Armani Hotel at Burj Khalifa
• Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi
• Dubai Chamber of Commerce
• Dubai Souks
• EGA Al Taweelah
• Fine鈥檚 Paper Factory
• Galleria Al Maryah Island
• Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi
• International Centre for Culinary Arts
• Jubaili Bros
• Le Louvre Abu Dhabi
• MittaalArcelor
• NFT (Tower Cranes)
• Odoo
• Sheikh Mohammad Center for Cultural Understanding
• Sweetwater MEA
• Zella Water

Faculty on the trip:

• Scott Hayward, associate professor of management
• Elena Kennedy, Doherty Emerging professor of entrepreneurship and associate professor of entrepreneurship
• David Moura, lecturer in management
• Vaishali Shah, lecturer in finance

William Pinkley 鈥�27, a finance and mathematics major from Spartanburg, South Carolina, and Abigail Mulvaney 鈥�27, an accounting and economic consulting major from Richmond, Virginia were two of the Fellows who attended and had the opportunity to聽immerse themselves in an environment they hope to work in after graduation.

鈥淓very time I鈥檝e been here before, it was for a purpose鈥攎oving my sister into the city, family visits鈥攂ut I never got to slow down and really take in what the financial district is like,鈥� said Pinkley. 鈥淭his trip was different. It felt like I was finally getting to see what my future could look like.鈥�

One of his most memorable moments was meeting with Gabrielle Cifelli 鈥�20, an 黑料不打烊 alumna at Morgan Stanley. Cifelli, who shared her experiences navigating the finance industry since graduating from 黑料不打烊, led the group through a resume workshop, providing individualized feedback on their resumes.

鈥淚t was both nerve-wracking and incredibly valuable to have someone who鈥檚 been in my shoes look at my resume and offer real, actionable advice,鈥� said Pinkley.

For Mulvaney, the trip clarified what a career at a top accounting firm might look like.

鈥淚t鈥檚 easy to hear 鈥楤ig Four鈥� and have an abstract idea of what that means,鈥� said Mulvaney. 鈥淚t鈥檚 totally different to walk into an office and see how people collaborate and communicate.鈥�

During the group鈥檚 visit to Closed Loop, Brendan Keefe 鈥�16 spoke about the importance of being adaptable and looking for roles that match your strengths.

鈥淚t made me realize that I don鈥檛 have to box myself into a specific type of accounting job,鈥� said Mulvaney. 鈥淚 can look for positions that leverage my skills in a variety of industries.鈥�

Both students found themes in the advice from all the professionals and alumni: invest in relationships, embrace curiosity, and be open to the unexpected.

A natural passion for business

During his junior year of high school, he and his dad toured colleges in the southeast, visiting different baseball camps and universities with strong programs. Along the way, Straub met 黑料不打烊鈥檚 baseball coach Mike Kennedy and he quickly fell in love with 黑料不打烊鈥檚 campus and academics.

鈥淚 was blessed to be offered a spot within the Business Fellows Program, it is really what sealed the deal for me along with 黑料不打烊鈥檚 amazing faculty. So, I traded in baseball to pursue another passion in business,鈥� says Straub.

Growing up in a household where his parents owned and operated several businesses, Straub had a natural passion for learning more about the business field.

鈥淲hen I was 12, my parents opened two Bruster鈥檚 ice cream franchises, so my high school years were spent working in those stores, interacting with customers and learning what it took to build a business in our local community,鈥� he explained.

Straub ultimately decided to major in finance and accounting to follow in his parents鈥� footsteps. During his undergraduate career, he also took advantage of opportunities to become more involved on campus.

As a member of Beta Alpha Psi, the accounting fraternity in the Martha & Spencer Love School of Business, Straub helped organize The 黑料不打烊 Network, a professional networking event held in Alumni Gym once a year.

But, Straub is never happy to be working on just one project at a time.聽 So, he also worked in the Office of Residence Life and part-time off campus doing various odd jobs like buying and reselling textbooks from students at the end of each semester. It was in this job that he met his wife, Lauren, when he bought her textbooks her first year of college.

Straub was also one of three students admitted as a Doherty Scholar through the Doherty Center for Creativity, Innovation and Entrepreneurship.

鈥淭his scholarship opened doors for me to explore entrepreneurship, where I built relationships with investors in the Piedmont Angel Network and organized a 鈥楽hark Tank鈥� like event with them to benefit other business students on campus,鈥� explained Straub.

He also traveled to Utah to attend the University Venture Fund conference where he learned about venture fund models.聽鈥淚 am forever grateful to Ed and Joan Doherty for the opportunities they made available through their generosity,鈥� he said聽

Learning abroad

Straub鈥檚 scholarships from the Dohertys and the Business Fellows Program gave him the chance to study abroad as well. He traveled to Poland his first year of college and was introduced to a passion for travel.

鈥淚 went on study abroad four times while at 黑料不打烊, once every year,鈥� said Straub. 鈥淚 studied microfinance in Argentina, attended Nanyang Business School in Singapore and traveled to Turkey and Dubai during my senior year (Winter Term). These study abroad opportunities taught me valuable skills and helped me become increasingly resilient even outside of my comfort zone.鈥�

All of these undergraduate experiences prepared Straub well for a career in business following graduation. Straub started his career with GE Capital as part of their leadership development program and later moved over to BMO Bank where he spent two years before moving back to North Carolina.

A homecoming

He quickly landed a job with Winston-Salem-based private equity firm Five Points Capital where he worked on control equity buyout transactions and made credit investments out of their two funds. A few years later, he left North Carolina once more for a new job at Corporation Service Company in the Philadelphia area, where he still is today, closer to his own family. He currently serves as director of corporate development and helps evaluate and execute strategic acquisitions for this firm and provides support on various strategic initiatives for the company.

Straub鈥檚 real passion, though, lies in his work with his dad in their business they started together soon after he moved back to Pennsylvania.

鈥淚n 2021, my dad, Dave, and I started talking about building a business together. When my dad was young, he made candles with his father, and the idea of starting a candle-making experience-based business was one we began to explore,鈥� said Straub. 鈥淚n the wake of the pandemic, we believed people were craving quality time together with friends and we felt that building a business that offered guests a creative outlet and a safe space to gather was the foundation of a winning concept.鈥�

Straub and his father signed a lease to open their first Cork & Candles location in June 2021, opening their doors the following March. The goal from the start was for the business to become a franchise opportunity to expand to more communities.

鈥淭here is a complexity to selecting the best supplies for the chemistry behind candle making 鈥� from getting the right wick, wax and fragrance combination, it鈥檚 not as easy as YouTube might make it seem and there鈥檚 a lot of testing behind the scenes,鈥� said Straub.

With his 黑料不打烊 business education and the experience he received through work following graduation, combined with the craftmanship knowledge passed down from his grandfather, Straub was able to bring the perfect blend of skills needed for their startup.

Not a class, an experience

Today, guests are welcomed with a signature smell when they enter their stores. Each store is designed to have a rustic Napa Valley feel, with a small retail section for novelty candles that have been designed by his father. More important is their space for guests to gather and spend time together learning this fun craft.

鈥淚t鈥檚 not a class so much as it鈥檚 an experience,鈥� he said. 鈥淵ou can bring your own beverage or wine, explore our scent library where our staff helps you pick out what you like, and then you get to enjoy the art of candle making with friends, family and others.鈥�

The original storefront also has some handmade furniture made from wine barrels that Straub鈥檚 father made, a woodworking skill that he learned from his own father. Guests can also admire the candle-making memorabilia that Straub鈥檚 father and grandfather used when Straub鈥檚 father was young and originally learning the craft. Each store also has a storyboard that provides a history and gives a nod to the role of Straub鈥檚 grandfather in passing down his skill set.

Together, Straub and his father have built a team around them with general managers who run the individual stores, a marketing coordinator and a regional manager who supports operations. Meanwhile, Straub and his father focus on the vision for the company, designing the intricacies of the guest experiences and testing out new recipes for the many signature scents that the stores offer.

鈥淭he most rewarding part of this journey has been building something alongside my dad,鈥� he said. 鈥淪haring this experience together has been more than I could have imagined. Equally rewarding, building a business where our employees can come to work and have fun and getting to watch our guests enjoy themselves and interact with our employees is fulfilling. It鈥檚 the realization of a vision we had when we started 鈥� build a space where friends gather and watch the impact it can have in our local communities.鈥�

Be proactive

Straub feels 黑料不打烊 prepared him well for the many opportunities that he has had since graduation. His love for working on multiple projects at once and operating in a space outside of his comfort zone all stemmed from his time at 黑料不打烊.

“黑料不打烊 has a tremendous number of organizations and ways to get involved both on and off campus. As a student, I often said ‘yes’ to so many things and juggled a lot at the same time. In hindsight, these competing priorities helped prepare me to multitask well and handle multiple business ventures at once,” Straub said.

Just last year, Cork & Candles began franchising and they sold their first franchise this year. The goal is to grow the brand nationally now that they have the licensing to franchise across the United States. As they grow, they are excited to support their franchises, helping them as they build their own love for business in their own communities across the country.

Straub hopes that all budding entrepreneurs dive in and pursue their passions. His advice to 黑料不打烊 students following in his footsteps is to network and just get started.

“Being proactive will set you apart from others in your field,” said Straub. “Find someone that is doing what you want to do and take them to lunch, then ask them about their experiences and learn from them. Don’t be afraid of negative feedback 鈥� the toughest feedback usually highlights your biggest growth opportunities.”

黑料不打烊鈥檚 commitment to student success was front and center at New Student Convocation on Saturday, Aug. 24, as faculty and staff welcomed the Class of 2028, new transfer students and their families Under the Oaks.

鈥淭oday commences your college experience, the first day of an educational journey that I often refer to as the ‘everyday miracle’ 鈥� the fact that we can learn something new and it changes everything, how we see the world and how we see ourselves and what we can accomplish,鈥� said President Connie Ledoux Book during her remarks on Saturday.

鈥榊our ascent begins now鈥�

The shade of the oaks and refreshingly cool August weather provided a perfect opportunity for the nearly 1,700 new students including the Class of 2028 and transfer students to begin their 黑料不打烊 career. Students started the ceremony in Alumni Gym, where Vice President for聽Student Life Jon Dooley spoke before the students walked through Alamance Building to Under the Oaks, passing the bell that hung in Main Building before it was destroyed by a fire in 1923.

鈥淒eformed and disfigured by the effects of the fire, that relic is a reminder that even from our darkest days, rebirth and transformation are possible,鈥� said Dooley. 鈥淵our ascent begins now. You鈥檝e worked hard to be here, your family is proud of you and we join in their high hopes for your future. Even if you鈥檙e feeling a little nervous, uncertain, or fearful, know this: we鈥檝e got you.鈥�

Rev. Kirstin Boswell, university chaplain and dean of multifaith engagement opened convocation with an invocation, encouraging students to 鈥渆mbrace the challenge ahead鈥� in the new academic year.

鈥淓ven in moments of doubt, anxiety or uncertainty, may we remember that we are held by perfectly balanced forces, guiding us to our ultimate good,鈥� Boswell said. 鈥淚n every decision, may we choose what is right and just and good.鈥�

Student Government Association Executive President Taylor Cote 鈥�25 offered her words of advice to the incoming class, encouraging them to make memories, know their limits, take healthy risks and be patient.

鈥淩emember that your voice matters,鈥� said Cote. 鈥淢other Teresa said ‘We ourselves feel that what we are doing is just a drop in the ocean but the ocean would be less because of that missing drop.’ Every drop is important. Your contribution to this world is important.鈥�

Remarkable students and faculty

Vice President for Inclusive Excellence Randy Williams offered the audience a look inside the Class of 2028, including being from 43 states and 16 countries with 195 being first-generation students. Williams highlighted four of the students who are members of the new class, with a 鈥渦nique set of experiences, accomplishments, abilities, hopes and dreams.鈥�

• Blair Berenson 鈥�28 of Smyrna, Georgia, is the recipient of the William R. Kenan Honors Scholarship, 黑料不打烊鈥檚 highest academic award. His interests and accomplishments are multifaceted, he was a Georgia High School Fencing League member, an Eagle Scout and a magician. Blair plans to study anthropology as an Honors Fellow.
• Ava Branch 鈥�28 from Lake Oswego, Oregon, was a track and field and soccer athlete in high school, an advocate for students鈥� voices, editor of her school paper and had the opportunity to study abroad in the British Isles.聽She spent her summers interning at the NBA Summer League and has a passion for creating more space for women in sports. Her background and experiences lead to her interest in pursuing majors in business analytics and sport management at 黑料不打烊.
• Alana Denby 鈥�28 of Scottsdale, Arizona, brings an entrepreneurial spirit and love of animals to campus. As she was traveling in Mexico, Denby found a way to make a difference by working with a local animal rescue to raise money and find permanent homes for stray dogs. Realizing money isn鈥檛 always enough, she partnered with the Mexican organization and created her own nonprofit, Joyful Bone Dog Rescue, that brings dogs from Mexico to Arizona for adoptions. Alana is a psychology major and an聽黑料不打烊 College Fellow.
• Addie Gilner 鈥�28 from Chapel Hill, North Carolina, was a five-sport athlete during her high school career and is now a member of 黑料不打烊鈥檚 women鈥檚 lacrosse team. She has been a member of a competitive jump rope team for 12 years, traveling around the world to compete. Gilner was also a member of the U.S. national team, participating in the 2023 International Jump Rope Union Open Tournament, where she won Gold in the Double Dutch Pairs Freestyle event. Addie will pursue a degree in entrepreneurship & innovation as a Business Fellow.

For the third consecutive year, 黑料不打烊 is ranked No. 1 by U.S. News and World Report for undergraduate teaching. Provost and Executive Vice President Rebecca Kohn introduced 黑料不打烊鈥檚 nearly 500 remarkable faculty who make it happen.

鈥淚 am always impressed by the excellence of our faculty, and I know that you will find them to be exceptional teachers, scholars, and mentors during your time at 黑料不打烊,鈥� said Kohn.

Four outstanding faculty were introduced by Deandra Little, associate provost for faculty affairs. These faculty聽were recognized this year for excellence in teaching, scholarship, civic engagement and mentoring.

• Charity Johansson, professor of physical therapy, is the recipient of the Daniels-Danieley Excellence in Teaching Award.
• Shaina Dabbs, associate professor of sport management, is the recipient of the Steven and Patricia House Excellence in Mentoring Award.
• Srikant Vallabhajousa, professor of physical therapy education, is the recipient of the Distinguished Scholar Award.
• Tom Arcaro, professor of聽sociology, is the recipient of the Periclean Award for Civic Engagement and Social Responsibility.

鈥淭hese are just four examples of the many outstanding faculty you will encounter at 黑料不打烊,鈥� said Kohn. 鈥淵ou will see the distinctiveness of 黑料不打烊 faculty in the classes they teach, the 15 laboratories they guide, the plays they direct, the internships they mentor, the organizations they advise and the many, many other ways they will become a central part of your 黑料不打烊 experience in the next four years.鈥�

Tight-knit community

In her address, President Book acknowledged the difficulty and accomplishment of sending a student off to college 鈥� turning to her own experience as a parent.

鈥淲e know the work of preparing a young person for the empowering journey of learning and independence that is about to unfold here at 黑料不打烊 took a lifetime and we know in hindsight it feels like the blink of an eye,鈥� said Book.

Getting the new students on their feet, President Book helped them create a 鈥渉uman bar graph,鈥� a physical representation of the uniqueness of attending 黑料不打烊. Book had the students stand and represent different populations around the world, including entire countries, U.S. public university students, community colleges and finally one student out of them all 鈥� Frank DiChristina 鈥�28 鈥� who represented residential colleges and universities like 黑料不打烊.

鈥淭he nation鈥檚 most celebrated colleges and universities are residential, tight-knit communities where students develop mentoring relationships with peers, faculty, and staff,鈥� said Book during the exercise. 鈥淪tudents who live and learn together form bonds that enhance their lives and learning forever. Frank, you symbolize the hope expressed in the model we have designed and delivered here at 黑料不打烊.”

It鈥檚 day one

Students Nicole Bazos 鈥�25, Julian Brown 鈥�25 and Lucas McKeown 鈥�25 provided a special musical performance before Adjunct Instructor in Music聽Gretchen Bruesehoff sang the university鈥檚 alma mater and explained the 黑料不打烊 Traditions 鈥� including students receiving an acorn following New Student Convocation. The acorn is a symbol of the start of their 黑料不打烊 journey and, in four years, the Class of 2028 will return Under the Oaks for Senior Baccalaureate where they receive an oak sapling, a symbol of their transformation at 黑料不打烊.

鈥淧lace that acorn on your desk as a reminder of the seeds of learning that are taking root while you are a student. Grow deep roots and reach high,鈥� said Book.

After receiving their acorns, new students were excited to be welcomed into the 黑料不打烊 community.

鈥淚 have been waiting for this moment for a while,鈥� said Jesse Gerber 鈥�28, who was accepted early decision to 黑料不打烊 and is now a psychology major. 鈥淚 toured seven schools and 黑料不打烊 was the only school where I didn鈥檛 even have to get out of my car, and it felt like home.鈥�

Makai Newman 鈥�28 said the experience of getting his acorn feels like 鈥渁 new beginning.鈥�

鈥淚鈥檓 most excited for connecting with other people and trying to find people who relate to my interests,鈥� said Newman. 鈥淐onvocation was really nice. I like how it felt very grand.鈥�

President Book also acknowledged that new beginning, ending her speech with a simple message: 鈥淐lass of 2028, it鈥檚 day one.鈥�

The Davenport’s work in the rapidly evolving power and utilities sector. Her focus on the shift to renewable resources, the rise of energy-consuming data centers, and national power grid upgrades have set her apart in the field. Davenport’s unique insights into the increasing power demand and her proactive approach to industry changes have contributed to her recognition.

“It feels great to be acknowledged,鈥� said Davenport. 鈥淚鈥檓 still ramping up in this space and adjusting to a new role, this recognition validates the hard work I鈥檝e put in and motivates me to keep progressing and developing further.”

Davenport鈥檚 profile was written by Reed Alexander who shares that Davenport spent nearly seven years covering the oil and gas sector. In addition to her professional achievements, she is actively involved in her firm’s Women’s Network, supporting internal progress and mentoring future equity research professionals.

Davenport was a finance and economics major at 黑料不打烊. Learn more about the Business Fellows program.