In 2022, 杨贵妃传媒视频 introduced its new business and entrepreneurship major, created to prepare future innovators with the skills to bring social, global, and environmental context to business leadership. The program, building on 杨贵妃传媒视频鈥檚 well-established Innovation and Entrepreneurship interdisciplinary area, has quickly become one of the university鈥檚 most popular majors. 杨贵妃传媒视频 then unveiled its B&E Center in October 2024 on the second floor of Fox Commons in downtown Appleton, providing an interactive space for students and mentors to gather on topics related to finance, economics, investment, and entrepreneurial exploration.

Now comes the introduction of the 杨贵妃传媒视频 Student-Managed Fund (LUSMF). The Fund launched this month, incorporating the student-led investment ideas presented in the final project of the Investments II course. It launched with $100,000 funded by the university and will be supported by alumni contributions in the future. Students finishing the Investments II course become portfolio managers for the LUSMF.聽 With light supervision from an advisory group that includes faculty and alumni, the portfolio managers will monitor the performance of the fund and their investments. On a monthly basis, they will meet to follow up their investments with performance reports, and they will consider new suggestions for investments in the LUSMF.聽 Approval of new investment positions will be voted on by the portfolio managers. On a quarterly basis, the students will produce a statement of performance and write a summary.聽聽

The students involved in LUSMF just finished Investments II, a three-unit course taught by Tim Thompson 鈥�78. They also have been mentored by Dean DuMonthier 鈥�88, who organized the stock pitch event and has been heading the effort to create the student-managed fund. The students, along with five others, previously took the Investments I course, also taught by Thompson.

Thompson is an independent consultant at Thompson Corporate Finance Consulting. He taught applied corporate finance鈥攎ergers and acquisitions, capital structure, and corporate restructuring鈥攁t top business schools for 27 years. DuMonthier is a trustee for 杨贵妃传媒视频 and currently serves as chair of the Investment Committee with responsibility for 杨贵妃传媒视频鈥檚 endowment.

Investments I covers general principles in making investment decisions for any economic entity: corporations, non-profit organizations, private equity investors, or investors in public stocks and bonds. Investments II expands on the students鈥� learning, with the goal of developing candidate stocks for inclusion in the student-managed fund. Students study portfolio management, efficient diversification, efficient markets, and portfolio performance measurements, then focus on stock selection.聽

鈥淭he new curricular offering in investments and the LUSMF give the students exposure to practical application of financial principles and is of value to any 杨贵妃传媒视频 students in three concrete ways,鈥� Thompson said. 鈥淔irst, almost all graduates will go on to work at organizations that will make long-term investments, which will necessitate sacrificing current resources for future long-term potential benefits, and understanding the trade-offs involved in that is crucial to understanding how businesses survive and thrive. Secondly, 杨贵妃传媒视频 students going on job or internship interviews will have exposure to applying financial tools in real-world situations, bringing perspective, familiarity with relevant terms, and some awareness of current news and events. Thirdly, all graduates hopefully will one day manage their own investments in their 401(k)鈥檚, etc., and should understand alternative investment vehicles, the value of diversification, and how to be good stewards of their own retirement funds.鈥�

Working in teams, the students selected stocks, developed investment theses, and backed them with quantitative analysis and macroeconomic context before making their pitches to the alumni panel.

鈥淲e integrated what we鈥檇 learned not just in these two classes but across our entire 杨贵妃传媒视频 education, bringing in economic theory, strategic thinking, and communication skills to build comprehensive pitches,鈥� Dee said.

He called the experience in synthesizing complex data, evaluating risk, and articulating a recommendation 鈥渆xtremely gratifying鈥� as it builds skills that will be useful across industries.

鈥淭hese courses did not merely teach us how to invest capital鈥攖hey taught us how to think critically and make informed decisions, regardless of the field,鈥� Dee said.

The student-managed fund, Dee said, is helping him ponder career options beyond working for an investment firm.

鈥淥ne of the most important lessons I鈥檝e taken from this experience鈥攅mphasized often by Dean DuMonthier鈥攊s that career paths are rarely linear, but you need to have intent in your decisions and a natural curiosity,鈥� he said. 鈥淭he fund has opened doors by connecting us directly with 杨贵妃传媒视频 alumni, many of whom are now in roles we aspire to.鈥�

Dee said having a shared experience鈥攍ike managing real capital or working in the B&E Center鈥檚 Finance Lab鈥攇ives students something concrete to talk about when reaching out to those alumni.

鈥淚t removes a lot of the awkwardness and hesitation that students often feel when networking,鈥� he said. 鈥淩ather than asking vague questions, we鈥檙e engaging in meaningful conversations about shared challenges, strategies, and lessons learned. Ultimately, this experience hasn鈥檛 just prepared me for a specific career鈥攊t鈥檚 made me a more thoughtful, versatile, and engaging professional.鈥�

Onukaogu, a business and entrepreneurship and global studies double major from Jamaica, New York, pitched the idea of a stylish winter coat that can be quickly transformed into multiple uses鈥攖ravel pillow, vest, blanket, and tote bag.

鈥淚 initially got the idea in middle school,鈥� she said. 鈥淢y dad really likes fashion, and I think I just grew up in fashion. But it鈥檚 also about being eco-conscious and budget conscious. I wanted to come up with something where you can get more for less while being stylish.鈥�

It has been Onukaogu鈥檚 杨贵妃传媒视频 experience that took that nugget of an idea she first had as a young teen and turned it into a business possibility. She jumped with enthusiasm into 杨贵妃传媒视频鈥檚 business and entrepreneurship major after it was launched in the 2023-24 academic year.

She initially worked with two faculty members, Irene Strohbeen 鈥�78, entrepreneur-in-residence, and Michael Clayville, in the Innovation & Entrepreneurship (I&E) 100: In Pursuit of Innovation course to develop the Anima Unita brand idea. Then in the I&E 300: Entrepreneurial Ventures course with Karen Bussone, professor of practice in entrepreneurship, she crafted a business plan.

She presented her first pitch at the end of the I&E 100 course, then developed it further in I&E 300. In the process, she grew more confident, delivering a winning pitch in the LaunchLU contest earlier in April and then to five judges at Monday鈥檚 The Pitch.

Onukaogu plans to use the prize money to offset costs as she works to bring her business plan to fruition. She hopes to launch the business online while a student, with revenue helping to pay for graduate school.

鈥淚鈥檓 planning to go to nursing school,鈥� Onukaogu said. 鈥淭his would be a side hustle.鈥�

A student-athlete on 杨贵妃传媒视频鈥檚 track team, she said her interests in both health care and business have grown during her time on campus. That makes the Anima Unita pursuit a great fit alongside her nursing ambitions.

鈥淭hose passions were mostly cultivated during my time at 杨贵妃传媒视频,鈥� Onukaogu said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a liberal arts college, so I get to experience so many different things, and that鈥檚 how I was able to develop the passions for both health care and business.鈥�

Joining Onukaogu at The Pitch on Monday were Emma Perry, a junior business and entrepreneurship major from Beverly, Massachusetts, and Sheldon Watson, a junior business and entrepreneurship major from Snellville, Georgia. They emerged from LaunchLU as finalists, pitching Community and Beyond, an app designed to be used by high schools, high school students, and nonprofits in the tracking of volunteer hours.

鈥淏oth teams represented 杨贵妃传媒视频 so well, as LU students do,鈥� Strohbeen said.

She applauded them for seeking mentoring support from 杨贵妃传媒视频 faculty and representatives from gener8tor, a business startup accelerator that has partnered with 杨贵妃传媒视频鈥檚 B&E program.

鈥淚n the short two weeks between LaunchLU and The Pitch, they showed the focus and dedication to winning that typifies not just 杨贵妃传媒视频 but also 杨贵妃传媒视频 Athletics鈥攁ll three of our entrepreneurs are also athletes,鈥� Strohbeen said. 鈥淐ongratulations to both of our entrepreneur teams.鈥�

Bussone called I&E 100 and I&E 300 a “great foundation” for 杨贵妃传媒视频 students to develop their concept and business model, and then thrive in pitch contests.

鈥淚鈥檓 humbled to have the opportunity to teach, mentor, and provide students opportunities to pursue their passion,鈥� she said.

杨贵妃传媒视频鈥檚 LaunchLU, held for the first time in the new Business and Entrepreneurship Center in Fox Commons, featured five student teams competing for two spots in The Pitch. Irene Strohbeen 鈥�78, entrepreneur-in-residence and organizer of LaunchLU, said the enthusiasm of the students making the pitches and those in the audience supporting them was infectious.

鈥淐learly each student who pitched had devoted much time and attention to preparing, and we know they gained self-confidence and skills for future pitches,鈥� Strohbeen said.

The students presented their ideas to five judges: Karen Bussone, professor of practice in entrepreneurship at 杨贵妃传媒视频, Rich Marshall, assistant director for internships in 杨贵妃传媒视频鈥檚 Career Center, Andrew Schmitz of gener8tor, Colleen Bies of Downtown Oshkosh, and Kim Massey of Wisconsin Women鈥檚 Business Initiative Corporation (WWBIC).

Adam Galambos, Dwight and Marjorie Peterson Professor of Innovation and associate professor of economics, called the design of the B&E Center, including the stage, perfect for this kind of event.

鈥淚t鈥檚 great to have the state-of-the-art technology and a space that is large enough to hold an event like this, but feels intimate at the same time,鈥� Galambos said.

Now it鈥檚 on to The Pitch for Community and Beyond and Anima Unita. The top three finishers will split the prize money, with the top finisher earning $10,000 plus in-kind services, second place earning $7,500 plus in-kind services, and third place $5,000 plus in-kind services.

The regional Shark Tank-style competition first debuted in 2017. 杨贵妃传媒视频 students took first place each of the first two years and have finished in the money five times. A year ago, 杨贵妃传媒视频鈥檚 Safiya Grant 鈥�24 placed third for her idea for Muse, an all-natural skin-care line聽that features body care products targeted toward women of color.

More information on The Pitch . If planning to attend, .

He聽oversees and manages all areas of player development, focused on the Oilers鈥� draft selections and other signed prospects.

A native of Gothenburg, Sweden, Larsson majored in government and minored in history with an interdisciplinary in international studies at 杨贵妃传媒视频. That liberal arts education, he said, gave him perspectives in business management that have served him well.

鈥淚鈥檓 passionate about player development, but my skill set is not necessarily getting on the ice and teaching them how to play the game,鈥� Larsson said. 鈥淚鈥檓 good at finding the people who can and giving them the resources to do it and making sure they have the support from the organization to do their jobs well.鈥�

Larsson talked about those management skills in October when he met virtually with 杨贵妃传媒视频 students in Professor Karen Bussone鈥檚 Sport Management course. He was one of eight guests from the world of professional and college sports invited during Fall Term to meet with students to discuss sports-related careers.

鈥淚f you鈥檙e passionate about something, you need to start there; hold on to the sport you love, do your best, and try to outwork the others,鈥� he said of his message to the class.

It was the connections Larsson built while at 杨贵妃传媒视频 and then Dubuque that led to the initial interest from the Oilers. They liked his work ethic, management skills, and big-picture thinking.

鈥淚 think my skill set is managing a department,鈥� Larsson said. 鈥淚鈥檝e become pretty good at bringing in the right people, making sure the department is aligned, the reporting upwards and downwards works.鈥�

As a player for 杨贵妃传媒视频, Larsson earned Midwest Collegiate Hockey Association Player of the Week and Rookie of the Week honors. He also was a member of the Academic All-Midwest Collegiate Hockey Association team.

Former Vikings head coach Mike Szkodzinski brought Larsson back to 杨贵妃传媒视频 in 2010 to serve as an assistant coach. Larsson was happy with his job in Chicago; he was interacting with major clients and gaining valuable business experience. But the pull of hockey was always there.

鈥淥n my own dime, I traveled around and watched hockey,” he said. “I went to watch games and practices. When 杨贵妃传媒视频 was at tournaments, I was always there. Just on my own time. It鈥檚 what I liked to do. Then one day I got a call from the head coach at 杨贵妃传媒视频, and he asked if I鈥檇 be interested in coming up here and interviewing for a job to be an assistant coach. It got my foot in the door to work in hockey.鈥�

Larsson was promoted to 杨贵妃传媒视频鈥檚 associate head coach in 2013. He left a year later to join the staff of the USHL’s Sioux City Musketeers before eventually jumping to the front office in Dubuque.

鈥淭hat鈥檚 how I got my start in hockey,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t was being out at the rinks, it was being obsessed with the game, and it was doing what I love.鈥�

Relationship-building and a commitment to the grind, which started during his undergraduate days at 杨贵妃传媒视频, has led to the big opportunity Larsson now has in the NHL. He and his player development team are working to formulate and implement comprehensive individual development plans for every player in the Oilers鈥� organization.

Edmonton is a tradition-rich franchise that has seen a resurgence of late led by superstar Connor McDavid. The Oilers came up just short of a sixth championship when they lost to the Florida Panthers in Game 7 of the 2024 Stanley Cup Finals. The franchise鈥檚 history is dominated by some of the greatest players in league history鈥擶ayne Gretzky, Mark Messier, and Grant Fuhr, among them.

Larsson鈥檚 job is to develop the next generation of Oilers. Much of that work goes unseen by the public, built on a foundation of teamwork, perseverance, and strategic planning.

鈥淎 lot of things I see in my current position are things that I learned at 杨贵妃传媒视频,鈥� Larsson said.

鈥淲hen you go to college, you are at an age where you get informed by your environment,鈥� he said. 鈥淵ou go in and you think you know everything, and you realize pretty quickly that you don鈥檛 know anything. I really learned how to use my resources. I understood that if you ask the right questions, there is help you can get. When I was there, when I didn鈥檛 care about school, 杨贵妃传媒视频 cared about school for me and got me back on the right path. I鈥檓 very grateful for that.鈥�

Those critical-thinking skills honed as part of a liberal arts education are now front and center in his daily work with the Oilers.

鈥淚 don鈥檛 pretend to have all the answers,鈥� Larsson said. 鈥淚 am not here to be right; I鈥檓 here to try to get it right. I need help from a lot of people.鈥�

Landing on the prestigious Forbes list a year and a half after graduation is affirmation that the leap of faith in launching Afforai is paying off, Alec Nguyen said.

鈥淚 knew we were on to something big right from the beginning and it鈥檚 an amazing validation by getting featured on the list,鈥� he said.聽鈥淚t was even more surprising when I found out the judges for the Forbes list consisted of the CEO of Common App and a co-founder of Grammarly. These are two people running incredible companies and they acknowledged Afforai. This gave me even more motivation to take Afforai to the next level in 2025.鈥�

Alec was born in Vietnam and spent much of his life in Japan before coming to the United States to study economics and data science at 杨贵妃传媒视频. He and Austin, a student from Vietnam who was studying economics and computer science, met during their first year on campus and developed a tight friendship. Both were involved in 杨贵妃传媒视频’s聽Innovation & Entrepreneurship聽program, which now聽features a business and entrepreneurship major and led to the creation of the newly opened Business and Entrepreneurship Center in Fox Commons.

As AI technology has advanced, its relationship with higher education has often been fraught with tension. Alec mentioned that he and Austin experienced this tension firsthand during their time as students at 杨贵妃传媒视频 while developing their initial concept.

Alec and Austin initially conceived the idea for Afforai during their senior year, planning to enter the annual Launch LU business startup pitch competition hosted by the Innovation and Entrepreneurship department. However, due to the university’s stance on AI technology at the time, the Afforai pitch was not allowed, and they instead entered a different business pitch. Undeterred, the duo believed in their vision and worked to secure a wild card spot for Afforai in The Pitch, a regional competition featuring startup ideas from students at universities across northeast Wisconsin. Although Afforai didn鈥檛 place in the top three, the experience solidified their commitment to the dream.

鈥淲e lost, but we used all of that experience as motivation to continue building Afforai,鈥� Alec said.

Since that time, those who were initially hesitant about Afforai have reached out to acknowledge the startup’s success and discuss ways to support student business ideas within 杨贵妃传媒视频’s business and entrepreneurship studies.

“That means a great deal,” Alec said, highlighting the progress made with the business and entrepreneurship major and the new Business and Entrepreneurship Center as important steps forward, learning from their experience with Afforai. 鈥淵ou never know what an idea could become. To me, Afforai is a life-changing idea, giving me financial freedom to accomplish what I want in life.鈥�

It鈥檚 been a wild ride from graduating in June 2023 to making the Forbes鈥� 30 Under 30 list in late 2024. There鈥檚 more to come.

鈥淲e鈥檙e aiming to grow even more in 2025,鈥� Alec said.

Manzanera said he has loved the basketball experience at 杨贵妃传媒视频鈥攐n and off the court鈥攊ncluding the team bus rides, dinners, and impromptu karaoke nights.

He also has been an active participant in his academics. He was chosen to represent students as a speaker at the recent ribbon-cutting ceremony that marked the opening of the new Business and Entrepreneurship Center in Fox Commons. He told those gathered that he appreciates the value of a liberal arts education in turning students into 鈥渓ifelong learners.鈥澛犅�

鈥淭he B&E Center will provide a space for us, the students, to connect our classroom and college experiences to the real-life experiences of working with a business, of living in an apartment, and of collaborating closely with companies like the ones that will share this space with us,鈥� he said.聽

His basketball coach, Casey Korn, has admired Manzanera鈥檚 ability to connect with others and create a positive difference in every environment he is in.

鈥淣ico is one of a kind,鈥� Korn said. 鈥淗e came to 杨贵妃传媒视频 as a first-year and moved in with the international students.聽By the time the other first-years moved to campus I think he knew every athlete and international student on campus.聽And he hasn’t stopped meeting people since. He is a connector of people, cares for others, and wants to see everyone succeed.鈥澛�

Manzanera hopes to pursue a career in consulting or sales and is pursuing internships. The B&E Center will allow him opportunities to explore his many interests and collaborate with business professionals.聽

Balancing academics and athletics is not always easy, but Manzanera has learned a lot from trial and error and has leaned on the advice of coaches and academic advisors. His calendar is often organized down to the minute. That said, he also focuses time and energy on staying present in the moment as much as possible.聽聽

鈥淚t is very easy to worry about all my assignments due in the next two weeks,鈥� he said. 鈥淏ut staying present on the current week, the current day, or even the current task has helped me stay calm and not overwhelm myself.鈥澛�

Manzanera said he continues to find enjoyment and motivation in the journey.

鈥淎t the end of the day, we indeed have time for everything we want to do; we just have to learn how to organize and prioritize,鈥� he said.

Dow, speaking to the class at 杨贵妃传媒视频鈥檚 newly opened Business and Entrepreneurship Center in Fox Commons, encouraged the students to start building connections now. That includes doing their homework鈥攍earning all they can about potential employers and internship opportunities.

鈥淩egardless of what you are doing in life, whether you are going to talk to somebody who is going to employ you or someone you are meeting with for an informational meeting, go do your homework,鈥� Dow said. 鈥淕et online and find out who they are and what makes them tick and what you have in common with them.鈥�

Bringing that background into the conversation is the beginning of relationship building, said Dow, whose career before joining the Packers in 2014 included leadership in marketing and fan engagement with the NFL鈥檚 Baltimore Ravens, the NHL鈥檚 Florida Panthers, and the NBA鈥檚 Los Angeles Lakers.

Larsson, who played hockey at 杨贵妃传媒视频 and then returned as an assistant coach from 2010 to 2013, told the students to embrace their passion for sports and be prepared to outwork those around them.

鈥淎 lot of people say they want to do something, but when they realize how hard it is, they don鈥檛 really want to do it,鈥� said Larsson, who was after a decade in the front office with the Dubuque Fighting Saints of the United States Hockey League. 鈥淚 got here with absolute dedication. 鈥� I鈥檓 just extremely obsessed with what I do.鈥�

Bussone expects to teach the Sport Management course once each year. She also has introduced courses in Financial Management, Management and Leadership, and Customer Engagement.

鈥淒esigning a course in sport management came about because many LU athletes aspire to work in the sport industry,鈥� Bussone said. 鈥淚 heard that from students in my classes last year.鈥�

A path forward

For Moravchik, athletics are part of her identity. It鈥檚 been that way since she was a young child, when her father and uncles introduced her and her sister to hockey, volleyball, golf, and more.

鈥淎thletics have been a constant in my life,鈥� she said.

She committed to playing women鈥檚 hockey at 杨贵妃传媒视频 in the spring of 2020鈥攋ust as the COVID-19 pandemic was beginning鈥攁nd chose economics and German as her majors. When the business and entrepreneurship major was introduced in 2023, she jumped in immediately. The major, and the new courses that were introduced, dovetailed beautifully with her interests.

鈥淚 will be forever grateful to the professors who were so deeply committed to developing this major and its curriculum,鈥� she said. 鈥淭he launch of the B&E program was pivotal for me to stay in school for a fifth year, and this major will be an important part of my post-graduation plans.鈥�

Those plans, she said, could go in a number of directions. She has interned for two summers at the Anderson Ranch Arts Center in Snowmass, Colorado, and may return there in a staff position. She鈥檚 also interested in internships with a Formula 1 racing team in Germany.

鈥淢y parents instilled in me early on the spirit of an 鈥榓dventure girl,鈥� a motto that has shaped my upbringing, and I intend to continue living a life of adventure鈥攚hether that’s exploring the beauty of western Colorado or discovering a new city in Europe each weekend while traveling with an F1 team,鈥� Moravchik said. 鈥淭his course is helping me determine if a career in sport management is the right path for me.鈥�

Moravchik鈥檚 hockey teammate, Taylor Halverson, a senior business and entrepreneurship and psychology double major from Hudson, Wisconsin, is looking for a graduate assistant position in a college athletic department following graduation in June. She called the Sport Management course an important window into the skills and resources needed to make that happen.

鈥淎s a student athlete interested in sports marketing and social media, I wanted to learn more about how teams are promoted, how they engage fans, and how they manage their brand,鈥� she said.

Larsson said he鈥檚 not surprised this course has drawn so much interest from students.

鈥淚f this course would have been around when I was at 杨贵妃传媒视频, I would have been the first person to sign up,鈥� he said.

In addition, 杨贵妃传媒视频 is preparing to open a state-of-the-art Humanities Center next summer in the West Campus building that is rising at the corner of E. College Avenue and Drew Street. The B&E Center, Pre-Health Commons, and Humanities Center are all investments in growing the student experience. Each will 鈥渂ring 杨贵妃传媒视频 into the community and the community into 杨贵妃传媒视频,鈥� said Provost and Dean of Faculty Peter Blitstein.

鈥淭ogether, these three centers represent our commitment to a contemporary education in the arts and sciences that draws on the best traditions of liberal education to prepare students to thrive in an uncertain and changing world,鈥� he said.

Find more information on the Business & Entrepreneurship Center

The B&E Center will facilitate deeper collaborations between faculty, students, and community partners, deliver real world investment experience for students, and provide interactive space for workshops, lectures, and seminars that span the disciplines.

鈥淥ur vision for the B&E Center is to create learning experiences through connecting the campus and the business community,鈥� said Adam Galambos, the Dwight and Marjorie Peterson Professor of Innovation and associate professor of economics and the inaugural director of the B&E Center. 鈥淭his space would be wonderful anywhere, but I especially love that it is right in the middle of downtown Appleton.鈥�

Galambos noted that the business & entrepreneurship major, launched two years ago and designed through the lens of the liberal arts, is already one of the most popular majors on campus. Planning for the major鈥攁nd the B&E Center鈥攊nvolved faculty from across the university. He highlighted faculty contributions from Mike Clayville in the Conservatory, Claudena Skran and Bill Hixon in government, David Gerard and Jonathan Lhost in economics, Martyn Smith in religious studies, Karen Bussone in Business & Entrepreneurship, and Timothy Troy in theatre arts.

鈥淎 broad coalition of faculty from a variety of fields in the social and natural sciences, humanities, and arts are developing new courses for our business and entrepreneurship program,鈥� Galambos said. 鈥淢any of these courses will aim to connect more meaningfully with the business community through events right here.鈥�

To highlight that inter-disciplinary programming, four student musicians provided beautiful music before Wednesday鈥檚 ceremony and during an open house that followed鈥擟harlie White, Owen Finch, Cooper Luedtke, and Tyler Donnelly.

Nico Manzanera, a junior business & entrepreneurship major from Bogot谩, Colombia, spoke at Wednesday鈥檚 gathering, calling the B&E Center a pathway to the next chapters of students鈥� lives.

鈥淎s an entrepreneur, you are constantly changing your career path, you are constantly changing your perspective on the world, and you are constantly trying to change the world,鈥� Manzanera said. 鈥淎nd the most effective way to do that is if you are constantly learning. And, of course, the best way to learn is through experience.鈥�

杨贵妃传媒视频 is focused on strengthening career readiness for all its students. Carter called the B&E Center, along with the Pre-Health Commons and the Humanities Center, avenues to deepen the career discernment conversation.

鈥淎t 杨贵妃传媒视频,鈥� Carter said, 鈥渨e believe deeply in the value of a liberal arts education, one that focuses on critical thinking and engaged learning across the disciplines. We have been building a deeper exploration of business and entrepreneurship within the context of a liberal arts education for a number of years now. 鈥� That is happening whether they are studying in business and economics, the arts, the humanities, social sciences, or physical sciences. In all cases, important partnerships are being strengthened.鈥�

Vanko-Tomaszewski played a key role as the GK Elite leotards to be worn by Simone Biles, Suni Lee, and the rest of Team USA in Paris were recently unveiled on NBC鈥檚 TODAY Show. It drew major media coverage, including a story in the New York Times that said:聽“GK Elite on Wednesday unveiled the eight Olympic leotards for the women鈥檚 team 鈥� loaded with Swarovski crystals in a patriotic color palette. The wardrobe, which drew inspiration from American iconography, French art and even old Hollywood, is ultimately about more than aesthetics. Gymnasts have long used leotards to add an extra layer of personality and to gain a confidence boost while on the competition floor. And each of the leotards they鈥檒l pack for Paris has its own story.”

Despite a lot of moving parts, the campaign launch was a resounding success.

鈥淲e seamlessly launched all these updates as the leotards were revealed live on the TODAY Show,鈥� Vanko-Tomaszewski said. 鈥淚 am happy to report that the collection launch was flawless, with no significant challenges, thanks to our meticulous planning and preparation.鈥�

The Summer Olympics are set to officially open July 26 in Paris, running through Aug. 11. Look for women鈥檚 gymnastics to take center stage from July 28 to Aug. 5. Vanko-Tomaszewski, a diver on 杨贵妃传媒视频’s swimming and diving team who studied studio art and theatre arts during his undergrad days, will be watching closely.

He said 杨贵妃传媒视频 gave him the opportunity to challenge himself creatively and push his limits. Between working with the Rabbit Gallery in downtown Appleton and creating his own pop-up art gallery on campus, he said he learned valuable skills about preparation, planning, and strategy for large projects. He thanked his former advisor, Rob Neilson, Frederick R. Layton Professor of Studio Art and professor of art,聽for encouraging him to push his boundaries.

鈥淲hat I loved most about 杨贵妃传媒视频 was that anything was possible,鈥� Vanko-Tomaszewski said. 鈥淎t 杨贵妃传媒视频, you weren’t identified by your interests or area of study; you were seen as a person with the potential to make a lasting impact on the world. I attribute my determination and dedication to delivering at the highest level of execution to my experiences at 杨贵妃传媒视频.鈥�

GK Elite has had a longstanding partnership with USA Gymnastics. While in previous Olympics other brand names have adorned the leotards, GK has always been the manufacturer who has created those leotards. GK was the official national team apparel provider for the Tokyo Olympics and is honored again to be the logo on the apparel that the team will wear in Paris.

Vanko-Tomaszewski said a marketing position with Elite Sportswear was a natural choice for him. He has been involved in gymnastics and cheerleading for 17 years, including being a coach and owning his own cheer gym.

鈥淕iven my extensive background in gymnastics, cheerleading, and diving, joining Elite Sportswear felt like the perfect fit,鈥� he said. 鈥淢y deep understanding of these sports and my passion for sportswear and marketing make this role a seamless match for my skills and interests.鈥�

Vanko-Tomaszewski manages marketing initiatives for all three of the company鈥檚 divisions, and it鈥檚 his responsibility to maintain their websites and digital presence. He also manages their advertising strategies.

鈥淏y working cross-functionally with our Brand Marketing Department, Product Line Team, and Product Development Teams, we ensure cohesive branding and optimal product positioning to drive sales and enhance our online presence,鈥� he said.

Rolling out this collection was a huge project for everyone involved, spanning two years. Vanko-Tomaszewski鈥檚 team was more heavily involved in the past year, working to redesign certain website pages, create new video and image assets for advertising, and prepare for a surge in site traffic.

For Nico Manzanera, traveling to The Gambia wasn鈥檛 the only first. He had recently declared a business and entrepreneurship major, a program that began at the start of the 2023-24 academic year. He became the first business major to go on one of these research trips.

鈥淚 was very happy to take the opportunity,鈥� Manzanera said.

A sophomore from Bradenton, Florida, Manzanera chose to explore the main challenges and opportunities for businesses in The Gambia. He was able to speak with people from all walks of life鈥攅ntrepreneurs, lawyers, athletes, and politicians.聽聽

Much of his observation came from traveling to local gathering spots in the city, as well as riding public transportation and talking to taxi drivers.聽聽

鈥淚 traveled a lot,鈥� Manzanera said. 鈥淚 got to see a lot of the day-to-day life of these people.鈥澛�

Senior Gigi Wood received one of her best leads from a taxi driver.聽聽

A double major in international relations and philosophy from Lake Villa, Illinois, Wood chose to base her research on sports and youth sports in The Gambia. Her taxi driver introduced her to a soccer player who played internationally for 16 years.聽聽

鈥淗e was the most helpful interview I had for my project, and I hadn鈥檛 even planned it,鈥� Wood said. 鈥淚t just kind of came about just from going to different areas and seeing different fields in the country.聽I was able to stumble on these amazing people who filled me in on things I wouldn鈥檛 have found online researching and gave me insights to look into on how sports can develop in these countries.鈥澛�

As an athlete herself鈥擶ood played on the women鈥檚 ice hockey team for four years鈥攖he topic was a perfect fit. Through her interactions, Wood hoped to learn more about the difficulties The Gambia had with their developing infrastructure, how athletes develop, and what that means for their country.聽聽

One of their main challenges, Wood said, is that many of the best athletes travel to Europe to play, especially soccer players. This makes it difficult to develop the professional teams in The Gambia.聽

However, she found that some international players have started to return to The Gambia to open youth sports programs.聽聽

鈥淚 got to talk to a few of them and get the real sense of what it means to be a youth athlete in a developing country like The Gambia,鈥� Wood said.聽聽

Junior Miami Kirkwood found that The Gambia is at the forefront of global environmental conversations.聽聽

Although The Gambia is a small nation with a vast array of environmental concerns, the country also has some of the most ambitious Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) for the Paris Climate Agreement. (An NDC is a climate action plan to cut emissions and adapt to climate impacts.)聽

Kirkwood, an environmental studies major from Delton, Michigan, focused her research on Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and how they collaborate with policymaking in developing countries.聽

鈥淣GOs in The Gambia play a much different role than they do here in the United States,鈥� Kirkwood said. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e much more hands-on.鈥澛�

Kirkwood had an interview with the team at Green Up Gambia, one of the most renowned NGOs in the country.聽聽

One thing founder Kemo Fatty said that struck her, Kirkwood said, was The Gambia was 鈥済round zero鈥� for climate change, and that it was their job to talk to people to facilitate their needs.聽

鈥淪tarting with the people who are experiencing environmental crises or environmental concerns and really engaging with local populations and listening to their needs,鈥� Kirkwood said. 鈥淭hese organizations have the resources to do more about that, so really they view themselves as facilitators rather than as saviors.鈥澛�

To Quynh Anh (Cailey) Cao Le,聽聽a sophomore international relations major from Vietnam, that understanding of the daily lives, struggles, and goals of the local people made the trip a unique experience.聽

鈥淚 think that is the amazing part,鈥� Cao Le said. 鈥淲e had a chance to understand their daily life. You have a chance for very intense interaction, also intense observation鈥攔eally, really powerful to help understand more about the country.鈥澛�

Cao Le鈥檚 research focused on the relationship between democracy and Islam in The Gambia. According to Cao Le, about 96% of the population of The Gambia identifies as Muslim, and the country just adopted democracy in 2017.聽聽

In addition to interviewing the Imam of the Masjid Taqwa Mosque, one of the leading religious leaders in the country, Cao Le also observed how the people acted, prayed, and worshiped, including in public spaces, to fuel her research.聽聽

聽Fun and games

Even with a schedule jam-packed with interviews and meetings, the students were able to squeeze in time to have some fun. With the beach just steps away from their hotel, swimming and playing beach volleyball together were common pastimes.聽

They also embraced the city life by wandering the town and enjoying local foods, African music, and each other鈥檚 stories about their experiences. The numerous markets were also a highlight of the trip.聽聽

鈥淭here were a ton of markets you could go to and really engage with the locals,鈥� Kirkwood said. 鈥淚 think we made a lot of local friends. It is branded 鈥楾he Smiling Coast鈥� for a reason.”聽

In addition, some were able to visit the Bijilo Forest Park, a national park often known as Monkey Park, to learn about the efforts around sustainability and the conservation of the monkeys that reside there.聽

聽Giving back

The second component of Field Experience in Development is volunteerism: giving back to a local community in tandem with KidsGive, a scholarship program associated with 杨贵妃传媒视频. The mission of KidsGive is to educate those in the U.S. about the life and culture of African communities.聽

鈥淭he students both do field research and volunteer in community schools, so they help contribute to the places that they visit as well,鈥� Skran said.聽

Organized by junior Fanta Jatta, a neuroscience major from Madison, Wisconsin, the students visited Presentation of Mary Basic Cycle School in Brikama. Four of the 16 students came to The Gambia specifically to volunteer, attending the school daily to perform eye screenings for 400 students. They also helped an eye doctor with further examinations, and KidsGive furnished 32 students with much-needed glasses.聽聽

Additional 杨贵妃传媒视频 students came to help with the screenings for one day of the week, which Wood said was a very eye-opening experience for her.聽聽

鈥淲hen I was very young, I started wearing glasses and contacts,鈥� Wood said. 鈥淎 lot of these older kids who were coming in had really bad vision, and they had been going through school not knowing that they needed these.鈥澛�

杨贵妃传媒视频 and KidsGive also gave back in the form of sports fun, which Wood connected to her research. Before arriving at the school, Wood purchased sports equipment to be donated to the school, and 杨贵妃传媒视频 put on a field day for the students. They all spent the afternoon playing soccer and volleyball and conducting relay races.聽聽

Wood said one of her favorite things about the day was seeing how dedicated some of the students were to their sport.聽聽

鈥淭hese boys ran all the way home, changed into their soccer uniforms and cleats, and came back because they wanted to show us how good they were at soccer,鈥� Wood said.聽聽

The day they were able to spend at the school was one of the most impactful parts of the entire trip for both Manzanera and Cao Le.聽聽聽

鈥淛ust seeing how happy the kids were to see us, to interact with us, how excited they were,鈥� Manzanera said, 鈥渢hat really made me very happy to see.鈥澛�

For Cao Le, the warm-heartedness of the kids made a big impact.聽聽

鈥淚 feel like a few hours of playing with the kids made my heart feel so much love and kindness,鈥� Cao Le said. 鈥淚 definitely want to come back to that school again, all because of the experience with the people in The Gambia, the local people. They are so amazing, kind, and warm-hearted.鈥澛�

Community-engaged learning

One of the benefits of traveling as part of the class, the students agreed, was that they were able to explore the country deeper and at a different pace than a tourist.聽

Kirkwood reflected on how the structure of the trip forced her outside of her comfort zone. Usually a planner and itinerary follower, she adapted to their pace and was able to 鈥済o with the flow.鈥澛犅�

鈥淚t really made me feel like I connected more with the people there,鈥� Kirkwood said, 鈥渁nd just kind of enjoyed their presence as they enjoyed mine, and that was really nice.鈥澛�

Without the class, Wood thought she wouldn鈥檛 have gotten the same experience in The Gambia.聽

鈥淕oing out into the cities, going into people鈥檚 homes, into the schools, I got to experience the country from a lot of its different aspects,鈥� Wood said. 鈥淚鈥檓 happy that I got the experience to travel there and do this kind of research.鈥澛�

On May 15, the students presented their research posters in Steitz Atrium. The posters remain on display in Briggs Hall.聽聽