On Saturday, May 17, 659 students in the John Chambers College of Business and Economics – 555 undergraduates and 104 graduates – will receive their diplomas in the WVU Coliseum.

Though their paths will converge on the commencement stage, their destinations afterward will look very different. Some will continue their educations in graduate school, while others will begin their professional careers.

No matter where they go, they will grow into the new pioneers of the business world.

“The future is bright – and it needs you,” said Milan Puskar Dean Josh Hall. “It needs you to be the next generation of leaders who will confront the problems of today and solve the problems of tomorrow.”

Every student’s journey is a story worth telling – for what they’ve accomplished, and for what they’ve overcome. Now, it’s time to look back on the journeys of three business students whose WVU experiences were defined by their challenges and triumphs alike.

Collin Edwards

B.S. Management Information Systems, Finance

Hagerstown, Maryland

“My first semester was actually way back in 2014,” said Hagerstown, Maryland native Collin Edwards. “I realized I didn’t know how to pay for college and ended up enlisting in the National Guard. I took an eight-year break to focus on my military career.”

That eight-year break turned out to be an education of its own. Thrown into a radically new environment, Edwards learned to excel not only as a professional, but as a community leader, building 4-H camps in Point Pleasant, assisting with prison staffing in Moundsville and upgrading police facilities in Dunbar.

By the time he returned to WVU, Edwards was ready to make the most of his college career.

“People put themselves in this little box,” Edwards said. “When I first came here, I was tackling one task at a time, seeing what my limits were. I wanted to see how much I can handle.”

As it turned out, he could handle plenty, starting with majors in both Management Information Systems and Finance. Edwards now boasts the kind of resume that all college students aspire to.

Along with his continued service in the National Guard, he’s held positions as a Lewis Fellow and Gabriel Fellow with Data Driven WV, a data analytics-focused research and outreach center in the Chambers College. His projects have included cybersecurity analysis for local banks and WVU Extension.

“Having a chance to make an impact on the community has always been a tremendous thing for me,” Edwards said. “Seeing the results of that always motivates me to do more.”

Now that his college career is fully off the ground, Edwards’ work ethic is paying dividends. He’s already secured a position with Deloitte as a business technology analyst, and will continue to serve with the National Guard as a second lieutenant.

For all his accomplishments, however, what motivates Edwards is not personal success, but community service.

“My original contract was only six years, and here I am 10 years later,” Edwards said. “I’m probably going to be doing 20 years total, maybe 30 at this rate.  

“Not only am I helping to serve my country, I’m helping to serve the state of West Virginia. It’s been pretty great.”

Braden Adkins

B.S.B.A. Economics

Richwood, West Virginia

Buckskins? Check. Coonskin cap? Check. Moccasins? Check.

It might sound unusual, but this was everyday attire for senior Economics major Braden Adkins during his final year at WVU.

Adkins, a West Virginia native from Richwood, completed his term as WVU’s 70th Mountaineer mascot in April – a term that taught him more than he could have ever imagined.

“When you're portraying the image of the Mountaineer, you have to make it your own while also keeping the traditions alive,” Adkins said. “Trying to find that line of making it my own and carrying on those traditions was a little bit difficult, but as the year went on, I think I got better and became the best Mountaineer I could be.”

Striving to be his best is nothing new for Adkins. From the classroom to the field, he's always been willing to put in work and ask for help to find success.

“In one of my econ classes, I did not know what was going on at all,” Adkins said. “That’s when I reached out to my professor, who was so accessible and helped me figure out what I didn’t understand.”

Adkins also leaned on the advising staff in the Chambers College, who helped him balance his demanding role as the Mountaineer with his academic goals.

With their support, he was able to stay on track – not only to graduate on time with his economics degree, but to take the courses he needed to prepare for law school. He now plans to attend WVU Law.

“There are all types of programs within the Chambers College that help cater to your needs, so that you can achieve your goals,” Adkins said. “There were a lot of times where I needed a little bit of flexibility, and the Chambers College gave that to me so that I could fulfill my duties as the Mountaineer while making the pathway to law school easier.”

While Adkins may be stepping out of his moccasins, passing the mantle to fellow Chambers student Cade Kincaid, his legacy is forever cemented at WVU, and the impact he has made is undeniable. However, the people he’s met along the way have made an equally undeniable impact on him.

“The thing I’m going to miss most has definitely got to be the people," said Adkins. “No matter who I worked with—whether it's my professors, faculty, staff, athletics, whatever it may be—they were all easy to approach and there to support me. That's something super special about WVU, about the Chambers College. Everybody here wants you to succeed, and you don't have that everywhere.”

Amelia Echard

“Country roads, take me home / To the place I belong”

Ameila Echard of Scottdale, Pennsylvania heard that line once or twice during her time at WVU.

Starting in undergrad, Echard began looking for places she could thrive. Within the walls of the Reynolds Hall, she learned that accounting had many roads for her to choose.

“I feel like every person can have a role in accounting. Whether you're super outgoing or really introverted, you will find your spot,” said Echard, who discovered her own passion at a Women in Business meeting, after her future employer presented a glimpse into the world of tax accounting.

With a newly defined destination, Echard set out to find programs that would support her journey toward becoming a CPA. This led her to the Chambers College’s Master of Accountancy program, which, along with her undergrad work, has helped her prepare for her CPA exam and future career.

“Having a strong grasp on basic accounting fundamentals has helped me so much,” Echard said.

In addition to her coursework, Echard worked at the Becker Center as a graduate assistant. In that role, Echard had the opportunity to teach BCOR 199, which introduces first-semester freshmen to major business disciplines, basic business communications and the University environment.

“I know I can take the skills I learned teaching BCOR 199 into a future role," Echard said. “I'll always remember that experience of being a leader, and how I can incorporate that into my job.”

After completing her classes later in the summer, Echard will start working at leading accounting firm CohnReznick. As she reaches the destination she set her junior year, she knows that the roads she traveled helped to shape her – and hopes future students find their roads as well.

“Make sure to get involved and go for what you want,” Echard said. “Also, reach out for help if you need it. The Chambers College has plenty of resources that will be there to help you.”

-WVU-

Andrew Marvin and Emma Higgins

4/28/25

MEDIA CONTACT:

Andrew Marvin
Senior Communications Specialist
John Chambers College of Business and Economics
andrew.marvin@mail.wvu.edu