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Coming to WVU as a First Gen student was very intimidating at first, but my BCOR 199 Professor Suzan Lantz takes the "Mountaineers Go First!" motto to heart and has all of her class go on mini adventures, and these adventures allowed me to take hold of countless opportunities! I joined the club for my major Management Information Systems Association(MISA) and even tried running for President, I didn't get it, but the thought is what counts. This little leap of faith helped me make upperclassmen friends that I will actually be working with post Graduation! With that being said, I contacted the very first person I met of my WVU family Rachel Nieman, and she helped get me in contact with a great job working at the B&E IT department as well as let me know about B&E Student Ambassador program openings.

The B&E IT Department opened me up to every department of the B&E and even allowed me to know many of the Administration on a more personal level, such as Dean Reyes and Associate Dean Peace. This involvement stoked my want for more adventures, so the spring of freshman year I took advantage of the WVU Outdoor rec center, and went kayaking around the Florida keys meeting even more students from around campus and making more friends.Sophomore Year, led to me snagging a Website master position within MISA, and fully taking part within the B&E Ambassador program! This led to countless dinners and events with Administration and key figures that have come to B&E. The student Ambassador program also led to me running for and wining one of the two College Representative positions within Student Government Association(SGA)! Here I met my partner Daniel, and ended up with the both of us signing up for the study abroad trip through the B&E to India for two weeks! This was the first pilot trip to the region, so again " Mountaineers Go First!". Luckily, many of the MISA friends I made freshman year were also coming on this trip, so the experience ended up being a blast!

During my time as a Chambers College undergraduate, I was very involved in both business and special interest organizations. I served as a Chambers Ambassador for three years where I discovered my love for recruitment. I completed a research project for Dean Reyes with the help of other Chambers Ambassadors in order to identify needs and suggest new ideas to make the Chambers College even better for our students. With the help of Dr. Suzanne Kitchen, I participated in two case competitions— Peoples Bank in Marietta, Ohio and SHRM in Bridgeport, West Virginia—that allowed me to improve upon my critical thinking and public speaking skills. In 2019, I studied abroad in China with 15 other Chambers students, Dr. Li Wang, and Dr. Mike Walsh that provided hands-on exposure to international business relations. Most recently, I assisted Dr. Suzanne Kitchen as her service-learning teaching assistant for MANG 480 Corporate Social Responsibility where we distributed a grant of $10,000 to 8 area non-profit organizations.

Outside of the Chambers College, I was a member of “The Pride of West Virginia” Mountaineer Marching Band where I served as a woodwind rank leader and piccolo section leader. During my time in The Pride, I represented West Virginia University and our great state of West Virginia in numerous performances at home football games, bowl game trips, numerous high school exhibitions, many area festivals, and most notably the 2016 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Additionally, I served as treasurer and committee chair of the Kappa Lambda chapter of Sigma Alpha Iota, a music service fraternity.

On Saturday, May 16, 630 graduates from the John Chambers College of Business and Economics heard virtual words of inspiration from West Virginia University leaders, including President Gordon Gee Clay Marsh Meshea Poore and a charge to have the courage to take risks and fail from their College’s namesake, John Chambers

This crop of graduates will continue to navigate a historic journey, as they aspire to change a world that has been fundamentally changed by a global pandemic – an unexpected crisis that will uniquely prepare them for the future.

Dear Class of 2020:

It’s hard to say goodbye, graduates.

This week kicked off the first full week of finals...in Star Wars style, of course!

Not only is the force with you, but your Chambers College family is also behind you every step of the way. 

As a West Virginia University Mountaineer, there are several big “first” moments as an undergrad: the PRT ride, a football game as a Mountaineer Maniac, a selfie with President E. Gordon Gee, and singing Country Roads together in the Coliseum at graduation. 

However, due to COVID-19, this year’s graduation looks a little different for our seniors.

In a hopeful, cautious step forward, West Virginia is starting the process of reopening its doors for business this week after stay-at-home orders were issued in response to the COVID-19 pandemic nearly two months ago.

While this semester was not how you imagined it to be, you changed your daily routine and found a new way to continue your education...from home. 

Not only did your environment change, but you also left your friends and began learning online. You traded lecture halls for Zoom meetings, your business attire into pajama pants (we all did), and lunch in the Mountainlair to a quick walk to your kitchen. 

Earlier this semester, West Virginia University canceled 14 study abroad programs to ensure the safety of students, and faculty and staff, during the spread of the coronavirus and closed campus shortly after. 

Ever wonder why we still have to charge our phones and computers? One minute your phone reads 100 percent and before you know it, it’s down to 20 percent. On top of that, you’ve lost your charger.