Tag: Undergraduate

Brock Mullen, BSBA ’23, wrote this for the Olin Blog.

I had the privilege of spending the past semester studying abroad in Ireland at University College Dublin (UCD). Olin provides so many opportunities for global experiences, and this is my second time getting to take advantage of an international Olin program. This semester not only provided useful academic skills for my marketing major, but also it taught me many life lessons. The classes at UCD are structured differently than at WashU, so I only had classes two days a week. I used the rest of my time to explore Ireland and the rest of Europe! I’d like to share a lesson I learned from each of the countries I visited:

Ireland: Make the most of unexpected changes

To accompany my second major in Chinese Language and Culture, I was originally planning to study abroad in China. However, that was not possible due to COVID-19. I was not expecting to spend a semester in Ireland, but I am so glad it worked out this way. I made amazing lifelong friends and had so many opportunities for experiences I never would have had otherwise. Although I didn’t get to practice my Chinese much (I found some people to practice with in Dublin, however), I have been able to travel to many places I never would’ve thought possible before this semester.

United Kingdom: Make time for friends

The first destination I visited was to see a fellow WashU student who is from Wales and was home for the holidays. It was such a great trip, even if we didn’t do anything “touristy” while visiting. Making time for friends is a must.

Slovakia: Be spontaneous

Sometimes, you just need to take advantage of unique opportunities as they arise. I saw an advertisement for €5 round-trip flights to Slovakia and purchased them on the spot. The trip was one of my favorite memories of the semester!

Belgium: Take advantage of the global Olin community

I decided to visit a group of my Olin peers who were participating in a special class at the EU Parliament in Brussels, Belgium. Olin has students, staff and alumni all over the world, and it was amazing to see many people come together at this event.

Germany: Take a break and admire everyday beauty

While visiting the local sites in every place I traveled was great, some of my favorite moments were simply being with friends in a quiet park or on a random street. Don’t focus too much on the big moments; stop and look at the little things.

Spain: It’s okay to have an adjustment period

I do not like eating dinner at 9 p.m., so getting used to the Spanish lifestyle was challenging at first. However, amazing friends supported me and helped me get used to the different cultural norms.

Czech Republic: Relax and open up

On my visit to the Czech Republic, I felt great after taking time to relax and open up to friends. By growing closer to my travel companions, it enhanced our visit of the country and made the trip so enjoyable.

Norway: Be flexible

I did not intend to visit Norway, but due to a last-minute flight cancelation, I was forced to have a layover there. Although this didn’t seem ideal at the time, being flexible in my travel plans allowed me to explore a new place and gain great experiences!

Iceland: Plan to check something off the bucket list

I had always dreamed of visiting the beautiful nature in Iceland. I finally fulfilled my dream, and it was amazing! Taking the time and effort to make it a reality definitely paid off in the end.

Morocco: Reframe anxiousness as excitement

Because Moroccan culture is very different from the Western European culture, I’d grown accustomed to, I was initially nervous to explore this place. However, I turned that anxiousness into excitement by focusing on how much I would learn and grow from the experience—and it was outstanding!

Croatia: Don’t let rain (or any unfortunate circumstance) stop you from having fun

After learning my trip to Croatia would be filled with rain and storms, I was disappointed and not as excited to go. However, I was still able to have an amazing time—even if the itinerary had to change quite a bit to accommodate the weather.

Montenegro: Waiting is great time for thinking

When coming back from Montenegro, I was stuck waiting to cross the border for hours with no internet connection. This provided a wonderful opportunity to reflect, pause and practice using my imagination —a break that we all need sometimes!

The Netherlands: Allow shock to encourage curiosity

The Netherlands is a stunning place, and there are many societal and physical differences from other places I’ve traveled. Leveraging this surprise to pique my interest in the local culture allowed me to learn many new things that challenged my beliefs and perspectives.

Denmark: Take risks

I decided to try something new and do a bike tour. I was hesitant because I had not ridden a bike in many years, and I wasn’t sure if exploring a new city by bike would be difficult or dangerous. But, as the old saying goes, it was “just like riding a bike.” I’m glad I decided to take this risk for me and enjoy the reward of a pleasant experience.

Sweden: Be bold and try new things

I was in Sweden on Easter, and the only open restaurant I came across was a Mexican-Swedish fusion restaurant serving an Easter brunch buffet. I was hesitant to experiment with this new cuisine, but it ended up being some of the best food I had in Europe!

Portugal: Climbing a hill makes you stronger

Lisbon, the capital city of Portugal, is a lot like San Francisco—quite hilly! Going up all the hills can be exhausting, but the views at the top are always worth it. Just like in life, though the journey may be uncomfortable, sticking through it ends in with a nice reward (and nice calves).

Austria: Savor Moments

I visited Austria on a day trip, and I initially felt pressure to rush and squeeze in all the activities. However, I realized that taking the time to savor each of the new sites would provide a much more meaningful experience.

Hungary: Be adventurous

While I went on all my other trips with amazing fellow Olin students, I decided to do my final trip of the semester alone. It was fun to explore independently and be adventurous, and it provided me with a new perspective on traveling.

Overall, this Olin semester abroad was outstanding. It would not have been possible without my Olin peers and best friends Brad Gordon and Harrison Tanaka, the support of the Olin Global Programs office and the friendly people of the world. I’m looking forward to my next adventures at WashU and beyond!

This story was written by Diane Toroian Keaggy from Washington University’s marketing and communications department. See the original story here.

In honor of basketball star Justin Hardy, BSBA ’21, an anonymous donor pledged $500,000 to endow the Justin Hardy Courage Fund at Washington University in St. Louis. To encourage support for the fund, the donor committed another $500,000 to match tribute gifts made by others. 

The Justin Hardy Courage Fund will support programs and services that advance the well-being and career development of scholar-athletes. 

Hardy died May 29, 2022, after a 13-month battle with Stage 4 stomach cancer. He was 22 and had graduated in December with a degree in accounting and finance from WashU Olin. Despite the toll the cancer took on his body, Hardy continued to serve as a positive force on and off the court.

His courage and commitment to his teammates inspired countless fans across the nation, including the donor, a trustee and former WashU scholar-athlete, said Chancellor Andrew D. Martin. 

“Like so many of us, this anonymous donor wanted to pay tribute to Justin’s legacy,” Martin said. “He was deeply inspired by Justin’s tenacity, courage, selflessness and love of family. He voiced what so many others are saying — that Justin should be celebrated uniquely and in a way that signifies his ongoing impact at WashU.” 

Those who wish to participate in the challenge can make a gift online or contact Nancy Barter of University Advancement at nancy_barter@wustl.edu.

Pictured at top: Justin Hardy was a positive force on and off the court. He died May 29, 2022, of Stage 4 stomach cancer, a rare and devastating diagnosis in someone so young. (Photo: Danny Reise/Washington University)

Diane Toroian Keaggy wrote this article for The Source.

Justin Hardy, the Washington University in St. Louis basketball forward whose courage inspired players and fans nationwide, died Sunday, May 29, 2022, of stomach cancer. He was 22. 

Pat Juckem, men’s basketball head coach, said Hardy was a leader whose love for the game was surpassed only by his love for his teammates. 

“We feel Justin’s presence all of the time,” Juckem said. “From the moment he stepped foot on this campus, he has been a pillar both on and off the floor. No matter what was happening on the scoreboard—and we had plenty of success—we felt like every day was a win because we were in it together.”

Hardy was raised in the Chicago suburb of St. Charles and earned his degree in finance and accounting from Olin Business School in December, after just 3 1/2 years. He learned last spring that he had Stage 4 stomach cancer, a devastating and rare diagnosis for someone so young. Early rounds of chemotherapy left Hardy sapped. He lost 50 pounds and resigned himself to sitting out his final season.

But when doctors gave Hardy the go-ahead to play, Hardy decided he would do everything in his power to help the Bears reach the NCAA tournament. The team had advanced to the Sweet 16 in 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic struck. The entire 2020-21 season was canceled.  

‘This is my life now’

“At some point I had to come to terms,” Hardy told Stu Durando, basketball reporter for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. “This is my life now and one day it changed forever. If I want to live life, I have to choose to put my best foot forward and attack it with a positive mentality. Someone said, ‘Positivity kills cancer.’ I don’t feel happy with the situation, but I do with where I am in life.”

Hardy helped lead the Bears during their 13-game winning streak and scored 28 points, a career high, in two separate games. Hardy also was a leader in three-pointers and free throws. He was named first-team All-UAA (University Athletic Association) and second-team NABC (National Association of Basketball Coaches) All-District 8. Chancellor Andrew D. Martin was among his many fans.

“Justin lived like he played basketball, meeting each moment with uncommon determination and hope,” Martin said. “As we grieve alongside the Hardy family, we also thank them for the gifts that Justin brought to his teammates and friends at WashU. Our community is forever changed by his legacy of love and strength.”

Teammate and close friend Jack Nolan certainly has been.

“Everyone knows Justin’s incredible story about how he kept playing,” Nolan said. “But what changed me in so many ways was everything he did off the court. How, after a life-changing diagnosis, he became a better person, a better friend and a better teammate. He was just the most selfless person, always there with a text message or a gesture, checking in to make sure you’re OK.”

#HardyStrong

To show their support, Nolan, his teammates and Juckem designed #HardyStrong T-shirts emblazoned with the motto “You are stronger.” Soon Bears of all sports, fans—and even players representing rival teams—wore the shirts in solidarity. The community also came together to donate more than $100,000 to Hardy’s GoFundMe campaign to cover medical expenses and launch the HardyStrong Scholarship.

When ESPN journalist Gene Wojciechowski learned of Hardy’s remarkable season, he traveled to St. Louis to profile him for ESPN’s “College GameDay.” The story opened with Hardy sitting at a laptop writing a letter to himself.

“There will be plenty more great days to come. … This is all mind over matter,” Hardy typed.

“I don’t know how anyone could fail to be moved by Justin’s honesty, by the nature of the medical odds he faces, by the elegance of his iron will, and by an extraordinary brand of courage and inner strength that somehow overpowers Stage 4 cancer for the length of a college basketball game,” Wojciechowski wrote.

Nolan said Hardy struggled with the decision to go public with his diagnosis. He worried the attention would add further pain for his family and closest friends.

“But ultimately, he felt like telling his story could have a powerful and positive impact on a lot of people,” Nolan said. “And he was right.”

His last basket

Hardy grew sicker as the season came to a close and was unable to travel to away games. But he did take the court one final time during the Bears’ final regular season game against UAA rival University of Chicago. With less than a minute on the clock, Hardy dribbled to the basket, exchanged a knowing smile with Chicago’s Bryce Hopkins and scored his last basket. The Bears and Maroons hugged each other as final seconds ticked away. The Bears did earn a ticket to the NCAA tournament, but were unable to advance to the Sweet 16 after a tough 2-point loss. 

In April, Hardy was surrounded by his teammates when he received the U.S. Basketball Writers Association Perry Wallace Most Courageous Award in New Orleans. In May, sports announcer Dick Vitale paid tribute to Hardy at his annual gala to raise money for cancer research. And at Commencement, Andrew E. Newman, chair of Washington University’s Board of Trustees, honored Hardy before a crowd of 15,000 students and their families and friends. Hardy was supposed to serve as an honorary marshal. Juckem was present for all three events. 

“Justin’s story has resonated with so many people at Washington University and beyond,” Juckem said. “What we saw this year—his courage, his toughness, his commitment to his teammates—is really mind-blowing. We were in awe on a daily basis.”

Hardy is survived by his parents, Bob and Karen Hardy; sister, Jackie Hardy; and brother, Nathan Hardy. The family will host a visitation from 2 to 8 p.m. Thursday, June 2, at Yurs Funeral Home in Geneva, Ill., and a legacy celebration at 1 p.m. Friday, June 3, at St. Charles East High School. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the HardyStrong Scholarship.

Top photo: Bears basketball player Justin Hardy takes the court at the NCAA Division III men’s basketball game between Emory University and the WashU Bears at the Field House on Feb. 11. (Photo: Danny Reise/Washington University)

Alec Gordon, BSBA ’22, was the student speaker at the undergraduate programs graduation recognition ceremony on May 19, 2022, selected by his peers. Here is what he had to say to his fellow graduates.

To the Olin Business School Class of 2022, Dean Taylor, Olin faculty, family members, and other esteemed guests, good afternoon! I’m Alec Gordon, and I’m honored to have been chosen as the student speaker for the 2022 Olin Business School graduating class. This graduating class is very different from most of the classes that preceded us: We’ve endured a global pandemic, lost internships and job opportunities, even lost on-campus housing (I’m sure you all remember the Hunger Games search for housing in August 2020), and now I’m asking you to sit through a five-minute speech from that talkative kid from South Florida. Sorry about that last one!

Let me take you back to March 11, 2020. It was WashU’s spring break! If you were like me, you were surrounded by bathing suits, sunglasses and a whole lot of something called Natural Light. We flocked to the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico or Panama City Beach, Florida. But suddenly, it was all gone. The COVID-19 pandemic had arrived. The world was turned upside down and we felt lost. This was not the college experience that any of us had envisioned.

Personally, my sports immersion trip to Los Angeles was canceled, I lost an in-person job with the Vegas Golden Knights (remember what it was like to work IN PERSON?), the chance to study abroad in Copenhagen, my on-campus housing for my junior year, and my Birthright trip to Israel. And I know that many of you have experienced much greater loss. We’ve been forced to pivot and persevere through the ups and downs of the past two years. 

If you know anything about me, you know I love sports, especially professional hockey, from my beloved hometown team, the Florida Panthers, to my adopted team, the St. Louis Blues. Our freshman year, the Blues were in last place in the NHL on January 3. Only four days later, a new goalie joined the team for his first NHL start, Jordan Binnington. Flash forward five months later and the Blues won their FIRST EVER Stanley Cup championship. The Blues’ Cup run was a story of perseverance through hardships and challenges. The Olin Class of 2022 faced its own challenges.

We adapted to Zoom school, Canvas tests, and uncertainty regarding our future education. We followed mask mandates, testing protocols, and adhered to social distancing guidelines in the classroom. But we were undeterred. Nothing would stop us from continually excelling in and out of the classroom.

Stronger than ever, prepared for what’s next

So if the pandemic has taught me anything, it’s how to pivot and persevere. We are a class of resilience! We have battled through much to make it here today. We’ve been challenged physically, mentally and emotionally. And yet here we are, stronger than ever, ready to step forward into whatever comes next.

There are many people in the crowd who I must thank. Firstly, thank you to my friends, girlfriend, classmates, professors, advisor and career coach for your help and guidance during my time at WashU. In particular, I’d like to thank Dr. Patrick Rishe for welcoming me with open arms into the world of sports business. From minoring in the business of sports, countless TA grading sessions, case projects, networking and career help, and friendly hockey banter, I’m so grateful to have such a caring mentor in my life. Even when you texted me after the Miami Heat lost the 2020 NBA Championship and said, “Well the Heat lost.” I’m thankful for our relationship, especially your selflessness and eagerness to help.

And a special thank you to my parents and my sister, a rising WashU sophomore. Thank you for supporting me in so many ways over the past four years, but especially over the first 22 years of my life. I would not be a fraction of the person I am standing before you today without your love, support and motivation.

‘Three important things in life’

Legendary college basketball coach Jimmy Valvano said in his memorable 1993 ESPYs speech that there are three important things in life: “Where you started, where you are and where you’re going to be.” We don’t know exactly what the future holds and we barely know where we are now. But we certainly know the amount of adversity we have faced to make it here today. The students around you are not the same people that stepped on campus in August 2018, the students who scoffed at a bar being called “Big Daddy’s” and laughed when they saw their Calc 2 midterm class average was a 58…a new record high. We are an incredible group of people – students who will become leaders in business, students who will change our world for the better, and students like me, who will one day, star in their men’s over 40 basketball league!

The pandemic provided many of us with a chance to re-organize our priorities and pursue our interests. Through remote internships, community involvement, and independent passion projects, our future is as bright as ever. We are courageous, confident, and accomplished individuals, and I’m so excited to see what this class has in store for the future. From here, we’ll go our separate ways, but we will forever cherish our time at WashU. We’ve always known our names, but our stories are still being written. 

Thank you and GO BEARS!!

Poets & Quants has named Olin Business School one of “10 Undergraduate Business Schools to Watch In 2022.”

“The best want to surround themselves with the best,” P&Q, the online news site about business schools, wrote in a February 26 article about Olin.

“They need to be exposed to new ideas, always looking to learn and never content with the way things are. That means finding people who share their values and commitment—and aren’t afraid to push them.

“The Olin Business School is one community that gathers the best-of-the-best.”

Last year, 100% of Olin students seeking a business internship landed one, the article notes. “Better still, the school placed 97.67% of 2020 grads, who pulled down starting average compensation of $82,339.”

In addition, Olin achieved gender parity with its incoming class this fall.

The piece includes an interview with Olin Dean Mark Taylor about his thoughts on what makes Olin a business school to watch.

“WashU Olin’s undergraduate program has always prioritized global experiences and fostered a culture that encourages study abroad and engagement with international businesses,” Taylor said.

“Indeed, up to now, more than 60% of Olin undergrads have engaged in a global experience. We’ve doubled down on that emphasis with a new global mindset degree requirement for undergraduates starting with the class of 2025. The degree requirement aligns with Olin’s determination to develop multicultural awareness, communication skills, and an appreciation of what it means to lead globally.”

Read the full P&Q article here.

Twenty-two WashU sophomores used spring break to visit eight investment banks during WashU’s New York City Investment Bank Trek, March 14-15. It was the first such trek since 2019.

Olin’s Weston Career Center’s Lee Pelligreen, EMBA 44, employer relations lead-finance, and Burt Sheaffer, finance industry specialist, facilitated the trip and shared the experience with the Olin Blog.

Why would sophomores join the NYC IB Trek?

“For the students, it was an amazing chance to step outside of academia for an in-person glimpse into the world of finance. The trek offered connections and learning opportunities with the passionate support of alumni.

“‘I took away insights about companies, got to meet successful people across the finance world, and gained a new framework for decision-making,’ one student wrote about the experience.

“The trek offered students the chance to learn about different sectors of investment banks, explore careers, and network and connect with alumni.”

How crucial was WashU alumni support?

“This trek could not have happened without the support of the WashU alumni. 

“Thank you to alumni at Goldman Sachs, Credit Suisse, HSBC Global Banking and Markets, Groupe Crédit Agricole, Lazard, Guggenheim Partners, Financial Technology Partners and Edgemont Partners for hosting us.”

Anything else you’d like to add?

“A shout out to Molly Mulligan, senior associate director of University Advancement Programs at Olin, and to the Advancement team for organizing an alumni roundtable on the first evening, where the students continued networking.

“And the trek was capped off at Elliott Management, with Steve Cohen hosting a dinner finance experience along with alumna Bridget Han.”

Cohen, BSBA 1989, is an equity partner at Elliott, and Han, MACC 2013, is a principal at NY Family Office.

“We look forward to watching the alumni continuing their career paths. And we look forward to the time when these sophomores support future sophomore bears in NYC!”