Major:  Accounting; William Randall Sowers Award* (honoree)

Avila Faves: “I’ve been at Avila since my freshman year, right in the middle of COVID-19. Malcolm Gold, Grant Beck, and Sara Carvalho were three great professors of mine who taught me many things about business and accounting. My mom and aunt both graduated from Avila, so it was only right I came here too. I loved how small the classes were, because it allowed me to form connections with my professors, as well as grasping the information of the lecture better. I’ve enjoyed my time at Avila, and I am grateful for what I’ve learned being here these last four years. 

Updates/ Plans: I am currently searching for internships and/or jobs in accounting, and maybe even finance. I do plan on eventually receiving a masters degree and becoming a CPA.�
* The William Randall Sowers Award was established in 1978. It is a memorial award to honor the memory of an Accounting student who died in an automobile accident.  It is given to an outstanding accounting student each year who exemplifies not only superior academic achievement but compassion and leadership to fellow students.

Major:  Marketing (honoree)

Avila Faves: “I started off my college career at Ottawa University and after my second year decided to transfer to º£½ÇÖ±²¥. This was truly a match made in heaven for me. The moment I stepped onto this campus, I felt welcomed and like everyone here genuinely cared about me and my success. Here at Avila, there are amazing professors in the School of Business that have been remarkable professors to learn from but also great mentors in life. Anytime I was ever struggling or needed advice Dr. Buckler and Dr. Acker were always there to cheer me on and went above and beyond to ensure my success and I could never thank them enough. I also got to work alongside Sara Kline in our Office of marketing and communications department here at Avila. I am so grateful that she gave me this opportunity which has allowed me to learn and grow professionally. I truly do not believe I would have found these opportunities anywhere else, and I am incredibly thankful for what this university has given me.â€�

Updates/Plans: “I am currently enrolled in the 4+1 program so my future plans are to finish my master’s degree in management and pursue a career in Digital Marketing. Although, my long-term goal has always been to own my own Coffee shop and use my marketing skills to advertise and promote it.â€�

Major:  Finance (honoree)

Avila Faves: “My mom always told me how much she had loved Avila and its focus on both the community and each individual student. As with most things in life, she was right. I transferred to Avila after not one, not two, but three other colleges. I immediately felt a newfound sense of purpose, and I found a field that truly interested me in finance. I had some trouble with my advising because of the multiple transfers and degree changes along the way, and last semester I needed help to figure out how I would proceed to graduation. In one day, I met with Malcolm Gold, Brian Buckler, and Wendy Acker all in the same day. By the end of that day, the three of them had put their heads together and developed a plan that would allow me to graduate on time. I know from experience there is not another college around that would go to the lengths they went to for me. Avila is and forever will be my college and, more importantly, my family.�

Updates/Plans: “Currently, I am enrolled in the MBA 4+1 program. I intend to finish my MBA over the course of the next year, and I will be continuing my education further by applying to law school this fall.�

Avila Faves: “I transferred to º£½ÇÖ±²¥ before my sophomore year to join their newly established wrestling program, becoming the first victory in the history of º£½ÇÖ±²¥ Men’s wrestling. Upon graduation, I will join my older brother as a first-generation college graduate that also competed in athletics for this University. As a first-generation graduate, I benefitted from the additional resources provided to me via the institution’s TRIO program, and my advisors Professor Martinez and Professor Gold. As a student of Avila’s School of Business, I found the courses to be valuable, especially considering the expertise of the professors and their willingness to teach for understanding. As a dual major in Accounting and Marketing, it was intriguing to learn from Professor Carvalho (Accounting) and Professor Vandehaar (Marketing) as they drew upon their professional knowledge from their own businesses. Credits go to Dr. Buckler and Dr. Beck as well, whose expertise is clearly displayed in course lectures and material. I prefer the relatively small class sizes because it makes communication with professors more convenient. As a student eager to learn, I can tell you that the individual’s drive will dictate the amount of knowledge retention.â€�

Updates/ Plans: “I am currently enrolled in the MBA 4+1 Program, and with eligibility still remaining, it is likely I will pursue a Master’s degree through Avila while competing on the mat. I will use the education I have received to grow my small business which has grown from a small side hustle and is now an official LLC. Also, I will look for internships and other job opportunities that will ultimately improve my business knowledge as I look to accomplish my career goals.�