Drew Nelson and Alex Kindopp took advantage of resources available to them in CBA to land top financial internships last summer in New York City. As roommates, they both discovered a passion for finance that would not have happened without the help of CBA faculty, staff and alumni.

“I met Ben Neumann, a member of the Dean’s Young Alumni Advisory Board, when the Big Red Investment Club (BRIC) visited SumRidge Partners during a spring break trip. He introduced me to the owners which led to an internship offer on the spot,” said Nelson, a senior finance major from Omaha, Nebraska.

Kindopp, a finance and actuarial science major from Watertown, South Dakota, interned at Citigroup which differed from his past experience in the rural market. UNL alumnus Preston Mesick, a connection he made through Beta Theta Pi, arranged his interview with Citigroup.

“Without Preston’s help, I don’t know if I would have gotten the job,” Kindopp said. “It’s important to keep your eyes open to all the opportunities available to you through your connections and resources.”

Both Kindopp and Nelson credit Dr. Stas Nikolova, assistant professor of finance, for expanding their horizons in finance. Her enthusiasm for the daily market activity in New York City was contagious and ultimately inspired them to step outside their comfort zone to explore internships.

“We learned a lot from each other,” Nelson said. “I worked in a bond-centered, fixed income background while Alex was on the stock market and equity side of things. At the end of each day, we would compare notes.”

Both students regularly worked 12 hour days or longer.

“If you’re willing to go the extra mile and make connections, you can pursue your dreams. My professors at CBA ingrained that in me,” Kindopp said. Published: January 5, 2016